Warwick Public Schools

1. How Did We Get Here?

2. Why Are We Here?

Warwick Public SchoolsRecommendation Gorton Junior High School Closure

The following is the result of a process that was started more than five years ago by the former superintendent of schools. This process began with the formation of a Long Term Facilities Planning Committee (LTFPC) whose charge was to identify school facilities that were operating at a significant level below the 85% level of acceptable capacity. Over the next two years all twenty elementary schools were examined and four schools were identified and consolidate into sixteen elementary schools. Those schools consolidated were Drum Rock, Greene, Potowomut and Rhodes, with Drum Rock and Greene being rededicated. This is not to say that secondary schools were not considered at that time, rather it was the number of elementary schools that existed and the number of elementary schools that were operating below the 85% level of acceptable capacity that determined where the priorities for consolidation would begin. Once consolidation was approved and underway, the Committee began to explore the secondary schools to determine if any consolidation opportunities existed. The Committee identified all secondary schools as having a capacity below the 85% level of acceptable capacity. However, although all secondary schools were below the acceptable level, it was the junior high schools that captured the attention of the LTFPC with their extremely low numbers, the lowest being at 38% level of capacity.

The LTFPC met during the 2011-2012 school year. The last meeting was held on January 28, 2012 and placed on hold until a vision or more input was ascertained from the leadership. Unfortunately, the Committee was not reconvened until December 7, 2012 of this school year. Due to the needs of the district, the Committee was divided into two Sub-committees: Short Term and Long Term Sub-committees. The Short Term Sub-committee focused on the immediate needs of the district, namely the impact of facility efficiency on the budget and the possibility of a school consolidation.

The Short Term Committee believes that the documentation enclosed supports a recommendation for consolidation of the Aldrich and Gorton Junior High School facilities, with Aldrich being the receiving school. This recommendation was not made in haste or without support data. The facts are very clear and have been validated by multiple sources. Our district has declined in student enrollment, from a high of 19,464 students in 1968, by 24% from 12,500 students in 2003 to 9,600 in 2013, and is expected to decline at the rate of 1% each year fro the next ten years to a low of 8,600 students. At this rate of declining enrollment our district cannot sustain itself and provide the necessary tools, technology and instruction needed for our students to be competitive with other communities in the 21st century.Our District will be facing a $3.8 million dollar shortfall for the FY 2013-2014. With funding forecasts projecting level funding it is imperative that we as a district recognize this moment as a turning point in the education of our students by increasing the efficiency of our schools and their operations in order that we have the funds available to make these needed changes. The potential savings by closing Gorton Junior High School will have a significant impact on next year’s budget. The projected savings of $1.1m is an extremely conservative number and it is further believed that a number of $1.5m is obtainable.The data collected suggested equal savings regardless of which school was closed. However, such items as debt service reimbursement, layout of the building, transportation access and the actual touring of both facilities by the Short Term Committee provided the determining factors in the final decision to recommend the closure of Gorton Junior High School.We support our students and our schools. We believe that the most effective plan in addressing the budget issues is through consolidation. Consolidation will enable us to maintain our current level of student programs and perhaps create additional programs and further supports. Any other choice at this time would result in draconian cuts that would not benefit students, teachers or this city.

Warwick Schools Enrollment History10/1/68 – 10/1/12

Past 10/1/68 19,464 Students 30 Elementary Schools 6 Secondary SchoolsPresent 10/1/12 9,615 Students 16 Elementary Schools 6 Secondary SchoolsFuture 10/1/22 Projected 8,430 Students ? Elementary Schools ? Secondary Schools