Windham Citizen's Petition - Move 8th grade to Highschool

· An effort to alleviate overcrowding in Windham’s Schools and avoid splitting the 3rd grade between Goldenbrook and the Center School in the most cost effective manner until long-term solutions are implemented;

· The high school has adequate capacity as it was built to accommodate growth in student count over the next 10-15 years (1000 students);

· The high school already has a “freshman academy” which could be utilized in part to help with the integration.

· Housing the 8th graders in the high school will eliminate the need to split the 3rd grade classes between the center school and Golden brook.

· Moving 3rd graders to Golden brook would further tax the school’s infrastructure which is at 199% capacity, resulting in the loss of the art and music rooms and other resources.

· Golden brook’s current capacity and safety ratings are already at unacceptable ratings.

· Benefit to the 8th graders in attending a brand new, state of the art facility.

· Moving 8th grade to the high school next year, will result in 8 additional students at the middle school rather than 105 additional students at Golden brook.

· The high school will remain well under capacity. (approximately 925 students versus a capacity of 1,000.