TAC members consider district options.

On the screen at the Portsmouth Middle School Library was a map covered with dots, every one representing a K-3 student, and for two hours last night, the 20 members of the Transition Advisory Committee (TAC) wrestled with the best place to draw lines that would divide those children into the two remaining elementaries, Hathaway and Melville.

The group began with four hypothetical approaches, with boundaries ranging from Glen Road to McCorrie lane, with varying slices across the island, each accompanied by backup material showing how many of the 366 displaced Elmhurst kids would be added to each school.

School finance director Mark Dunham reviewed each option with the group, and Supt. Lusi stressed that while the TAC was providing guidance, the administration accepted responsibility. "We're going to take all the input, and we'll come up with the bus routes," said Lusi. "Part of my role is that if anybody should get shot, it should be me. If someone in a given neighborhood is unhappy it's not your personal fault."

The TAC conducted two breakouts where members rotated, discussing the pros and cons of each of the proposed districting schemes and the general consensus that emerged was a preference for a modified map with boundaries (subject to fine tuning) in which students south of Glen Road, up Middle Road, across Hedley and down Cory's Lane would all go to Melville. (Ed. note: I want to stress that these are NOT final, nor even very precise. There was substantial discussion, with a lot of back-and-forth on streets and neighborhoods and I'm including this as an indication of the rough thinking of the committee, not to scare anyone.)

The pros for this approach were a better number of students at Melville, which has a smaller physical plant, and a more even division which would leave space at both schools to handle any new enrollments. The downsides were that the change predominately affected Elmhurst children since the majority of the existing boundaries remained intact, and there were still concerns about the Kindergarten capacity at both schools.

The next step, said Lusi, would be for Dunham to work with the bus company to test out routing, but she did not know how long that process would take.

The committee also discussed team-teaching vs. self-contained approaches to the fourth grade at the Middle School. Hathaway, said Lusi, uses the team-teaching model, where three teachers specialize in a particular topic (science, math, ELA) and students rotate, much as they would in higher grades. Fourth grades at Melville and Elmhurst currently use a self-contained model, where the same teacher delivers all content. After talking with the teachers, Lusi, said, there did not appear to be consensus for either approach. "When [Asst. Supt.] Ms. Jermain and [PMS Principal] Mr. Amaral met with teachers, there was a mix of opinions," said Lusi. "This is what we came up with: Fourth grade would be largely self contained with teacher option of partnering with a colleague and regrouping around a topic." Lusi suggested that the district would track data and could revisit the decision at the end of the first year.

Several parents — mostly, but not exclusively, from Hathaway — pushed on the team-teaching option. Lusi stressed that while Hathaway had proved the model successful, there were challenges. "We do have data, and we do like what we've seen in teaming," said Lusi, "But those teachers have had professional development. The data has shown good growth in both [team-teaching and self-contained], and the question is whether we have the conditions in place for everyone to successfully team next year."

Some parents noted that one of the committee's themes was to be "least disruptive," and that "keeping teachers happy" was important, so minimizing change would be a good thing. "Happy teachers, happy kids," one parent said.

Incoming Hathaway principal Bob Ettinger stressed that either approach works. "What I've discovered is that whatever gets the collective juices going with teachers is what works. If you get the right mix and we let people be a little more creative, that's where you get the best results."

The TAC will be meeting again Thursday evening.