School Board Considers Closures of Highlands and Ross Amid Overcrowding Concerns

The Braintree Public Schools (BPS) held a meeting on January 22, 2025, to discuss the redistricting options for the school district, focusing on the potential closure of several elementary schools. The presentation outlined various scenarios for redistricting, emphasizing the implications of each option on student distribution and school capacity.

The meeting began with an overview of the proposed options, which included the closure of Highlands and Ross, Highlands and Morrison, Highlands and Flaherty, and Highlands and Hollis, among others. Each option was analyzed for its impact on the school system, particularly regarding special education programs and the movement of students from closing schools to those remaining open.

The current scenario was presented as "business as usual," indicating that if no changes were made, schools like Liberty and Highlands would face overcrowding issues, with Liberty operating at 98% capacity. The presentation highlighted the need for a strategic approach to address these challenges, as maintaining the status quo would likely lead to program cuts and inefficient resource use.

The first option discussed involved closing Highlands and Ross while opening Old South. This scenario would see all Highlands students transferred to Old South, with adjustments made to accommodate Ross students in nearby schools. The analysis indicated that this option would improve financial sustainability by closing the smallest and least efficient school, Ross.

Subsequent options explored different combinations of school closures and student reallocations, with a focus on improving geographic contiguity and balancing school capacities. For instance, one scenario proposed moving components of Liberty to Highlands to create a more contiguous district, which would also yield transportation savings.

The presentation emphasized that all options were tentative and subject to change, with the goal of ensuring that the redistricting process aligns with the guiding principles of financial sustainability, efficient resource use, and minimal disruption to students. The meeting concluded with a commitment to further analyze the proposed scenarios and gather community feedback before finalizing any decisions.

Overall, the discussions underscored the complexities of school redistricting and the importance of considering various factors, including student needs and school capacities, in the decision-making process. The BPS plans to continue engaging with stakeholders as they refine their redistricting strategy.