Next steps:

• Maria: Confirm with Stephanie Lapham (Parks and Rec garden manager) whether garden plots require re-registration every year and share the information with the group/Robin for newsletter distribution.

• Robin: Send out information about the Cooper Center/Audrey Cooper Center for Active Living ribbon cutting and celebration in the newsletter once received from Joan.

• Alicia, Mark, Josh Morse, and relevant NPS building group members: Discuss and determine what data and analysis are needed to evaluate the feasibility and case for building two neighborhood schools (Ward and Underwood) versus consolidation, and begin this analysis sooner rather than later, independent of MSBA process timing.

• Amy Sangiolo: Follow up with MassDOT to request the specific traffic flow data (before and after rotary changes) and press for more complete and relevant information.

• Amy Sangiolo: Request that the City of Newton traffic department collect local traffic data on Church Street and other impacted side streets to assess the effects of rotary changes.

• Allison Leary/Traffic Council: Docket the proposal for a yield sign on Center Street at the rotary for discussion in Traffic Council.

• Robin: Walk by 226 Church Street to check if exterior asphalt removal work has started and report back to the group.

• Robin: Include in meeting notes a request for analysis of historical student population projections (2010, 2012, 2014) and their subsequent accuracy, for future reference and decision-making.

• Robin: Raise the issue of National Grid/Eldridge Street mitigation (impact on parking, access for school and church, street condition) for follow-up with DPW and relevant parties.

Group Meeting Introduction

Robin welcomed attendees to the meeting. She emphasized that the primary purpose of the meeting was to formulate questions to direct the gathering of information for making decisions about Ward and Underwood Schools. Alicia confirmed her upcoming role as chair of the school committee,  Arrianna was introduced as the Ward 1 school committee member, and Shaul raised a point about the accuracy of student growth predictions. The meeting welcomed several new participants, and Robin encouraged them to introduce themselves if they wished.

The Cooper Center for Active Living

Joan discussed the Cooper Center for Active Living and shared memories of Audrey Cooper. She noted the upcoming ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Senior Citizen Center on December 5th, highlighted Newton Corner's significant involvement in the project, and invited everyone to attend the weekend celebrations.

Spear's Park Community Garden

Maria shared that the very successful Spear's Park Community Garden closed on the 15th and will reopen in the spring. Stephanie Lapham, the garden manager, will send out notices in February for people to register for next year's garden.

School Improvements

Marc provided an overview of the school building improvement process in Newton, explaining that the school committee reviews building needs every few years, sets priorities, and seeks funding from various sources, including the city council, mayor, and sometimes the state through the Massachusetts School Building Authority. (which can provide up to 30% of the cost.)  Currently, Ward and Underwood elementary schools are at the top of the list for improvements, with other schools such as Newton South High and Brown Middle School also needing significant attention.

Student-Space Ratio Policy Changes

The discussion focused on changes in student-space ratios and their implications for schools. Marc explained that educational philosophies have evolved, leading to greater space needs due to the inclusion of all students in the same buildings and modern facilities, like lunch rooms and auditoriums. He also noted that the Massachusetts School Building Authority prefers funding schools with larger enrollments, typically 350 or more students. However, Newton's neighborhood school model for elementary students may not align with this preference. The group discussed the potential impact of universal pre-K on school capacity, with Marc suggesting it could add approximately 800-900 students across the 15 elementary schools.

School Funding

Marc emphasized the importance of exploring state funding for school projects, noting that while it would be helpful, it is not required, and the city may prioritize projects with better funding chances. He explained that the school department and Chief Operating Officer Josh Morse have expertise in applying for state funding and can provide guidance on favorable applications.

Elementary School Consolidation Discussion

Marc also discussed the potential for consolidating the Ward and Underwood schools, suggesting that a consolidated school could serve more than 550 students, which is larger than the current elementary schools but may be feasible due to past higher enrollments. He advised that if the city decides against consolidation, it should be transparent about the decision to address voter concerns and justify the need for two separate schools.

The discussion focused on the potential consolidation of Ward and Underwood elementary schools due to their low enrollment numbers, which are below 400 students combined, making them candidates for consolidation. Marc explained that while consolidation would create a large school, it could also allow for redistricting to smaller schools like Mason Rice, Bowen, or Cabot. Gavi asked why other schools that have been recently rebuilt did not have to deal with consolidation issues, and Christy asked if Pierce and Williams, which have similar enrollment numbers and are adjacent to each other, would face the same consolidation discussion. Marc responded that in the first case, it was all about numbers. The other schools were too large for consolidation. Secondly, while the distance between Williams and Pierce is significant, consolidation would be worth considering if both schools needed renovation or replacement.

School Consolidation Discussion Continued

The group discussed concerns about school consolidation. Marc emphasized that voters in other parts of the city would inevitably ask about consolidation. Alison highlighted the importance of Newton's neighborhood school model, particularly for the Newton Corner community. Marc noted that larger Ward and Underwood buildings could potentially house district-wide programs, which would affect school populations. The discussion agreed on the value of neighborhood schools but acknowledged the need to examine consolidation questions.

Specific School Consolidation Concerns

The focus then shifted to concerns about the potential consolidation of Ward and Underwood schools, with Jennifer and Maria expressing worry that Underwood would be closed and replaced with a large elementary school. Alicia clarified that the long-range planning document only shows Ward as a priority for immediate action, not as a definitive plan. Marc emphasized that no decisions have been made about the school's location, and he noted the challenges of moving Bigelow Middle School, which currently has over 600 students.

School Construction Feasibility Assessment

How feasible is it to build a new combined school on the Ward site?  Marc explained that while nothing is impossible, building a 550-600 student school would be difficult due to site constraints and logistical challenges. Similar concerns exist for rebuilding on the Underwood site.  Laura raised concerns about the length of time already spent discussing school consolidation, noting that if the school officials had planned ahead, they could have made better decisions. The discussion highlighted the need for comprehensive planning, including enrollment projections, site assessment, and consideration of future development impacts, before proceeding with any school construction plans.

Importance of Village Schools

Alicia emphasized the importance of village schools and the need to conduct an analysis to make a compelling case for building two neighborhood schools. She emphasized that ultimately the voters would have to make that decision. To present the strongest case possible to the voters, the School Committee should explore the option of consolidating Ward and Underwood and explain why this would or would not be feasible. The lack of available land in both areas was repeatedly cited as a reason for not building a large, consolidated school. Shaul also said that there are 3000 students in the city who attend private school.  If there were a significant economic downturn, it is possible that up to 1000 students would return to the public school system.

Traffic Concerns

The group discussed the need for traffic data that analyzed the effects of work done on the rotary.  Nate stated that data on traffic flow before and after structural changes made last fall near the Eastbound exit had been promised by MassDOT but were never received.  Instead, repeated requests generated 1300 pages of very specific engineering information that lacked the data he had asked for. Amy Sangiolo is following up on these data requests. Concerns were raised about increased traffic on Church Street and Center Street since the changes were made. This led to a discussion about which roads were the state's responsibility and which were the city's. Kathy commented that easing the traffic congestion around the rotary had caused drivers on Center Street to enter the rotary at much higher speeds. A "Yield" sign was suggested as a potential solution.

The meeting ended with updates on issues involving 226 Church Street and National Grid construction impacts on Eldredge Street.  Maria announced that National Grid would remove all construction materials by December 20.