Time for change in Milton
When the idea of reorganizing Milton’s two K-5 elementary schools into a primary school and a grade 3-5 school was raised more than three years ago, it met quick resistance from both district administrators and the school board.
At the time, Milton Elementary test scores earned that school a superior rating, while at H.O. Brittingham Elementary, the scores resulted in a rating of commendable.
When the idea was raised, district officials feared consolidating the schools could result in higher scrutiny of the scores of certain student groups, possibly leading to lower ratings in both schools. Making decisions so as to avoid state scrutiny is never good policy.
Today both schools are rated superior; there is no better time to reconsider benefits and detriments of consolidating the two schools.
A superior rating is a remarkable achievement for any school, but it should not be overlooked that H.O. Brittingham has achieved that honor with almost twice as many students from low socio-economic backgrounds as Milton Elementary. Those children generally start school with skills that lag behind their wealthier peers, so HOB’s success demonstrates a high level of teacher effectiveness that parents of all children should welcome.
That’s why it’s hard to understand why parents would object to consolidation. The schools are less than a mile apart; travel times should not change drastically. Having all children in each grade in one facility would mean more even class sizes and more opportunities to provide services to small groups. Teachers would have more opportunity to help each other keep up with the latest technology and to discuss problems or successes occurring in their classrooms.
The most obvious if unspoken reasons to oppose consolidation are concerns about race and class.
The Cape Henlopen School Board must make decisions that are good for all children and all staff. Ensuring that all children have equal chances to learn from the district’s best teachers would be an obvious first step.
