Mattison Avenue Parents and Students Show Importance of Keeping the School

Monday night saw the second part of public hearings on the potential closure of Mattison Avenue Elementary School, held at Wissahickon High School.

Superintendent Judith Clark opened the proceedings by thanking the community for coming out. She said, "On behalf of the school board and the administration, we am very grateful for the strong public interest."

Public comment took the majority of the alotted time, with parents and students discussing everything from the transition from third to fourth grade, the financials of closing the school, the Ambler community and more. The district also gave a short presentation at the beginning of the evening aswering questions from the Oct. 1 hearing.

The Community Factor

"Closing this school is not a financial transaction," said Mary Wahl.

"Mattison Avenue Elementary continues to be a great beginning for our children," said Susan Beth Morgan.

"Our community needs this school…our community thrives because of this school," said Stacey Moore.

Heather Moulton, a Shady Grove Elementary School mom, said there is a "great sense of community" at Mattison Avenue Elementary School. She added that she can "see how much [the] school means to these families."

"The parent role is very important to consider," said David Morgan, a former music teacher at Mattison Avenue Elementary.

Speaking in Spanish, with a translator at her side, Isabella Bruno told the board that she doesn't work on Mondays so she is able to walk with her two youngest children to Mattison Avenue Elementary School in the mornings. She asked the Board, "Please don't close Mattison Avenue."

Bud Wahl, the May of Ambler Borough, read Borough Council resolution 2012-09 into the record which stated that Ambler Borough Council continues to support Mattison Avenue Elementary School as an elementary school.

Ambler Borough Manager, Mary Aversa asked the school board to work with Ambler Borough Council as they discuss further plans at Mattison Avenue Elementary.

Carlie Moore, a 3rd grade student at Mattison Avenue Elementary, said, "I don't want the school to close because I love it so much."

Karen Sheeny told the board, "Each and every one of us chose this school. … [We] chose the neighborhood, chose this school.

Transition and the Achievement Gap

During the Oct. 1 hearing, parents had asked the board what has been done to close the achievement gap? In the first segment of the hearing, the board gave a presentation to residents and families gathered that answered all of the questions asked during the previous hearing. In response to the achievement gap, the board cited the many programs that have been implemented "to meet the needs of [the] diverse learning community" including Response to Instruction and Intervention for early intervention in reading, the English Language Learner program, the district's investment in technology and more.

Samantha, a student at Lower Gwynedd Elementary, said, "If [Mattison Avenue Elementary] has the right education…that's what matters the most."

Aversa said the needs of at-risk children are addressed at Mattison Avenue Elementary.

A presentation by a group of Mattison Avenue Elementary parents, suggested that the board's rationale for closing Mattison is for the student transition from third grade at Mattison Avenue to fourth grade to Shady Grove Elementary, which studies from the district show that there is a drop in achievement in this group of students in fourht grade.

Jackie McLaughlin, an 8th grade student at Wissahickon Middle School, said she and her siblings have attended Mattison Avenue Elementary School or will be, and she did not find the transition to Shady Grove Elementary difficult. However, she added that the class sizes at Shady Grove Elementary are much larger, as well as bullying on the buses. At Mattison, she said, everyone gets along. It's not a want, it's "a necessity" to keep Mattison open.

Bethany DeLaurentis, a middle school student who graduated from Mattison Avenue Elementary School, said she had a lot of fun walking to Mattison Avenue Elementary school every day, and when she transitioned to Shady Grove Elementary, she didn't like the bus because it was loud, dirty and when it rained, it was wet. However, she said when she transitioned to Shady Grove Elementary, she liked making new friends and found it easier to transition to the middle school.

Sheeny said of Mattison Avenue, "This school is a jewel, it's the jewel of our district."

In Clark's closing statements, she said, "[It's] good to see the caring and passion."

She also said that many parents, both at Mattison Avenue and around the district, have asked what happens to the children if Mattison closes. However, she said that it is premature to discuss that because there has been no decision, but said that the administration will make sure the transition will be as smooth as possible.

"[We] want to do the right thing for the children," said Clark.

Written comments and questions were also accepted as part of the public hearing through Oct. 8. 

There will be a three month consideration period. An anticipated vote on the fate of Mattison Avenue Elementary School will be held at the January 14, 2013 public meeting.