Executive Summary: Analysis of Elementary School Reorganization Options 1.0 Strategic Overview The district is undertaking a reorganization of its elementary schools to most strategically address the evolving needs of its students, better support staff, and achieve long-term financial sustainability and operational efficiency. The core objective is to consolidate the district's footprint from four elementary buildings to three. This summary synthesizes the comprehensive analysis presented across four foundational documents—covering enrollment processes, operational impacts, financial implications, and leadership assessment—to provide the School Committee with a clear, integrated framework for its final decision. This analysis is grounded in the foundational financial and structural constraints that shape all proposed solutions. District leadership will present a detailed analysis of each option on Teaching & Learning structures, and Special Education services and programs at the school committee’s January 8, 2026 meeting. These topics are not discussed in depth in this informational packet in order to allow for leadership to communicate directly with impacted stakeholders prior to public presentation of the information. 2.0 Foundational Parameters: To effectively evaluate the four final reorganization options, it is important to first understand the universal constraints that apply to all of them. These parameters establish the baseline for comparison and underscore that the final decision rests more on qualitative and strategic trade-offs than on significant financial differences between the options. The following realities are the non-negotiable starting point for any path forward. ● Building Closures: All four final options require the closure of the Conant building and the Merriam school . ● Staffing Model: All financial projections are based on Model C , a staffing plan that requires a district-wide reduction of 11 K-6 classroom sections . This action will increase class sizes to the upper end of School Committee guidelines, and 1 student beyond guidelines at 3 grade levels . ● Financial Savings: The total projected annual cost savings are nearly identical across the primary options. Options 3v2, 4, and 5v2 each yield 1,874,000** in savings. Option 6 yields a slightly higher **1,928,000 , though this minor difference would likely be offset by adjusted administrative salaries required for its very large school structure.
These universal parameters confirm that the fundamental questions facing the committee are not if change will occur, but how that change will be managed and experienced by students, staff, and the community.
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