By Nicole Whitten
I am writing this in enormous gratitude for the endless time and energy that all the boards have put forth for Ipswich’s elementary school project. Not many understand how much is sacrificed for the sake of others when holding public office. Sincere thanks for your civic duty.
When the new elementary project first began I was very certain that a combined downtown location elementary school was best for our youngest students and citizens. At this time, I feel compelled to share my reasoning for being strongly opposed to the Doyon site for a combined elementary school.
Read more about the elementary school project here
My volunteer work in sustainable education throughout the district has proven to me how both elementary school cultures could benefit from one another by being combined. This would give curriculum and resource equity to all Ipswich elementary students, and start every student off on the same page of school culture — producing a “family or community” of sorts for the K-12 years of their public education.
With Ipswich being so large in land mass, introducing the students from the get go would help bridge the division (of culture, curriculum, resources) between the two schools. I’ve witnessed this division numerous times first hand, and have felt that it is not in the best interest for our children.
Over the past few years watching the process of this new school project I’ve had a change of heart on the combined school option. I now know that leadership is what affects division and inequity, not facility. Smaller school research has proven it is that which is in the best interest for the education of small children. I do believe this to be true.
I know and have experienced the benefits of having all students closer to the downtown community/hub of Ipswich. Some of these benefits are walking field trips to historical and environmental areas (for example, the Ipswich River and Museum), cross-grade educational experiences with the middle/high school (where older students and siblings could walk from the M/H school campus to the elementary), and having a presence where residents are exposed to our town’s children as a reminder that a strong community involves all citizens- young to old, poor to affluent and weak to strong.
A community centered school invites and welcomes all citizens for use. In my many hours of work in the school gardens on Winthrop playground I cannot express how many citizens, some without children, come to be on the playground….some to be with children, some just passing, having a picnic or walking through, some lending a hand at the school.
A school is a safe space, and much like the feeling of curiosity, awe and appreciation of a spring bird nest with fresh eggs, a school is a place of wonder and hope that naturally one desires the best of outcomes. If we remove this from our downtown heart, we lose a piece of ourselves, especially in such a critical time in the need of strong undivided communities.
Today we live in a culture where school children are driven to school more often than not (even with busing) due to parent work schedules and will of the child. From a sustainability and climate change stand point, imagine the line of idling cars at Doyon drop off/pick ups when kids miss the bus because of earlier bus times in the mornings due to distance and whole town busing, plus the chosen drop offs.
To me this is just wrong, going backwards and absolutely the wrong message to send our youngest students about taking care of our environment. My daughters are already on the bus for a full half hour to and from school to Winthrop, can we really expect an up to 45 min. transport for our children?
Wouldn’t you think many might opt out and be driven to school for more reasonable time spent at home… all adding to the idling? Don’t we want our new school to be an educational tool of sustainability and environmental responsibility?
In America today, youth aren’t encouraged to bike or walk safely around their town as we did years ago. Children at Winthrop, because of its location, are able to do this still. Not is it only a more sustainable option but is the norm for some — walking, biking to school, from school to the library or playground — this happens, and is a daily act more than you realize.
For some, it is how they get to school or are able to participate in after school programs. For some, it is why they get to school — in order to have breakfast and/or be a part of a family.
How can we take this away from our youth? Why wouldn’t we want to further this “it takes a village” stance — where the trust in our fellow neighbors, citizens, business owners and police/fire officers is loud and clear?
Think of how many middle/high school students grace us every day downtown when the school day ends. What happens? We slow down in our driving, we are reminded of our own youth, we see a friendly and recognizable face, maybe we wave or smile — we are watching out for one another!
Many move to Ipswich because of this village reciprocal benefit that doesn’t exist in many places any longer. These citizens become our friends, neighbors, volunteers, voters and part of our economic stability in Ipswich.
We cannot combine the elementary schools without involving this community — it IS going to take a village to make such a large school work. Placing it two miles from downtown proper will alienate many citizens from the spirit of the school.
This would be detrimental to our neighborhoods, local businesses and most importantly, our children.
Although it makes me feel sick to my stomach, as I only want the best for all of our children, and a facility that can be used as an educational tool for sustainability, I cannot support this location decision.
Without the prospect of Bialek (and why this is so I still do not understand), getting back in line with the MSBA would give the community and boards time to comprehensively plan for Ipswich’s capital projects and for what is best for all of our community, not just the few.
Frankly, I’ve seen the facility challenges in both schools as part of the glue that keeps those schools running as adversity makes one stronger. I have faith in the leadership and curriculum of our school district that if the combined elementary school project fails, our school children will still be supported in full by our community and realistically better off than most in this world.
Removal of the essence of our littlest citizens from downtown is not the right choice. I fear we may be making an unfortunate mistake for our children and community’s future, and I cannot support it.