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Debate over JMW move and access: committee hears concerns about recruitment and possible enrollment loss
Summary
Committee members discussed JMW's move to the new Pawtucket High School and whether the transition will preserve JMW's arts identity and equitable access for Slater/Woodlawn students. Superintendent Buck provided acceptance figures and the JMW director described recruitment efforts.
Deputy Chair Grant reminded the committee that a 6-1 vote on May 13 approved moving JMW to the new Pawtucket High School and said parents must be told that the move is occurring. "We voted 6 to 1 that JMW would be going over to the high school," Grant said, stressing the need for clear communication to incoming families.
Committee member Omar Reyes raised equity concerns about access and recruitment, saying too few students from Slater and Woodlawn were enrolling at JMW. "If only one student from Slater is going to JMW next year... then one of the things we talked about was how do we make sure that Slater kids have access to these?" Reyes asked, urging proactive recruitment and summer programming for feeder schools.
Superintendent Buck provided district acceptance and enrollment figures to frame the discussion: "JMW accepted 69 incoming 9th grade students compared to a current freshman class of 45, representing a potential 53% increase in freshmen enrollment. Of those accepted students, 42 are Pawtucket residents, including 35 currently enrolled in Pawtucket schools; an additional 28 were from outside of the district." He also said 97% of Pawtucket students who auditioned for next year's freshman class were accepted.
The JMW director told the committee the school visits all three middle schools for presentations and that arts class sizes vary widely (some arts classes have six to seven students while others have 25). The director and other administrators discussed options such as summer programs, after-school feeder activities and intentional recruitment efforts to expand access.
Committee members debated whether the physical move to a larger high school building could cause families to withdraw students who prefer a smaller school environment. Grant and others noted uncertainty about whether JMW would retain distinct spaces, entrances or program identity at the new facility; those details remained to be finalized by administration.
What happens next: Administration agreed to clarify communications to families and to continue exploring targeted recruitment and programming to preserve access to JMW for students across Pawtucket.
Provenance: discussion and data (SEG 1259—SEG 1466; director responses SEG 1496—SEG 1530; Grant remarks SEG 1656—SEG 1661).
