● Duration: This refers to how long a community is expected to feel the effects of the change. A community that feels targeted may feel the negative effects for a longer time, which could show up as more resentment and distrust of the system. Duration can also mean the need to reorganize the school again in the future because the current model is not flexible enough to adapt to new circumstances. This analysis does not include information about the duration of disruption because it requires significant judgment from each school committee member about how much time a decision on each option would likely impact the community. For example, committee members may weigh differently how long a broad disruption impacts the community versus a narrower, more intense disruption that leaves a single school community with a higher degree of resentment.
This framework allows us to make a more detailed comparison of how each of the four final reorganization options would be experienced by our students, staff, and families.
3. Overview of the Four Final Options
The AB Forward Steering Committee has presented four different plans for the School Committee to make a final decision on. It is important to know that all four remaining plans mean the Merriam school and the Conant building will close . This will change the district's elementary school setup from six schools in four buildings to a new configuration located in only three buildings.
The table below summarizes the key features of each option.
Option Number
Brief Description
Resulting School Structure
Reorganization Approach (Traditional/New)
Option 3, v2
Shift to five K-6 schools by closing the Merriam school and relocating the Conant school community into the available space.
Five K-6 schools
More Consistent Approach
Option 4
Shift to five K-6 schools by merging the Merriam and McCarthy-Towne school communities and relocating the Conant community into the space created by the merger.
Five K-6 schools
More Consistent Approach
Option 5, v2
Shift to a hybrid model with five schools: Blanchard remains K-6, while the Boardwalk and Parker Damon
One K-6 school and four grade-banded schools (two K-3, two 4-6)
Broad Structural Change
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