Mattapoisett School Committee members from both sides of the fence considered just that – a proposed enclosure around the playground area near the circular drive at Center School.

Facilities Director Gene Jones on September 8 presented his recommended plan for a fence to cordon off the early childhood playground area, an idea first suggested by School Committee member James Muse just before school broke for the summer.

Jones placed an orange temporary barrier at the proposed site of a permanent fence to give committee members a visual to consider while weighing in the pros and cons of creating a barrier for small children who might stray from recess into the parking area while teachers are not looking.

Jones said the temporary orange fencing is also a way to test the likelihood that the fence would act as a successful measure “to keep the little guys confined to the playground.”

Jones said the temporary fencing is 40 feet long, and he added an additional eight feet of fencing along the sides to increase safety by giving teachers more time to react should a child start to wander off, while maintaining an open appearance to the area.

“If we’re gonna do this, then we should do it right,” suggested Jones. He quoted the permanent black vinyl-coated fence at $3,700. He added that he personally thinks the orange temporary fence is achieving the desired results at this time.

The fence did not fly with Chairman Jim Higgins, who pointed out that Center School was already in compliance with regulations pertaining to the safety of the playground.

“In my opinion, I don’t really see a need for a fence,” said Higgins.

Committee member Jim Muse said, as has become his axiom before debating ideas with the chairman, that he “respectfully disagree[s]” with Higgins’ opinion about the fence. Muse argued that children with special needs are at a higher risk for wandering off.

“I know that’s not a big traffic area,” said Muse, “but it only takes one time.” Muse, who was on the School Building Committee, said he does not know why a fence to section off the playground area was not initially included in the design plan. He said he preferred to “err on the side of caution and student safety.”

“As the parent of a child who has been known to run off when he wants to,” stated School Committee member Henry Carter Hunt, he would prefer the playground be fenced off, “not just buffered.”

Higgins, recognizing that there is sufficient support for the fence to move forward to the next step, agreed that the committee should continue the discussion next month, allowing time for Jones to present the proposed plan to early childhood educators at Center School for feedback before proceeding any further.

Superintendent Doug White suggested soliciting teachers for data as to whether or not the temporary fence is making an impact on keeping students in the playground.

“Is it doing its job, or not?” asked White.

Also discussed, a second grade school choice slot opened up this week after one student withdrew from the program, leaving committee members with the decision to either advertise the open slot, or simply allow a child on a waiting list for the first grade school choice to take the opening.

White said, with first grade class sizes at about 16 students per class, the move to allow the first-grader to fill the slot would not have a negative impact. He also suggested that it would be quicker to fill the slot by allowing a third first grade school choice student rather than advertise for a second second-grade slot. White asked the committee how it would like to proceed.

“We feel confident that we could manage the additional student,” said White.

Center School and Old Hammondtown School Principal Rose Bowman said she welcomed a total of 508 students to the 2014-2015 school year and introduced the new Assistant Principal Kevin Tavares.

In other matters, the committee addressed vandalism at Center School that occurred over the summer, with Jones announcing that video surveillance footage helped identify the suspects and police have charged three minors with the crime.

White introduced new Business Administrator Patrick Spencer and new Director of Student Services Michael Nelson to committee members. White also announced that the Old Rochester Regional School District will not be filling the vacant position of technology director, choosing instead to restructure the Technology Department and allow tech specialists from all six schools to float freely around the district under the direction of White and Assistant Superintendent Elise Frangos.

Along with its effectiveness and manageability, White said the move also falls in line with the district’s Strategic Plan of using resources more efficiently.

“This is something that potentially does that,” said White.

Frangos told the committee that the new “Go Math” pre-K through sixth grade curriculum is now established within the district, and teachers have already completed their first professional development session pertaining to the curriculum. The committee chose the curriculum during the last school year in order to comply with the new Common Core State Standards.

The next meeting of the Mattapoisett School Committee is scheduled for October 20 at 7:00 pm in the Center School cafeteria.

By Jean Perry