Preperation for May 5, 2008 Public Hearing at Cloonan School

From: Save Toquam Committee
To: Toquam Community
Re: Preparation for the Monday, May 5th Public Hearing
To be held at Cloonan Middle School Auditorium, 7pm, at 11 North Street

We have identified 8 main points of concern regarding the Board of Education's redistricting and school closure proposals, as they stand currently. This is not to say that there are other issues that many Toquam community members have voiced on other occasions. Please feel free to speak at the upcoming public hearing on any concern you may have. However, the following 8 items are issues that have been identified by the group as top concerns. We are forwarding them to everyone in the Toquam community please use them as speaking points at the publics hearing, if you are comfortable in doing so. Background information is available, please read the attached document.

1). Child Learning Center (CLC)
- CLC has expressed interest in obtaining additional school space for more city-run pre-k program
- their needs are in the areas below Bull's Head (where families in need of pre-k reside)
- while they have moderate interest in Toquam, they are very interested in a building located below Bull's Head
- it is in all of Stamford's best interest to support early education, pre-k programs, as it is the foundation for future academic success
- BoE has maintained this is not their charge, we maintain that it is. Solid pre-k programs cultivate school success, for which we all benefit

2). Rogers/EMS transition
- we are very interested in hearing how this transition can work
- the Rogers community wants to go to the new EMS and Toquam wants to stay and rather than being phased out we'd like to accept more students

- we'd like to know how the board of education will finance the required 6 to 15 million dollars of repairs to the Rogers building, if they do not to move
- Toquam, at its current location, can offer seats to absorb students

3). Loss of EMS as middle school choice (this has been mentioned by several parents)
- As a point of clarification: EMS, by virtue of its size, would not have been a viable "choice' for middle school for the majority of Stamford
- the lack of middle school "choice" and academic intervention needs to addressed with the BoE separate to Toquam, Rogers and EMS transitional plans

4). School Community
- Toquam is a valuable school community that needs to be preserved
- many families enjoy attending a Toquam even though it is not within the confines of their individual neighborhood
- it is important for the board of education to know that some of us do not mind taking a bus to Toquam
- it is also important for the board of education to know that we value both our individual neighborhoods and our school communities, wherever they are

5). Toquam/Stark transition
- if this is to be a consideration, Stark will need to come to Toquam
- it is in the best interest of student achievement to not disrupt two buildings
- the plan, as proposed has left too many loose ends and is currently difficult to comment on

6). Toquam remains where it is
- Toquam can offer assistance in balancing other schools from its current location
- Toquam is a tool in the redistricting process

7). Academic Performance
- thank you for finally putting academic performance into the spot light
- Toquam is one of two district elementary schools that has met academic goals as defined by NCLB
- it is irresponsible to not value academic performance in this process
- the community is please to see it being included

8). Subjective application of criteria
- school closure criteria was never applied evenly to the original 5 (now 6 schools) selected for potential closure
- criteria was identified but never publicly applied to all schools being considered
- criteria has been applied differently to each school considered