Printed From Acorn-Online.com
SCHOOLS: Expert predicts Ridgefield enrollment plunge looms
Jan 11, 2007
The number of public school students in Ridgefield appears to be declining at a steeper rate than previously projected.
Enrollment in the Ridgefield schools, currently about 5,500, is likely to decrease by 300 to 600 students in the next five years and by between 900 and 1,300 students over the next decade, according to revised projections presented to the school board Monday night.
The report by demographer Hyung Chung of HC Planning Consultants anticipates declines in the range of 6% to 11% by 2011, and a decrease in the range of 16% to 23% by 2016.
�What we heard from him last night was a departure from what we heard from him the previous times he�d come to the board,� Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Freeston said.
�In the second five years of that 10-year projection, he�s seeing a fairly significant decline in enrollments, assuming the trends he�s seeing remain in place � birth rates, in-migration and housing turnover.�
Because predicting the future is, by nature, an imprecise business, Dr. Chung typically provides three-tiered projections, with a low middle and high number.
Dr. Chung�s �preferred projections� fall in the middle of the anticipated ranges � 6% to 11% decline in five years, and 16% to 23% in 10 years.
His middle and �preferred� scenario expects the current school population of 5,498 to fall by 467 students or 8.5% over the next five years to a total of 5,031 in 2011.
Over the next 10 years, his preferred projection envisions the school population declining by 1,071 or 19.5% to a total of 4,427 in 2016.
It�s the future
Of course, enrollment projections are just that � projections.
School board Chairman Keith Miller cautioned against basing dramatic policy changes on the one revised report.
�People look at that out-year number � 4,427 in 2016 � and their conclusion is: �Don�t fix the heating system in Branchville because in 10 years we won�t need a school.� This has not convinced me that that�s the case,� he said.
Dr. Chung, Dr. Freeston and Mr. Miller all emphasized that the projections get less reliable the further into the future they go.
The final five years in a 10-year projection are particularly theoretical.
�When he�s looking out to years 2011-16, those elementary age students are not born yet,� Dr. Freeston said. �He�s projecting the enrollment for students who are not yet born. In doing that he�s looking at the demographics for people who move in: Are they young? Are they in a place in their life where they�ll have children? What are the national fertility rates?
�In a year�s time, or maybe two years from now, we�ll know with more certainty if his enrollment projections for 2011-16 are accurate,� Dr. Freeston said.
Mr. Miller, the school board chairman, described the possibility of what he called �a feedback loop.� In this, the potential effects of the enrollment decline itself � smaller class sizes, less onerous tax increases � would make Ridgefield more attractive to parents with children, and work against the trend.
�If you have 20% less kids, does that mean you could cut the school budget 20%, or keep the school budget where it is and make class sizes 20% smaller? Either one would make Ridgefield incredibly attractive,� he said. �That�s what I mean by the feedback effect.�
Policy implications
Dr. Freeston said he thought it was too early to talk about eventually consolidating facilities from the school system�s current nine buildings � six elementaries, two middle schools and the high school.
�It�s premature to even consider that,� Dr. Freeston said. �Before a board makes big decisions about consolidation between 2011 and 2016, I think we need a couple of years of actual enrollment and new projections based on that actual enrollment, that confirms that the trend is going down.
�For me, I don�t see a recommendation coming soon to the board that we have enough space in our buildings to combine programs � it would only make them overcrowded again.�
Dr. Freeston did see two potential policy changes resulting from the new projections.
For one, the new numbers have cooled his enthusiasm for taking over the space now rented to The Children�s Corner � when its lease is up � to create an early childhood education and diagnostic center for special needs children.
�We were looking at a special ed early childhood center for the year 2009,� Dr. Freeston said. �If his enrollment projections are correct we clearly will have the capacity in our own schools ... So I will not be recommending to the Board of Education that we ask the selectmen for that space.�
More kindergarten?
The other policy change to be considered is the possibility of expanding the school system�s kindergarten program to offer more than the current half-day classes.
The school system has been locked into the half-day model because it allows kindergarten rooms to be used twice � for a morning class and an afternoon class. If enrollment does fall and more rooms become available, full-day or extended-day kindergarten programs could be considered without the cost of adding more rooms.
�If his enrollment projections from 2011-16 are accurate, that will be a great time for the community to start thinking carefully about early childhood education in Ridgefield, specifically kindergarten,� Dr. Freeston said.
�For 10 or 15 years we haven�t had the capacity � space in our buildings � to have anything but a half-day program.
�If it turns out from 2011 to 2016 we will have the classroom space for an extended-day program, we can center the discussion on what it should be centered on, which is: What do we want to do in Ridgefield for early childhood education? What should that look like?� Dr. Freeston said.
�...There is so much we know about early childhood learning today that says we�re not giving students enough time in an educational environment.�
Why?
In seeking to explain why enrollments were declining faster than previously projected, Dr. Chung � a demographer who has looked at Ridgefield periodically since 1999 � pointed to a few factors.
Birth rates derive from broad demographic trends � most significantly, the number of women in their childbearing years. The economy also plays a role: Couples feeling good about their financial prospects are more likely to have children.
There has been a nationwide and statewide trend for fewer births and fewer school children. Ridgefield�s birth rate defied the general trend.
Connecticut�s births peaked in 1990 and have declined steadily but gradually since then. Ridgefield had 297 births in 1990, and the number continued to rise � more erratically, as would be expected with a much smaller population � to a peak of 351 in 1999.
Just about the time today�s kindergartners were being born, the numbers took some unexpected turns.
�However, partly due to the economic downturn with increasing unemployment rates beginning in 2000, the births in Ridgefield declined precipitously from 351 births in 1999 to 311 births in 2000, and fell sharply again to 263 births in 2001,� Dr. Chung wrote.
�With the gradual economic recovery, the number of births in Ridgefield rose somewhat to 277 births in 2002 and 275 births in 2003, dropped once again to 258 births in 2004 and fell further to an estimated 220 births in 2006.
�In sum, the number of births in Ridgefield dropped from 351 in 1999 to 220 in 2006, a reduction of 37% in seven years.�
School enrollments are affected not just by births in town, but by children moving in. The number of move-ins draws from both new construction and sale or turnover of existing housing.
Both of these factors � like births � are sensitive to the economic factors.
So, the economic slowdown around 2000 and 2001 amplified the effect of the declining birth rate on future school enrollment by reducing move-ins.
�One thing for sure, we do know it has a great deal to do with the economy of the nation,� Dr. Chung told the board Monday.
Even with a good understanding of the past, the future is the future. Predictions can be made, but in time they may have to be adjusted
�We think the economy is going to decline,� Dr. Chung said. �That doesn�t mean it will decline forever.�
© Copyright by Hersam Acorn newspapers |
American Public TV-Western Connecticut Public TV Network
Western Connecticut Wrestling Teams
|
A Shocking and Controversial Book on what REALLY goes on in a New England public school district! How To Protect Your Child In School Book Outline By award winning teacher/writer Al Bruhn
Read Complete Book Outline Here
 NEWS BULLETIN:(New Milford, Connecticut)...January 22, 2007...Eric starts third quarter in his senior year at Faith Prep today and all indications are for a June 2007 graduation. Eric's plight through a bad Ridgefield Public School district with its current out of control Ridgefield High School illegal drug market and related student suicide leads to the miracle of God's world at New Milford private school. "Ridgefield is evil," Al Bruhn said. And, it speaks for itself, he remarked adding that Faith Prep is God's place with all its goodness for all students.
(New Milford, Connecticut)...September 6, 2006 Update: Eric Bruhn is a senior at Faith Academy/Prep and headmaster Bob Sanger said Eric is off to a good start with a college prep schedule.
April 8, 2006 Update:Eric Bruhn achieves success at Faith Academy/Prep in New Milford, Connecticut.
Among his third report card outstanding grades,
Adv. Hist. Seminar China + 91/A-;
Bible 92/A-;
Chemistry 80/B-;
English 78/C+;
Geometry 90/A-
Eric is a member of the Faith Prep JV Volleyball team.
Where there is hope, there is faith. From hell at RHS to the gates of heaven, Eric passes on with His guide. Enjoy the new school year 2006-2007!
(New Milford, Connecticut)...Eric Bruhn received academic and sports awards during Faith/Prep Academy's graduation June 4, 2006 at Amber Room in Danbury, Connecticut. Among the awards, Eric received excellence in advanced China history seminar from instructor Faith/Prep Academy Headmaster.
He also received an award in bible study plus a sportsmanship award for his participation as a member of the first season Faith Prep Volleyball team. Eric will be a senior at Faith/Prep Academy during 2006-2007 school year.
Eric Bruhn Website
This book is co-authored by USA credited author Jaqueline Lapa Sussman,
who's website is located here and world respected author Akhter Ahsen, PH.D., who's website
is located here. This book is based upon the education experiences of Eric Bruhn. The book will be published in 2008.
Yonkers, New York resident Dr. Akhter Ahsen, Ridgefield, Connecticut resident Eric Bruhn, Weston, Connecticut resident Jacqueline Lapa Sussman on Comcast TV 23 set of USA TV Talk Live with Al Bruhn. Jacqueline Lapa Sussman will produce and anchor a live call-in July 12 8-9pm on Comcast TV 23. Her guest will be Dr. Akhter Ahsen.
UPDATED:January 22, 2006...A major cover-up of an abusive Ridgefield, Connecticut elementary teacher by the school district led to academic and social problems for abused student Eric Bruhn, who later in his Ridgefield public schooling was lured into buying marijuana by a Ridgefield High School staff member. Believe it or not, the town school district continued its unusual punishment of Eric Bruhn. However, Eric Bruhn received excellent treatment from an out-of-state agency that helped him to seek refuge in a respected Christian school in Connecticut. Eric's abusive situation was investigated and validated by Connecticut licensed psychotherapist Jaqueline Lapa Sussman and later supported by a New York State licensed treatment facility caseworker. Currently, Eric is doing well at his new Christian school, and is working with his dad on this book outline. The book is scheduled for publication in 2008 following his high school graduation..
While child abuse has been reported in urban public schools, it's rare in a suburban public school. An inner city school might be a heaven for an abusive teacher or principal because kids are vulnerable to inappropriate staff behavior that goes unreported or is prevented from disclosure to proper authorities. But, child abuse in a suburban public school is more likely to be noticed, as was the case in this special report.
Despite the bad news, there is good news that Eric had great teachers in Ridgefield. Mrs. Arcuri, Mrs. Gibson, Mr. Condosta and principal/teacher Bill Monti are stellar examples of the best of the best in education today. These Ridgefield teachers are to be applauded for their dedication to excellence in education. Eric Bruhn will co-author this book and detail how he was able to achieve success despite the trials and tribulations imposed upon him by his grade three classroom experience that caused problems for him throughout his Ridgefield schooling. Eric plans to go public after high school graduation, and help students and parents around the country plus donate money he will receive on his book to victims of child abuse groups.
Ridgefield Attorney Elisabeth Seieroe Maurer of Maurer & Associates, P.C. secured Eric Bruhn's school file and is being reviewed by Al Bruhn for investigative study in How To Protect Your Child In School scheduled for publication in 2008 following publication of Al Bruhn's current book projects How To Prevent A Heart Attack:Cardio/Wrestling and Public Access:Who Cares? in 2007. Danbury Attorney Steve Smart of Riefberg, Smart, Donohue & NeJame, P.C.
Attorneys At Law is also providing legal counsel.
CHAPTER ONE
 (Undated:February 4, 2006)...The following news account is an excerpt from a book to be published sometime in the future. It's an indictment on the Town of Ridgefield, Connecticut. No matter where one resides, and especially what public school district one's child attends, there's always a nightmare story to tell and talk about. Case in point is this horror story that takes place in one of America's most affluent communities. Yes, even in this posh deluxe community called America's "place to live," there's evidence of racial discrimination, child abuse and political wrangling to cover-up developers� control of town politicians to build multi-million dollar homes." The revelation of this publicized story is viewed as damaging to the town's front page real estate profit motives. In this rare child study case, the student named Eric Bruhn was inappropriately stereotyped by an incompetent teacher with support from school administrators and subsequently abused by another bad public school teacher, who stopped at nothing to continue her vengeance, even when the child was transferred to an out of district parochial school.
From kindergarten through grade two at Farmingville Elementary School, there were no major problems for Eric. He had caring and loving teachers among them Mrs. Ursula Arcuri. In fact, Mrs. Arcuri is the best role model teacher/educator for all children and has been praised for years. However, when Eric entered grade three at Farmingville Elementary School, he met an incompetent teacher, who left the system the following year. This former grade three teacher attempted to get the school psychologist and other staff members to start the process of "dumbing down and drugging down" the student, but to no avail. In fact, the Farmingville Elementary School psychologist attempted to create problems for the student's family by "interrogating" the student's older brother hoping to find information she could use against the family, but to no avail. Ironically, Andrew Bruhn was a qualified special education student at Farmingville Elementary School and performed above average throughout his school years. Today, Andrew is a secondary education history major at WCSU. Nevertheless, The Ridgefield school psychologist at Farmingville Elementary School worked with Eric�s grade three teacher to force the parents into placing him into special education, and was angered by their rejection of the PPT suggestion. In fact, the student's grade three teacher tried to get the student's parents to consider giving the child Ritalin while placing him in special education. But, there was no scientific data to support that school based mandate. And, there was no out of district professional support for that special education recommendation either.
Nevertheless, the student was retained in grade three at Farmingville Elementary School and was subject to an abusive teacher, who at last was still employed with the Ridgefield Board of Education. A Ridgefield based psychologist tested Eric student and emphatically stated that he was not ADD or ADHD, and should not be administered medication because of his average and above average tests scores. However, this same town based psychologist, changed his notation at another testing time because of apparent pressure from the public school reading teacher, who he was friends with, and depended upon for student referrals at Farmingville Elementary School. In the two separate testing situations, the student scored the same on all the tests. Finally, a noted regional psychotherapist Jaqueline Lapa Sussman of Weston, Conencticut along with her world known mentor Akhter Ahsen, PH.D., of Yonkers, New York helped Eric to overcome the initial trauma of the abusive grade three teacher and other negative school experiences. In fact, this highly professional duo team helped the student's family successfully challenge an unethical and unprofessional "power manipulation" by a few selected Ridgefield officials.
CHAPTER TWO
Consequently, Eric entered Saint Peter's School, a parochial school in nearby Danbury, Connecticut, and did exceptionally well in Mrs. Maimone's grade four classroom during the first report card period. In fact, Eric scored top grades during the first report period and evidence existed that this student's previous Ridgefield public school personnel were wrong in their handling of Eric's case. However, when Eric entered grade five at Saint Peter�s School, his teacher told Al Bruhn that the parochial principal didn't want her to be easy on Eric. Although Eric did okay during the first report card period in his regular grade five classroom, his religion and composition teacher mistreated him. Reportedly, Saint Peter's an associate Parish priest had worked closely with Eric's abusive Farmingville Elementary School teacher at Saint Mary's Church in Ridgefield, where she was on staff, and apparently wanted to protect his former Saint Mary's associate from possible legal action by the Eric's parents. So, the Saint Peter's Church associate priest probably pressured the Saint Peter�s School principal into not helping Eric. The abusive teacher at Saint Peter's School left her job there. Thus, the Saint Peter's School principal refused to help the student, and Eric was removed from the Danbury parochial school and placed in a private school elsewhere in the city.
CHAPTER THREE
Eric Bruhn enters Maimonides Academy, a Jewish private school in Danbury, Connecticut, and gets the help he needs and excels with Mrs. Miller in grade five. After graduating from the Jewish Academy, the Eric entered Ridgefield East Ridge Middle School, where he progressed nicely in grade six academic and social areas. As a result, the student is promoted into grade seven, where teachers attempt to work with the student with mixed success. Eric is still traumatized from his Farminville Elementary School abusive teacher. However, because of this student's previous track record, an emphasis is placed upon how to encourage and help both the student and his teachers achieve success together in their respective academic and social areas. The same script continues in grade eight.
From a strictly professional point of view based upon educational research, a child who fails in school, is a child who has a teacher who has failed too. Children who succeed in school are children who have successful teachers. Bottom line for any parent is to know who the good teachers are based upon their childrens' academic achievements in class. And, when a child doesn't succeed in class, it paves the way for a parent to legally file a lawsuit against the failing teacher and his/her immediate supervisors. Fortunately, lawyers are being prepared to deal with these pending lawsuits in the future.
The authors had initially agreed not to publish any information about Eric Bruhn during his high school years, but rather document all activities and events surrounding the student's academic and social programs for analysis and legal documentation in the book which will be published following Eric�s graduation from high school.
After initial review of Eric Bruhn's school file, it is apparent that there is negligence regarding his case at Ridgefield High School. There was only a copy of Eric's high school transcript in his file sent to Attorney Maurer in January 2006. The transcript reflects a lack of professionalism on the part of Ridgefield administrators and "eye opener" of how Eric wasn't serviced at RHS. The file also consists of other evidence of how Ridgefield school officials did not meet Eric's academic and social needs in middle and elementary schools.
Ridgefield Public School superintendent Dr. Kenneth Freeston supports the security firm, who had a guard selling marijuana to RHS students.
Eric Bruhn enters Faith Academy and Prep school in New Milford, Connecticut January 4, 2006, and a new beginning emerges with God at his side to learn and excel.
The fact is that in order to legally meet the needs of any student, each student must be pre and post tested each year, and testing must include abilities level and style of learning. And, there must be an educational program for each child that incorporates testing results within the subjects instructed to the student. Only then will there be success for the student and teacher(s).
Thus, if a student doesn't succeed within regular academic program and doesn't qualify for specific special education services, then the student must be afforded an individual education program whereby yearly abilities/style of learning testing guarantees success in any classroom. Unfortunately, public education districts are not necessarily into this effective mode of student based academic instruction.
Update: March 10, 2006...Eric has done a 180 degree turn for the better at Faith Prep and is earning excellent grades in courses. Why? Daily prayer and God's help allows Eric the opportunity to focus in school and do well. RHS was a nightmare for Eric
and is a devil's playground for greedy townspeople to get their kids to succeed when in essence they don't according to education specialist Al Bruhn.
Critical Questions? (A) Do parents send a child to an elementary school to be abused by a teacher? (B) Do parents send a child to school to have a high school staff member sell marijuana to him/her?
Footnote: The Town of Ridgefield is now under investigation.
E-mail Al Bruhn here!
Albert George Bruhn
Executive Director/Producer
Anchor-Investigative Reporter/Writer/Educator
Bruhn Media Network
APTV-WCPTV Network/USA TV Talk News
17 Mill View Terrace
Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877
(203) 438-1243
| | |