Summary of Dr. Halley's NEW Plan
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all children are created equal,...unless you are Dr. Halley and certain members of our School Committee.
On May 21, 2003, the School Committee held a reconfiguration meeting at North Kingstown High School that was reminiscent of last year's endless
round of reconfiguration meetings. This time, as in last year's final meeting at the High School, Dr. Halley unveiled a new reconfiguration proposal that had never before been brought to the public's attention.
Once again, Dr. Halley is attempting an eleventh hour reconfiguration, rather than adhering to standard norms of public policy-making that would entail
detailed, well thought out plans that would stand the test of time. The modus operandi of Dr. Halley can be seen clearly here, introducing a plan with little time for reflection, analysis or input from the public. Once again we have been presented with a temporary solution! One that requires us to place our trust in someone who has proved most untrustworthy.
Once again, Dr. Halley has brought forth a proposal that treats the children in one part of town differently than in another part of town. The children
in the southern part of town, should this plan be implemented, will have the benefit of K-5 configurations The children in the northern part of town will not reap the benefits of Dr. Halley's idealized K-5 plan. Rather, those children who live in the Davisville area will continue to be split
between Davisville Elementary and Quidnessett Elementary. During last year's reconfiguration, these families were assured that the splitting of their
school would be a temporary solution.
Fishing Cove will be reopened and
approximately 97 children from Quidnessett Elementary will be redistricted, yet again, to Fishing Cove School.
Many members of the public who were present at last night's meeting were very disturbed with this proposal. Even according to its proponents, the
success of this plan is dependent on many factors including the passage of a large bond that are completely out of the Committee's control.
Furthermore, substantial doubts exist that Dr. Halley even intends to implement the K-5 plan in the North in the future. Many people suspect that Dr. Halley is
insistent on keeping DES a K-3 school because he intends to again attempt a pairing scenario at some point in the future.
Another major flaw regarding Dr. Halley's proposal is that the proposal as written provided no information to the school committee or the public as to the placement of special education programs under his configuration. This lack of inclusion and oversight is precisely what the Department of Education addressed in it's February decision.
More Information
Plan Comparisons & May 21, 2003 Recommendation
