Scrutinize student population projections carefully..
Student population projection studies need to be scrutinized very closely and a lot of questions need to be asked. When we lived in Ridgefield, CT, just a couple years ago, there were 6 elementaries, feeding 2 middles, feeding the 1 HS. For several years, there was active debate and outside consultants hired who projected that the elementary school population was going to decline, and therefore, 1 of the elementary schools should be closed and students be re-assigned. This caused a tremendous uproar in the town.
After a couple years of consultants studies, the town was on the verge of shutting down 1 of the elementary schools, when low and behold, the number of elementary students suddenly surged. Residents were furious that the consultants could be so far off in their projections. The student population projection studies were tossed and all 6 elementary schools remained open.
|