BREWSTER – For more than a decade, there has been discussion in Brewster about the possible consolidation of Stony Brook Elementary School and Eddy Elementary School.
Residents in Brewster will get the chance to vote on and discuss the issue further at the special fall town meeting later this month.
“This article that’s coming forward to the November town meeting is calling the question on whether or not the two schools should consider coming together and consolidating,” said Superintendent Tom Conrad.
Conrad said that this has been an issue that the Brewster School Committee has done a lot of research on and has had many discussion and forums on to try and figure out the best plan of action.
“This has been an issue that the Brewster Elementary School Committee has talked about. It’s done a great deal of research understanding the available spaces, and the programs that we’d potentially be looking at,” Conrad continued.
“What is the vision for the educational program for the future for our students in Brewster and how does that relate to the space? This is really bringing it all to one point relative to the town’s feelings on it and the citizens and what they would like to see.”
Conrad also noted that if the decision is made to consolidate the two schools, many more discussions and forums with the school committee, town officials, and residents will take place.
“I’m sure that from this movement there will be discussions at the school committee level and within the town government about what are the options and what makes the most sense and in this case the voters will be weighing in on it,” he said.
Last month a citizen’s petition article that sought to consolidate the schools received support from the towns finance committee in a 5-3-1 split vote.
Currently Stony Brook Elementary has an enrollment of around 240 students with a capacity of 700 students while Eddy elementary has around 245 students enrolled with a capacity of 450 students.
If the schools are to consolidate it is likely that one of them becomes a new community center.
Helga Dyer, a member of the Friends of Brewster Elders board of Directors, said citizens should consider the growing aging population in the town and its increased needs.
“This is about asset utilization to increases services to all residents,” Dyer said.
The current Council on Aging building was originally built in 1881 as the Town Hall.
“[It is] unable to accommodate the accessibility needs of our elders, we owe our seniors better,” Dyer continued.
Special Town Meeting in Brewster is set to take place Monday, November 18th at 6 p.m. at Stony Brook Elementary School.
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