Board of Ed. Approves Plan to Consolidate Elementary Schools

The Windsor Board of Education voted to consolidate the public elementary schools during a special board meeting Wednesday night.

As proposed in the plan, commonly known as "Option G," Roger Wolcott would be closed as an educational facility, and the four remaining elementary buildings would be converted into more grade-specific institutions.

Nearly a dozen Windsor residents turned out to address the board, sharing their opinions of the proposal. Unlike the three educational forums held over the past month, the percentage of Option-G supporters who spoke during the meeting Wednesday night was much higher.

While several residents said they opposed the plan, not a single member of the Board of Education voted against the proposal. Board Minority Leader Paul Panos was the sole voice of dissension, saying that he would "reluctantly" vote in favor of Option G, citing minimal benefits from the implementation of full-day kindergarten classes.

In addition to closure of Roger Wolcott, Poquonock will become a school for Kindergarten through second-grade students, Oliver Ellsworth, which is the largest elementary school in the district, would serve pre-K through second-grade students, and both Clover Street and John F. Kennedy would serve students in grades 3 to 5. 

The consolidation, however, is far from a done deal. The plan must be presented to the Town Council for approval once transportation and educational logistics are ironed out in the coming months. If approved, the plan would not go into effect until the fall of 2012.