Farewells at Lynn’s Ford Annex

LYNN – The decision to shut the doors is not quite definite yet and students and teachers are still holding out hope that the Ford School Annex will remain open next year, but Wednesday was still a day of tearful goodbyes as the school year came to a close.The School Committee is set to vote on the fiscal year 2010 budget tonight following a public hearing, and if the $107.4 million spending plan passes, the Ford Annex will shut its doors for good, reducing the student body by more than 200 students and the staff level by more than 20 employees.Families and employees have fought tooth and nail, led by Principal Claire Crane, to keep the school open, but have been told by school budget officials that in this economy, there is no way the program can be saved.Touted for its unique programs and community school model, the Ford is one of the most successful schools in the city and students in the middle school program said Wednesday that school will not be the same next year without the teachers who have become part of their family.”It is really sad to know that the school is going away, I have had nothing but great experiences here and I want to keep it going. It is like we are a big family here,” said sixth grader Katie Almonte. “I have been here since kindergarten and I have seen myself change so much to a mature girl and I have been taught so much here from the teachers.”The Ford School is the city’s only K-8 school and many of the programs – from the NASA Explorer program to College For Every Student – are unique to the Ford – something that students say they are very worried about losing next year.”There are so many programs that we have been doing here with colleges and other programs, it is too bad that the kids in grades 6-8 aren’t going to get that anymore,” said fifth grader Rachel Gaudet, who is attending Marshall Middle School next year. “The teachers here are different, too. They really try their hardest to help every single student no matter how they are achieving or how good they are doing in class.”The Ford Annex on Bennett Street housed grades 5-8 for the school, whose main building is on Hollingsworth Street, for the past dozen years. With the closure, middle school students will be spread between Breed, Marshall and Pickering and fifth graders will return to the Highlands.”What is really, really sad is that I am going into seventh grade and I know that I won’t get to graduate from the Ford when I am done with middle school,” said Joke Jolaoso who is hoping to attend Pickering next year. “What I don’t understand is how they can close down a school that is achieving like we are. I understand closing a school that isn’t developing, but why close down a school that is achieving? It doesn’t make sense.””I am disappointed because most people are going to be going to different schools and it is the last time we could all be together,” added sixth grader Yaheysi Leon-Lopez. “Sometimes change is good, but in this case, change is bad because the teachers here are now having to move on and they are all close and have strong friendships. Now that won’t be as strong.”In addition to losing students, the budget has claimed more than 20 employees from the Ford through layoffs and transfers.Crane is losing her secretary, a guidance councilor and several teachers, while her Vice Principal, Barbara Kelley, is being transferred to Breed.Some teachers will remain employed through the bumping and bidding process, but others – including some with more than five years of experience – will be out on the street.”I have been here for the last two years and it has been an amazing experience to see how it has run from top to bottom and see how many programs they have,” said history teacher Nick Markos, who is losing his job this year. “It’s sad because we are closing, but it is much tougher on the kids. The teachers can hopefully land on our feet and find another job, but it is a difficult process these kids are going through having to go t