Saying it would rather put funding toward classroom programs than heating empty space, the Brandywine School Board of Education voted tonight on a space consolidation plan that will close two schools: Darley Road Elementary School and Hanby Middle School.  The closings will save the District about $1.6 million annually.         

         The district already committed in 2005 to close its district offices and the Bush Early Childhood Center. Bush will be relocated at the new Brandywood Elementary and district offices will be moved into an existing school. The total savings from all of these closings will be $2.1 million annually.

            The board also accepted the recommendation of the community-based Space Consolidation Committee to move into a K-5, 6-8, 9-12 grade level configuration.  Currently, Brandywine's schools are organized K-3, 4-6, 7-8, 9-12.  The new configuration will reduce the number of transitions for students. By doing so, students can stay in one school building for a longer amount of time - something which has a positive impact on student achievement. Under the plan approved by the school board, P.S. DuPont Elementary School (currently under renovation) will become a middle school.

            The school closings and grade level configuration changes will not occur until fall, 2009. Anticipating the changes, the district has already begun developing transition teams of staff members, parents, and administrators. These teams will help to ensure smooth transitions for all students and staff.

            The closings and grade level configuration changes mean the District must adjust feeder patterns. The recommended feeder patterns are available on the website at: www.brandywineschools.org <http://www.brandywineschools.org/>  (click on "Space Consolidation".)  In March, parents will also be mailed their specific feeder pattern under the new plan.  The board did not approve final feeder patterns and the administration will have flexibility to make minor adjustments.  Feeder patterns will be finalized by summer, 2008.

            The school board also authorized the administration to work with its legal department to find new uses for Darley Road and Hanby. Darley Road has a deed restriction for educational use and will most likely be leased to an educational organization.  The district may consider moving the new Brandywood Elementary School to the Hanby site, and then turning the current Brandywood site into open space.  It could also turn Hanby into open space.

            The moving of equipment, furniture, and classrooms from the closed buildings, as well as the modifications required at other buildings to accommodate the new grade-level configurations (such as toilets inside kindergarten classrooms, moving of playground equipment, etc.) will cost the district $2.6 million. This is a one-time expense, $2.1 million of which will be covered by the savings of just one year of space consolidation.

            The school closings were part of the district's 2007 spring Referendum commitment to the community. The district promised to consolidate space in order to save money and become more fiscally responsible. Currently, the district operates space for 14,000 students but educates just over 10,000.  All enrollment projections (which have been extremely accurate for several years) from the University of Delaware show Brandywine's enrollment will continue to decline until it hits about 9,600 students in 2014.  There are a number of reasons enrollment is declining, including: an aging population, limited space for new development, a decline in birth rates, population moving south, and competition from charter schools.

            The Brandywine School District Board and administration held many public updates and hearings on the issues, dozens of community meetings, and studied hundreds of letters and emails from community members.  The Board and administration believe that consolidating space is not only a fiscally responsible move, but a move that will also benefit students. Monies that would have been spent maintaining excess space can be spent protecting classroom programs.  The District is allocated funds from the state to pay for teachers based on student enrollment, not on classroom space, so no teachers will lose their jobs. Additionally, class sizes will be maintained and may even go down as a result of the closings. 

            The District has also committed not to lay off any staff members as a result of the closings. Cuts will be made through retirements and resignations.

            A volunteer Space Consolidation Committee comprised of community members, parents, school staff, and practitioners such as architects and educators have been meeting since September to analyze the issue. An educational best practices sub-committee was formed to examine the question of the grade level configurations. A facilities site sub-committee then took their recommendation and then analyzed the issue of which schools to recommend for closing.  The committees developed six plans, and brought two to the school board.  One recommended Darley Road and Hanby for closing; the other recommended Darley Road, Hanby, and Carrcroft.

            The schools recommended for closing were chosen based on their age and state of maintenance - including how much money would be needed to renovate them.  Money already slated for Hanby to be renovated will not be collected from taxpayers.

            The closing of Darley Road and Hanby still allows room for "Choice" among schools (the state program that allows parents to select which schools they want their children to attend.) The details of choice applications for the 2009-10 school year (which will be impacted by the change in grade level configurations of buildings) will be completed by fall, 2008.  They'll be available on the school district website.

            The Brandywine School District and Brandywine Education Association (teacher's union) will begin work immediately to determine how teacher assignments will be made in the coming transitions. 

            The District has also been working on the placement of its programs (such as the autism program, the gifted program, etc.) and will finalize those plans by the end of this school year.

            The Brandywine School District looks forward to continuing to work with its students, parents, and community to focus its efforts and dollars on student achievement.  We believe we deliver a wonderful education to our students - but we are never satisfied and are always focused on improvement. We will continue to work hard to fulfill our mission:  Embrace, inspire and challenge every student every day.

 

            If you have any questions about the District's Space Consolidation Plan, please contact Superintendent Jim Scanlon at 793-5002.

 
Dr. James R. Scanlon
Superintendent, Brandywine School District
302-793-5002
jim.scanlon@bsd.k12.de.us