and Rationale
May 31, 2006
Bridgewater
Raynham
Easton
East Bridgewater
West Bridgewater
Massachusetts
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Bridgewater-Raynham Schools
Massachusetts
USA
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Opinion/Analysis
Joseph Gillis Jr.
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Motion: That the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District adopt School Choice, as described in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 76, Section 12B, for the 2006-07 school year. Provided further, that
(a) Attention be given to Ch.76 § 12B (j) School committees may establish terms for accepting non-resident students; provided, however, that if the number of non-resident students applying for acceptance to said district exceeds the number of available seats, said school committee shall select students for admission on a random basis; provided, further, that said school committee shall conduct said random selection twice: one time prior to July first and one time prior to November first; provided, further, that no school committee shall discriminate in the admission of any child on the basis of race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, ancestry, athletic performance, physical handicap, special need or academic performance or proficiency in the English language.
(b) Limitations on the number of students per grade level as follows:
grade 1, 2 students
grade 2, 2 students
grade 3, 2 students
grade 4, 2 students
grade 5, 2 students
grade 6, 2 students
grade 7, 3 students
grade 8, 3 students
grade 9, 2 students
grade 10, 3 students
grade 11, 3 students
grade 12, 4 students
Background/reasoning:
First is to do a small-scale program implementation, in the event that when all school buildings are on-line that we decide to accept School Choice on a larger scale. When all facilities are complete, certain grades and buildings will have excess handling capacity. As a School Committee, we are charged with providing for the education of the 6000 students and planning the finances necessary for that purpose. School Choice is a route some districts, locally and notably West Bridgewater, have used to create optimal class sizes, increase academic class offerings, and augment classroom educational materials. With the increased capacity, the B-R School Committee would also like to explore these possibilities.
And, second, to accommodate certain individual student situations. Historically, we have had students relocate who have wanted to complete their Bridgewater-Raynham education. Reasons could be change of custodial parent, temporary relocation due to some housing or living circumstance, or a special family issue.
The motion passed unanimously, by a vote of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School Committee.
