Swampscott may close another elementary school

SWAMPSCOTT – There is a distinct possibility Hadley Elementary School could close its doors at the end of the school year, according to school officials.School Committee Chairman David Whelan said given the current fiscal constraints there would need to be drastic cuts to balance the budget next year and closing an elementary school is a very real possibility.If one of the three elementary schools were closed, it would not be the first time in recent years the district has closed an elementary school due to budget constraints. In June 2007 Machon Elementary School was closed and students were redistricted to the three remaining schools, which saved approximately $800,000, according to school officials.Whelan said a definitive decision has not been made on which of the three schools would close, if necessary, but Hadley appears the most likely.”It is the smallest of three remaining elementary schools,” he said. “It is also in the greatest state of disrepair of the three schools.”Whelan said logistical issues such as the utilization of space in the remaining two schools, parking and class size have not been looked at yet.”It’s early,” he said. “We want make the community aware this is something we’re looking at and allow time for community input.”Town Administrator Andrew Maylor and Town Accountant Dave Castellarin met with Superintendent Matthew Malone and School Business Manager Ed Cronin to discuss the Fiscal 2009 and 2010 budgets.Maylor said the state’s 2009 fiscal condition foreshadows a FY’10 that is less optimistic than he assumed in late August when he created his budget scenarios, so he had to make revisions that impact every town department including the schools.”I have revised that report and discussed with the schools the need to make reductions early enough in calendar 2010 to lessen the impact of FY’10 unemployment costs,” he said. “My reasoning is that if this scenario comes to pass, the school department will need to close the Hadley and that the selectmen, Finance Committee and taxpayers will expect even deeper reductions in other town services.”