Greetings,

There is a lot of important information included in this issue. If you want to know the latest about the short- term middle school plan, the health and safety remediation at High Rock and other breaking news on the school front, please read on!

Middle School Plan Moving Forward

There have been some very positive developments in the School Committee's process toward developing a short-term solution to the overcrowding at Pollard. The School Committee has determined that, given the projected public school enrollment increases well into the future, the most practical and cost effective plan would be to extensively renovate High Rock School so it can serve as a middle school for the short-term, and then be put into use as a sixth elementary school when it is no longer needed as a middle school. This plan would also provide for a more equitable educational environment for those middle schoolers who would be assigned to High Rock.

The prior proposal for a short-term solution to overcrowding at Pollard entailed minimal renovations to High Rock, which could have been completed between Spring '07 and Summer '08, in time for the '08/'09 school year. The new plan, with its more thorough renovations (at an estimated cost of $13 million at 2008 construction prices), will require an extra year of construction time. Therefore, the School Department proposes renting a modular unit containing two classrooms to be attached to Pollard for the '08/'09 school year. This solution, at a cost of approximately $250,000, along with considering staggered class start/end times and a redesigned lunch schedule, will be a comfortable and safe one year solution for Pollard's students.

This September, most likely at the School Committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 20, Superintendent Dan Gutekanst and Pollard principal Glenn Brand will present their recommendations for programming options for the middle school at High Rock. At this time, two options are being explored.

1-Make High Rock a small middle school with one cluster of each grade. This would give parents and students the ability to choose between a small or a large middle school environment.

2-Make High Rock a 6th grade annex for all Pollard 6th graders. This option would necessitate the addition of some modular classrooms to an expanded High Rock.

Once the School Committee has heard from Dan Gutekanst and Glenn Brand regarding their recommendations, a public hearing will be scheduled for sometime in the mid-fall. The public hearing will be an opportunity for community members to learn about the proposals, to ask questions and to voice their opinions.

Needless to say, the School Committee, the School Administration and the community as a whole have a large task ahead in crafting a middle school plan that will best address the needs of our students, our teachers, our curriculum and the ongoing building needs of the School Department. CNS encourages everyone to be part of the process by remaining informed and sharing your thoughts with School Committee members.

	Town has Completed Work to Make High Rock Ready for KASE
At the August 22 School Committee meeting, Mark LaFleur of Needham's Department of Public Facilities reported that the Town has completed the work it needed to do to make High Rock ready for KASE. During the spring and summer, both OccuHealth, Inc. and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health inspected High Rock and issued recommendations for improving the air quality. The Town has completed most of that recommended work, and the building is safe for use by the KASE program. The Town is waiting to complete a few of the recommendations for the cafeteria. The floor tiles of the cafeteria have some water damage. As a result, KASE will not use the bottom floor of the building, where the cafeteria is located, and signs will clearly state that no one is allowed in the cafeteria. In addition, a dehumidifier will run in the cafeteria, as the two reports recommended. Some of the other recommendations -- re-grading the land around the cafeteria, for example, and sealing the spot where the asphalt reaches the outside cafeteria walls -- will be followed when plans for a more extensive High Rock renovation are complete and the Town knows what other changes are going to be made to the building and the land. You can read the OccuHealth and Department of Public Health reports on the Needham Public Schools website: www.needham.k12.ma.us. On the first screen, under "News," click on "High Rock Reports." Read the OccuHealth and Dept. of Public Health reports on High Rock »

	Health and Safety Committee Being Formed for High Rock
At the August 22 School Committee meeting, Superintendant Dan Gutekanst announced the formation of a Health and Safety Committee for High Rock. The Committee will meet regularly to ensure that the High Rock School is safe, secure, and healthy. The structure of the Committee is still being considered. Please stay tuned for more information.

	Louise Miller Stepping Down from School Committee
Louise Miller, who has served on the School Committee since April '05, is resigning her post to take the position of Executive Secretary to the Finance Committee. CNS appreciates all of the long hours and hard work Louise has given to the School Committee during a year and a half that has been filled with many important agenda items. Louise has offered valuable analysis to School Committee debates and discussions, especially with respect to the budget process and the school building needs Needham faces due to ever-increasing enrollments. The School Committee and the Board of Selectmen will be appointing a community member to fill Louise's seat until the April '07 town election. Anyone interested in the position will be asked to submit a "letter of interest" to the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen in September. Candidates will be interviewed by the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen, and it is expected that the vacancy will be filled sometime in October. Specific information about applying for the vacancy will be included in school bulletins in September, posted on the Needham Public Schools website, and provided to the Needham Times. Please check those resources for specific deadlines.

	Performance Report out August 31
Please look for the Needham Public Schools Performance Report, which will arrive in your mailbox around August 31. The 24-page booklet summarizes data in the areas of Student Performance, Learning and Growth; Staff Performance, Learning and Growth; Financial Performance; Planning; and Stakeholder Satisfaction. Each section includes data and narrative, and outlines challenges.

	Volunteers Needed for October 7 Harvest Fair
Citizens for Needham Schools will once again have a table at the Harvest Fair in front of Town Hall on Saturday, October 7. The Fair draws many young families and allows us to encourage these parents to get the CNS newsletter and become informed about our schools. If you can volunteer an hour of your time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., please email Caroline Sabin at csabin@post.harvard.edu. Email Caroline Sabin »