Alternative Implementation of the Princeton Plan:
Grouping Select Grades
In response to the complexities regarding transportation that may arise from the first proposal, we also suggest for schools to the plan for several schools to house two grades.
One school, for instance, Barnard, would exclusively specialize in Kindergarten and 1st grade. For 2nd and 3rd grade, a K-5 school would take them in. 4th and 5th grade would be taken by another, and so on.
Putting two grades in each school would ease the burden of bussing and give more stability for kids to be in a similar surrounding for these two years. Additionally, lessening the buildings used in the district could offset some of the increased transportation costs as another benefit. Former schools could be turned into community centers or senior living residences.
Alternatives should be explored, as long as they are repurposing schools for the betterment of the community, without simply selling them to private developers.
Our children’s education and bridging the opportunity gap will always be the top priority. In accordance with the list of requests, NREC2A also endorses the idea of integrating 6th-9th grade.
As of the 2018-2019 school year, Isaac E. Young houses 1,128 total students. 324 of these students are in 6th grade, 386 in 7th, and 409 in 8th.
Albert Leonard totals 1,262 students consisting of 429 6th graders, 386 7th graders, and 441 8th graders.
New Rochelle High School's freshman class totaled 941 students.
We recognize that suggested previous plans have gained relative approval from the community and NREC2A is looking into the potential economic impact. With the proposed model resulting in an increase of approximately 260 students in ALMS and over 600 in IEYMS, the feasibility of the plan leaves room for much discussion.