Groton approves redistricting plans for middle, elementary schools

Groton — The Board of Education voted Monday to approve middle- and elementary-school redistricting plans, both of which will take effect next school year.

The middle school plan, known as “Option 7,” passed by a 5-1 vote, with one board member abstaining. It establishes which middle school students will attend after Fitch Middle School closes this summer. Students at S.B. Butler, Northeast Academy and Claude Chester elementary schools will attend Cutler Middle School, board member Beth Gianacoplos said.

West Side Middle School will take students from the Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School and Charles Barnum, Mary Morrisson and Pleasant Valley elementary schools.

Gianacoplos said the schools will have transition activities for students as they prepare to make the move from the elementary school level.

The elementary school redistricting plan, known as “Option 8” and which Gianacoplos said will redistrict less than 300 children in the district, will move some students from Northeast Academy to S.B. Butler and others from Catherine Kolnaski to Mary Morrisson. Gianacoplos said the changes will move the district closer to meeting the state guidelines for racial balance in schools. The board voted 6-1 for the changes.

The board also voted to install portable classrooms at both West Side and Cutler middle schools. Those installations will add space during the consolidation process, Gianacoplos said. The portable classrooms have been approved by both the Town Council and RTM, she said.

Agenda items on replacing a roof at Fitch Middle School and removing asbestos floor tiles from Mary Morrisson passed as well, Gianacoplos said. Those projects have been approved by the Town Council, Gianacoplos said, but still need RTM approval.

s.goldstein@theday.com