Parents petition officials on kindergarten busing

LYNN – Safety is a top concern for parents calling for a public hearing for a School Committee-approved kindergarten relocation plan.Assistant City Solicitor James Lamanna said parents opposed to the “early childhood center” plan, set to begin in September, gathered 150 voters? signatures required under the City Charter to call for the public hearing.City Charter Article 7 Section 9 requires the hearing to be held within three months with a notice detailing the meeting?s topics published a week before the meeting.The parental statement filed with the City Clerk?s office last week along with petition signatures reads: “We, the undersigned, are requesting a Public Hearing to voice our opposition to the relocation of Kindergarten classes from their neighborhood/community schools, Ford, Brickett and Tracy Schools, to the Lynn Vocational Annex/Former Admin. building.?Safety concerns, transportation issues, and the potential loss of community and parental involvement as well as disruption to crucial early childhood development are at issue.”The Committee voted April 23 to transfer 10 kindergarten classes from the three schools to the school administration building at 90 Commercial St. in September to free up classroom space for upper grades in Tracy, Brickett and Ford.School Superintendent Catherine Latham told committee members overcrowding, including the possibility of two fifth grades with 35 students apiece in Tracy next school year, forced shifting classes to 90 Commercial St.The classes will occupy second-floor space in the administration building freed up when school offices are relocated later this year to the former Ford School annex on Bennett Street. Relocating the classes is slated to cost more than $500,000 and the Ford annex renovation will cost more than $1 million.Latham, in an email, stated she has met with Brickett and Tracy parents, and is meeting next week with Ford parents.One of those parents, Diane Babbin, has a child in Ford?s second-grade and another entering kindergarten next year. Her younger son has asthma and she said she cannot reach him quickly if he is in a class on Commercial Street.?My main concern is his health. How would I get to him or him to me? I don?t have transportation,” Babbin said.She suggested committee members revise the overcrowding relief plan and send fifth-graders to Commercial Street.?I?m hoping we?re heard from and that older kids can get considered for the annex,” Babbin said.Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected].