Milton Centennial School under review

Despite efforts made by the Milton Centennial School Advisory Council, the South Shore Regional School Board will go ahead with the review.

“In the case of Milton, the enrollment is stable but there are significant building issues,” began SSRSB Superintendent of Schools, Nancy Pynch-Worthylake. “and the primary question is can the excellent education programs at Milton be delivered at the Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy and still be as good for the students.”

School Advisory Council chairperson and parent, Elizabeth Brown said the council went to the May 28 school board meeting to make one last effort in asking them not to proceed with the review.

“We listed our reasons why we thought it was not a good idea at this time,” she said.

Brown said they were disappointed when the board voted to proceed with the review of five schools on the South Shore.

Brown’s son currently attends Milton Centennial School but will be moving onto Dr. John C. Wickwire Academy in the fall.

Brown said even though her children will have moved on from Milton she feels it’s a school worth fighting for.

“One of the options to closing Milton is to move grade sixes to the junior high and that concerns me because the junior high is in need of renovations,” she added.

Milton Centennial School was reviewed five years ago, said Brown.

There was a motion to close the school back then, she added.

But the closure did not happen due to reconfiguring throughout other schools in the area.

“The part that frightens me is the potential closing in 2009,” stated Brown.

There needs to be time to work on a plan on how to transfer the programs and “to make sure that the children coming into the school would not be getting anything less than what they’re getting at the Milton school,” she continued.

Now that the school impact assessment report has been released, “Pynch-Worthylake said “now the school advisory council with our support will prepare a response and the latest possible date for that is Nov. 30.”

As soon as they provide a response to the board there will be a public meeting.

The SSRSB will make a decision by March 15, 2009, said Pynch-Worthylake.

Brown noted they have a very positive experience with the school board.

“I truly believe the people on the board wants what’s best for the children,” commented Brown.

Pynch-Worthylake acknowledges and appreciates how stressful it is for the schools involved.

“But we do have an obligation, the review process is an important process and at the end of it we’ll have a much clearer idea of how we’re going to continue to provide excellent programming for the children,” she declared.

“Now that we’re in review, we’re going to do our very best to study all aspects during the review process and will keep the public informed,” added Brown.

Mill Village Consolidated School is not being reviewed after the decision was made in March, said Pynch-Worthylake.

The decision to review Greenfield is delayed a year, she added, the board deadline is the end of May 2009.