Date: Fri 30-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

schools-Reed-magnet

Full Text:

Superintendent Still Finds Merit In Magnet School Concept

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

So far, it's been a rough ride over rocky terrain for the regional magnet

school proposal that was first broached to the superintendents of nine area

school districts more than a year ago.

After meeting with their respective boards of education, only five districts -

Newtown, New Fairfield, Danbury, Region 9 (Redding and Easton) and Region 12

(Washington, Roxbury and Bridgewater) - voted to participate in the magnet

school feasibility study. Bethel, Brookfield, New Milford and Ridgefield voted

not to become involved in the planning stage.

From the first, Newtown's Superintendent of Schools John Reed has been a

strong advocate of the magnet school concept. He sees it as a way to address

educational needs that can not easily be met by individual school districts.

"Why not?" has been Dr Reed's continuing response to those who would rather

see Newtown stay out of the planning process altogether.

"There are certain areas of cooperation that have to take place," he said

recently at his Newtown Middle School office.

"We don't know what's coming from the state or how local municipalities are

going to share services," he said, referring to possible fallout from the

Sheff vs. O'Neill desegregation ruling in the state Supreme Court.

"The state is expecting us to come up with something that's reasonable," he

added.

Recognizing that not even the best public schools can be "all things to all

kids," Dr Reed said a magnet school in the greater Danbury area could help

address both diversity issues and educational needs at the same time.

Although magnet schools typically are dedicated to a specific purpose, such as

creative arts, language or vocational and technical training, the idea of a

Regional Career Training Center has been posed as the most appropriate focus

for the greater Danbury area facility. It is an idea that Dr Reed

wholeheartedly supports and that most participants in the magnet study have

also agreed merits further study.

"We need job training carried out in cooperation with the private sector and

through partnership between schools and businesses," Dr Reed said.

He added that "some kids learn better in a job setting."

Furthermore, he believes the overriding issue on job training that all area

school districts must face is, "How are we going to share the resources of the

private sector?"

A career development facility would be most beneficial to all parties, and to

Newtown students, in particular, Dr Reed said.

"We have a lot of kids who have no idea of what they're going to do. Parents

know about the tremendous price of private colleges and universities," he

said, adding that the Newtown schools must continue to explore other options

for its graduates.

"There are many wonderful things to do with life that don't require a

four-year degree," Dr Reed said.

In light of his support of a career-oriented magnet school project, it is not

surprising that Dr Reed was unhappy when the Greater Danbury Magnet

Feasibility Planning Group, of which he is a member, recently veered off

course at their August 20 meeting.

Danbury announced plans that were already underway for its own career

academies (in business/finance and health/bio-science), group members feared

the impetus toward adoption of the regional magnet concept would be lost.

As the largest and most ethnically diverse school district in the magnet group

(with 35 percent of its student body belonging to ethnic groups), Danbury's

participation in the proposed magnet school study is considered crucial to its

success.

"We have to work through this problem," Dr Reed said.

He hoped progress would be made by the next feasibility planning group meeting

scheduled September 12 so the magnet project could move forward again.

He's willing to be patient in the hopes that the proposal for a magnet school

dedicated to career development stays on track, and hopes someday to see it

become a reality.

Better sooner than later, but better later than not at all, Dr Reed concluded.