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Parkview

Montessori school cuts 71 students from rolls

A drawing determines which students get to stay. The consolidated school will move to Cleveland Street.

By ELISABETH DYER
Published February 25, 2005

Dana Whiting counts herself among the fortunate.

Her sons, 3-year-old Austin and 6-year-old Jack, were selected through a drawing to continue attending Montessori Children's House of Hyde Park.

Citing health concerns of administrative director Roberta Fernandez, the school decided to shrink enrollment from 155 to 84 students next year and consolidate its operations.

School officials notified parents Feb. 11 and held a drawing to fill the three classes that will continue next year. Fernandez personally delivered the bad news to every parent whose children won't be returning.

The school will continue teaching ages 3 to 12. But it will reduce the number of students overall, mostly in the lower primary class of 3- to 6-year-olds. Many of those students' parents use the school as a transition to elementary school.

The school is reducing the four primary classes to one and the two classes of first- through third-graders to one. The one upper elementary class of fourth- through sixth-graders will remain.

Whiting was thrilled her children are returning.

"We're very committed to the Montessori program through fifth grade, so for us, I'm very excited we got in," she said.

Next year, the school will consolidate its operations at 2416 W Cleveland St. It will close the site at 201 S Armenia Ave.

Two weeks ago, LIST Realty gave school officials a down payment to buy the Armenia Avenue site, which houses four classrooms.

"It's not by choice, but in the long run it's going to make us a better school," said Fernandez, whose health issues include heart problems.

The school will be able to select families that want Montessori for their entire elementary school education, she said.

Fernandez and Amanda Linton-Evans, director of education, established the school in 1996 with 33 students. Two years ago, the campus expanded to the Cleveland site.

Founded in the early 1900s by Maria Montessori, Montessori schools focus on respect for children's independence and encourages them to learn naturally as they are ready. She believed world peace could be attained through teaching children to respect others and solve problems.

Scaling back to one site will allow the staff and faculty to give students more individual attention, Fernandez said.

"The whole school will be more cohesive."

Elisabeth Dyer can be reached at 226-3321 or edyer@sptimes.com

[Last modified February 24, 2005, 09:35:09]