Parker Ave School Subcommittee Meeting

School Committee member Ron Mercier last night announced a meeting on December 2nd of the Parker Avenue Elementary school subcommittee formed to decide how to handle a possible closing of that school.

To be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Dracut High School, what will be the first meeting of this subcommittee will now basically be a public hearing of some sort to allow input from parents and community.

With money drying up, and next year’s budget expected to be even more painful than this, it has long been discussed in town to eliminate one of the smaller schools to cut administrative and maintenance costs.

School enrollments have been on the decline for over a decade, yet during that period we have added a new school capable of seating 900 students as well as modulars at the high school that seat an additional hundred or more.

This meeting will now be an emotional platform for parents and teachers. After this, No decisions would be expected at this time.

But make no mistake about it, I heard last night from one state representative that “never mind the $200 million that has not been dealt with for this year.. we’re looking at a 4 to 5 BILLION dollar problem for the next fiscal year with nowhere left to cut. Higher ed, local aid.. they’re all going to have to be on the table.”