Lynn schools open smoothly despite changes

LYNN – Labor Day has come and gone and while the weather remains summer-like in Lynn, a brisk autumn morning air swept in to welcome students back to another school year.Wednesday marked the first day of school for most students in grades 1-through-9 and while teacher assignments and student transfers created confusion for some, most school officials touted the day as a success.”Myself and my two (deputy superintendents Jaye Wary and Catherine Latham) have been out in the district all morning visiting several schools and things have gone smoothly,” said Superintendent Nicholas Kostan. “It was a good opening and we hope it will be a harbinger of a good year to come.”The landscape of Lynn Public Schools looks a bit different this year as two elementary schools and 90 teachers are missing because of budget cuts. The Washington Community School now houses the city’s special education department while the Fallon Elementary School sits vacant on Robinson Street.A new, scaled back alternative program is also under way at the Fecteau-Leary Middle and High School on North Common Street, a building that will once again house the Classical High School freshmen as repairs continue on the main building on O’Callaghan Way.While Kostan and his staff called the day a success, some School Committee members say relocating students and teachers after all of the cuts and closings has created a chaotic situation with confused parents and upset teachers.”In my nine years on the School Committee this is the worst opening I have ever encountered,” said Committeewoman Donna Coppola. “With all of the cuts it has been difficult for teachers and administrators, and for those parents with kids at the Fallon and Washington, it has not been a smooth transition.”Coppola said she has heard complaints from several parents who thought their students would be in one school, only to find out they have been put on a waiting list.School Committee member John Ford said he had not heard from parents, but did confirm there has been a bit more confusion this year than in years past.”School assignments, staffing and class sizes may be a little bit worse than normal,” said Ford. “There appears to be a lot of confusion going on.”School administrators expected larger class sizes this year and have prepared for the situation by putting aside nine teachers to alleviate situations where class sizes are too large. Once the annual parade of students changing schools is complete and Kostan has a better idea of class sizes in each school, those teachers will be assigned to the appropriate schools.Kostan confirmed that moving teachers and students around creates hectic situations every September, but said he had not heard the complaints that Coppola had from parents, teachers or principals.”From what I have seen it is no different than any other opening day,” said Kostan, who was surprised to hear Coppola’s comments. “There is always going to be some confusion when you are moving students around in such a large district. We do still have a few teachers moving around, but from what I can see it has not been anything unusual for the first day of school.”Principals agreed with Kostan, including those at the schools absorbing the displaced students from the Fallon and Washington schools.”Today went great, we had no problems. Just like the first day of any other year,” said Mary Dill, principal of the Tracy School on Walnut Street, which welcomed 60 new students this year. “It has been a very smooth transition, absolutely no issues at all. It couldn’t have been smoother.”Cobbet Elementary School Principal Brian Fay agreed with Dill and said the biggest challenge is keeping track of how the enrollment fluctuates in the first few weeks.”Today really has gone very, very well. I have a very supportive staff that is showing me how things went last year,” said the first-year principal. “We are kind of a transient school so over the next couple of days the enrollment numbers will even out.”