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There is no real advantage for Middletown in full regionalization.
The elementary schools and Gaudet are stable and seem to be functioning well. I
have concerns about their preparation for HS, but hopefully curriculum
standards will be established at the top as they were in MA, and we will stop
teaching to the test.
However, the high school program that has most concerned me over
the years because of the abysmal test scores and because of the increasingly
limited opportunities for students.
The most egregious example is the focus on the top students -
bless those mathematical geniuses - at the sacrifice of the majority that may
or may not go to college but would profit from practical skills within the high
school itself or at the Career & Technical School.
Not everyone is interested enough or motivated or can afford
to go to college or to a trade/technical school. But Middletown sends few
students to NACTC because recruitment means exorbitant tuition for
each student.
But NACTC would be a part of a consolidated high school at no
extra cost. (Also, attaching the Pre-School would be beneficial for both
the little ones and the high schoolers who would be trained in a Child
Development program.)
Then there is the phasing out of multiple foreign
languages, some of the arts, and foundation courses
like civics and money management (real practical losses in everyday
lives.)
Of course there is the issue of teaching staff. If 25 students are
considered a full classroom, why do we have so many classes with numbers below
20? And is the explanation for the majority of low scores on
the AP exams that we have so many (obviously unqualified) students in AP
classes?
I have heard people say, "It's all about the money." It’s
common sense: one building is cheaper to maintain than two. And 2 teachers with
25 students in each classroom is cheaper than 3 teachers with
16 or maybe it’s better to have the same number of teachers with
many more available courses.
Finally, there is the challenge of working with Newport. Newport
has the name but they can't do it without us and that gives us leverage. I
believe in equal control. Our senator told us a year ago that agreements had
some flexibility. I would never support any agreement that did not
guarantee equal authority and supervision by both communities. Middletown is
Newport's sister community, not its poor cousin, and we need to be respected as
such.
So, if the Newport proposes regionalization to the Middletown Town
Council, I suggest that we tell them that we are only interested in high school
consolidation with fair and equal representation.
