Why, if the goal was supposed to ease overcrowding, were changes recommended for Fernwood School which did not face an overcrowding problem?
The plan’s success is based on an overall restructuring of the district and the plan is built like a puzzle, with each piece affecting the larger picture. We had a very overcrowded neighborhood surrounding Greenfield Montessoria specialty school. The plan recommended converting Greenfield to a neighborhood school so children who live in the area could go to school there. That meant relocating the Montessori program. There was no Montessori program on the south side of the city. Fernwood, as an existing K-8 school, has the necessary facilities to house a K-8 Montessori program. More importantly, Fernwood School was underutilized. The school can house 600 children, but enrollment was only 400. As we looked at location (south side) and an appropriate facility (K-8) where we could open up a good number of seats to meet the demand of parents who want Montessori education, Fernwood became the optimal choice. The Montessori program was phased in beginning with the lower grades so students enr
