There was a moment, about 45 minutes into a brain-storming session with seven Derby officials in the high school library, when members started to reflect about the ideas they were posting onto an over-sized paper attached to an easel.
Regionalization? Consolidating schools? Closing the high school?
Seeing the ideas in permanent marker seemed to make them nervous.
What would the headlines read? How would the press spin it? What would the talk be at the coffee shop?
They calmed themselves down by reminding themselves of the mission — improving the Derby Public School system, which means doing the best by the students in the district.
The Group
In November, the Derby school district created a a strategic planning group, made up of some 30 people in Derby. The group includes city and school officials, parents, students and community leaders.
That large group has now been divided into smaller groups, each tackling separate issues in the school district.
On Monday, the “organizational efficiency work group” met at the high school.
They’re the group who will be exploring ways the school district can save money, or, in the words of the group, promoting “greater economic efficiencies while preserving educational quality.”
In a budget season where school officials say they’re underfunded and city leaders are hemming and hawing at the idea of a 7.22 percent education budget increase, this group is looking at long-term ways to make the district more efficient.
They’re asking tough questions.
Because those discussions mean talks of possibly closing or consolidating schools, Superintendent Stephen Tracy joked they might as well change the name to the “hot potato” group.
In addition to Tracy, those who met included high school principal Fran Thompson, Derby finance director Henry Domurad, school business manager Pam Mangini, youth services director John Saccu and school board members Kimberly Kreiger and Laura Harris.
The group discussion was led by Connie Condon of Diversified NonProfit Services, Inc.
An Idea
The ideas discussed are just that — ideas. It was their first meeting, so it remains to be seen what their recommendations to the Derby school board will be.
The group first talked about regionalizing parts of the school district — that is, teaming with another school district to educate students.
There were no certainties in that discussion Tuesday. The group didn’t lean one way or another in terms of supporting the issue.
Instead, they laid out a number of items to research, such as:
- What’s the financial impact?
- Are there any school districts out there — Seymour, Ansonia — that would be willing to merge?
- What would the configuration be? Would Derby send its high school students out of town, while maintaining the lower grades locally? Or would it be the other way around?
- What are the legal issues involved?
- What were the experience of other school districts who’ve been regionalized?
Both Domurad and Kreiger said that Ansonia and Derby considered a regional school in the 1990s. The talks did not progress.
Tracy said he would start putting out feelers to other school superintendents Thursday to see what the reaction may be.
The group decided to set June 2013 as the due date for a report on regionalization to the Derby Board of Education.
“We’re going to give them the facts,” Condon said.
Idea # 2
Next, the group talked about reconfiguring the lower-grade schools in Derby.
Right now the district has two elementary schools — Bradley and Irving.
An idea — close one of those schools and consolidate. That could mean building an addition to one of the buildings.
Another idea — keep two schools, but reconfigure the grades.
Again, the group didn’t say “we like” or “we dislike.”
Instead, they outlined a number of areas to research, including:
- Surveying teachers and parents on the ideas
- Speak with other school districts
- Costs?
- Savings?
A report on the second issue is due June 2012.
The group’s next meeting is scheduled for April 4 at 6 p.m. at Derby High School.
