Building an addition to the present facility
Advantages- has been previously looked at- some work already done in this direction could be used again. Larger school means potential for larger program.
Disadvantages- larger schools have dis-economies of scale- need more administrators to function and depersonalize the school. Provides no room for further growth. Larger facilities are more difficult to control-more discipline problems.
Encourage town Selectmen to adopt a partial tax abatement for those who assume responsibility for educating their children at no expense to the district.
Advantages- would encourage the growth of popular alternatives to government provided education. Would leave more funds for children who stayed with district provided schools. Would be more fair to those who currently are paying twice for the education of the children. Would truly fulfill the school board's mission to ensure that each child receives the best education that she can.
Disadvantages- many fear that competition would destroy current system and so deprive some children of opportunity. Would give less political control to education system.
Encourage passage of charter school legislation, both to allow an application to operate a charter school and to allow open enrollment with other participating schools.
Advantages- Would allow alternative choices in schools of varying educational philosophies to operate while keeping them under political control. Would make capital investment the problem of the charter school committee.
Disadvantages- would cede some control over program and operation currently held by school board. Many other issues such as liability, labor relations, concern for providing some pupils an elite program.
Building a new additional facility
Advantages- smaller more personal school- the 2 schools could specialize. Perhaps one could be more "arts" orientated- one more "science" orientated etc. Smaller schools have fewer discipline problems and need less administrators per student to function. Smaller buildings are less complicated and may be less expensive.
Disadvantages- may be more expensive to build- would spread out program- a different direction.
Adjusting scheduling to have more periods in a day or year round schools with overlapping schedules.
Advantages- lowers or eliminates need for capital investment. Possibly enables larger program. Uses facilities to maximum efficiency.
Disadvantages- larger payroll, air conditioning expense. Inefficiencies of large size.
**Investigate "virtual schooling"- district based distance learning for those who have a parent at home- especially in the lower grades.
Advantages- keeps ORSD on the cutting edge of educational theory. Most pupil space is provided by the home. Would allow alternative educational philosophies to coexist with traditional schools.
Disadvantages- unknown path- may undermine support for current system. May not be educationally sound.
Regrading- moving 9th grade to middle school- 5th grade to primary schools.
Advantages- requires no construction- uses buildings that are recently remodeled to greatest efficiencies.
Disadvantages- requires major adjustments in current program. Require usage of facilities at capacity- allows no reserve capacity may require elimination of tuition students.
Tuition out- let it be known to Deerfield, Barrington, Nottingham or other interested towns that we would enter into a long term contract to send tuition students to any school that they might build.
Advantages- shifts capital expense out of district. Encourages diversity of program and may be geographically advantageous to many current residents.
Disadvantages- other towns may not build schools that accommodate our needs.
Vouchers- provide parents with the option of receiving a voucher good for tuition at participating schools.
Advantages- provides opportunity for diversity in educational philosophies. Shifts capital expense to operators of schools.
Disadvantages- gives money collected by taxes to private organizations and may offer church/state separation objections.
Do Nothing- allow class size to grow.
Advantages- costs less money
Disadvantages- probably not educationally sound- may lower property values.
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Last update on 29-Mar-99 at 9:31 PM.
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This page is edited by David K. Taylor. Please send questions or comments to editor@orol.org.