March 13, 2006

Part VI: It's Hurry to Surry

Part VI. IT’s HURRY TO SURRY!!!

THE BACKGROUND
Surry, New Hampshire (pop. 673, per 2000 census), saved to build its little elementary school following World War II, when most NH small towns had difficulty finding teachers. The new school consolidated one-room schoolhouses. In 1960, to assure high school space for Surry students, the town joined the newly-forming Monadnock Cooperative School District, comprised of several small towns north and south of the city of Keene. Surry’s village school was always the hub of this lovely, small town and school size was always quite small--1 teacher teaching 2 grades or 3 grades depending on the year.

All was well for 40+ years until Surry residents learned that the Monadnock School Board planned to close their little school without the one year’s notice they have voted to give in case of closing. And then…the Surry children were bussed 45-60 minutes in 2 different directions to other small schools and the peaceful but sturdy folks of Surry went to bat for their kids and their little school.

Our last episode talked about submission of the charter school application to New Hampshire’s State Board of Education. And we concluded by saying: “… should this proposal be approved, Surry will again have its village public school. When the charter school is reviewed by the State Board of Education in March, they will either deny the request, ask for more information, or approve the Surry Village Charter School. And so the next chapter in this saga will either be: Scurry and Worry, or Hurry to Surry.

Part VI: WELL, IT’S HURRY TO SURRY

Five adults pulled up to the presentation table before NH’s State Board of Education at their March 14th meeting. They wanted to all sit together instead of talking walking up one by one to give information… “…because we are a team, and we want to present as a team.”

Their show of community support was clear from the audience of babies, moms, dad, residents, and representatives of area businesses. In addition, 70 letters of support were presented from Surry’s community, including selectmen, town historians, and lots of people who just want Surry School to continue as this rural community’s centerpiece.

And you know what? Surry Village School may have had declining enrollment before, but now parents from 7 or 8 communities want to help recreate Surry’s school and send their children. This is really Hurry to Surry for people who want their children to attend because enrollment will be limited to 45 in September.

Charter designers believe they can open with 45 students and grow to 90, making Surry a small-town village school success story. I still have a picture in my mind of the little children on Keene Common with signs “honk if you want to save Surry School” and selling cookies to buy their school back.

But of course, as the Commissioner of Education rightly noted, “… charter school applications are ideas and hope.” Yes, charter school proposals based on what people think are needs and interests of parents who will choose the school once it opens. Market-driven schools. And, of course, if proponents misjudge the market demand, the schools do not open or thrive. Groups have 18 – 24 months to go from approved charter to opening and there is time, of course, to pull the school together but if applicants have to really understand market demand and sources of support.

Frank Conroy is a parent of two elementary-aged children who attended Surry School. He and his wife, Nikki, have a transportation business and probably know the roads and travel conditions as well as anyone. Frank and Nikki may not have been the most concerned parents about children being bussed 45-60 minutes away on country roads in winter, but they surely were concerned. In fact, 200 Surry adults out of 700 residents total signed a petition that went to court for an injunction to prevent Surry’s school from being closed. Those quiet Surry folks showed small-town resolve, for sure.

Tom Julius, education faculty at Antioch College, Keene, described Surry School’s future academic program—value driven, having both a high academic standard for curriculum while engaging students in activities of rural New England village life, e.g. maple sugaring, wood carving, intergenerational activities. The requirement for participating parents is parent support and involvement. The library used would be the village library. A local resident possibly will give land for a building expansion, if needed. There’s talk of Surry residents pulling together and just building the addition needed for middle grades, as with an old-fashioned barn-raising. “We are now going to see a real community-based school,” one presenter commented.

During the last few saga months Surry charter school proponents and Surry officials have engaged in dialogue with School Administrative Unit 38—the Board that closed the school. Options exist for Surry Village Charter School’s location—but using Surry’s village school building, now vacant, makes the most sense to Surry folks.

On April 4th, 2006, SAU 38 will meet, apparently, and decide the question of renting Surry’s elementary school that Surry residents built to Surry residents. (What an interesting situation).

And so ends Saga of Surry Village School, Part VI. Surry’s story could be inspired by The Little Engine That Could. Part VII will let readers know whether or not the actual Surry Village School will again be open for Surry’s children, and other children from area towns.

One participant wrote to me that her husband “…was boiling and boiling.” And I asked: “What issue is making him so angry?” The response: “Not angry, Susan, he’s boiling maple sugar.” That explains everything, doesn’t it?

Stay tuned for Part VII.

The Editor

P.S. The Commissioner of Education, Lyonel Tracey, commented that he went to a 2-room elementary school and he was supportive of small town schools. I went to a 4-room school through grade 6. My father and all his sisters went to a one-room schoolhouse. How about you? The blog welcomes comments from readers.