Oldham School Closing - Revisited at Board Meeting

By Bob Rodericks

Oldham School Closing - Silver Spring School Space Issues

Although it wasn't on the school committee agenda of June 10, 2014, the first topic of discussion became a rehash of why the Oldham School building on Bullocks Point Avenue in Riverside was closed. In 2013 the School Committee was basically under an order from the city Budget Commission and the State Department of Education to close a school with most fingers pointing at Oldham. At a meeting back then, Interim Superintendent John DeGoes addressed the community: "It wasn't until this past September - after being here as your interim Superintendent for one month - that I learned there is not enough money to operate all schools come next year," said an exasperated looking John DeGoes. DeGoes is a former Superintendent of Schools in East Providence who was brought back to stabilize the local schools until a permanent Superintendent is hired. "Because of the financial condition of the city, I have been instructed to close a school. The budget commission and the R.I. Department of Education (RIDE) do not think our student census warrants the number of school buildings East Providence has," DeGoes said. Oldham School has about 178 pupils after once having a few hundred more. DeGoes disclosed that he attended a meeting at RIDE at which time he was told that the state does not want some $2 million plus in bond money spent to repair the old school on Bullocks Point Avenue. "I looked into several other options, I don't enjoy closing a school, but closing Oldham is our only move - if we have to close a school," he said. "There is a large cost savings, it is the least disruptive, all Oldham kids will remain together, there will be no added bus costs and Meadowcrest (pre-school) will benefit (new kindergarteners would be sent to Meadowcrest)," DeGoes said as he tried to convince the school committee to support his recommendation. It didn't seem to ring well with most on the committee.

Back at that meeting in 2013, School Committee ward 4 member Tim Conley wasted no time in dismissing the DeGoes recommendation. "I couldn't disagree more with you. There is no way I can support this. Oldham is the best performing school in the city and you want to close it," said Conley in reference to the school's RIDE classification as a "high performing school. "This is a violation of state Title 16 regulations which strictly gives the school committee - not the budget commission - the authority to close a school," said a clearly upset Conley. Conley's district includes both Oldham and Waddington school buildings.

Throughout that meeting, a visibly upset Tim Conley interjected comments. "The logistics of this plan are dysfunctional, there was no public input. Our kids are at risk," he added. "Tim (Conley), you are spot on," said ward 4 city council member and former school board member Chrissy Rossi. "We are losing our rights on a daily basis because of this budget commission," said an upset Rossi. Both DeGoes and School Board Chair, Joel Monteiro indicated that they had been instructed by the budget commission to close a school and the commission believes that the school is Oldham.

After receiving a recommendation from an East Providence teacher, DeGoes revised his plan for Oldham. The Oldham building would be closed but instead of merging with Waddington School on Legion Way, Oldham students and staff would be sent as a group to the closed Meadowcrest School on Bart Drive. The Meadowcrest pre-school program would go to Waddington.

While some parents lamented the reasons which brought the issues to this decision, they mostly agreed with the new plan. "After hearing from everyone, I guess this is a better plan," DeGoes told the committee and a small gathering in the council chambers. "I hope that we replicate Oldham's program, supplies, everything they need when the students move to their new school," said committee member Tim Conley. "I assure you that it will work," answered DeGoes.

At the committee's June 10, 2014 meeting, the committee and Superintendent of Schools Kim Mercer were asked about "rumors" that Silver Spring school may lose a kindergarten class. The Superintendent said that it was "being looked into" but no decision was made yet. A teacher was given a displacement notice "just in case we have to move someone for September". "Our kindergarten registrations are down, the public needs to come in," Mercer stressed. "We are running out of physical space in the district," said Mercer. The problem seems to be more of a classroom space issue rather than an enrollment problem. Speakers lined up to complain that their children may not be able to stay at or go to Silver Spring School next year. Long time Silver Spring teacher and frequent speaker at meetings, Mary Texeira, told the committee that "we have no art room, we have art on a cart. A lot of blame can go around for all of these problems but there remains a passion in this city," she said. "You cannot fund education at under 50% and expect these decisions (closings, etc.) to not happen," added Texeira. "I've worked under a stairwell with kids, there is nowhere to go, no room," she said.

"We closed a school that we shouldn't have," chided member Tony Ferreira. "Open Oldham back up, I have an issue," said Ferreira. "Travelling schools? This city has been taking apart education for the dollar," he added. Patty DosReis, a parent, questioned the cost for possibly moving Silver Spring students. "You're going to move kids from Silver Spring and bussing is expensive. How is that going to work?" she asked.

City council member and former school board member Chrissy Rossi also spoke. "We seem to have an overcrowding problem. This committee told me we have declining enrollment and there was a great savings (in closing Oldham). I feel like I was lied to. I'm besides myself. We closed a perfectly good school (Oldham) and have nowhere to put them now. These are kids lives, fix this," Rossi said.

In an indirect response to Rossi, board member, and potential candidate for Rossi's ward 4 city council seat, Tim Conley countered, "I didn't support closing Oldham. The budget commission and R.I.D.E. (Dept. of Education) told us declining enrollment. The decision to close Oldham was of no educational value. The City felt it would save $3 million. The state needs to lift the moratorium on building of new schools," Conley said.

Chairman Joel Monteiro also looked at the budget commission. "The budget commission ordered the closing of a school. If not Oldham, then somewhere. It was inevitable. There was no decision here (locally) to close a school," Monteiro said. "R.I.D.E. and the budget commission had flawed numbers," Monteiro added. Member Tony Ferreira urged the committee to move on from the budget commission days. "We wasted 15 months. What did we do? Can't keep blaming the commission. This is an East Providence school issue, not the state's problem," said Ferreira. "We need to tell our state representatives to lift the building moratorium," said Monteiro.

Parent Jessica Beauchaine also was concerned about crowded numbers. "Remember, Waddington School has 570 plus kids there while Riverside Middle School has about 500. There is no room," she said. Parents continued to question numbers. "We currently have two kindergarten classes close to 50 (total). Yet, next year you show three 1st grade classes at Silver Spring?" asked Amy Tavares.

"We've got to build up education in order to fix this city," said Mary Texeira. "Good teachers are leaving or getting bumped around. Parents don't know where their kids will go sometimes. It comes down to money. The city council must step up. It's about commitment to education, about money," said Texeira. "We're looking at everything," said Superintendent Mercer.