We learned some really great things (from having small schools) about how to set up the configuration of the school.

The new school would have a buffer zone and limited places people can enter and exit.

Grouping makes tackling things like attendance more manageable.

Really what this is about is working with teachers to talk about issues of consistency within the curriculum and more power to engage kids.

The improvement for student learning became a secondary issue.

We have rooms that leak due to poor roof conditions. Also, take a look at class sizes. Thirty-plus full-grown seniors are stuck in a 600-square-foot room. At class transition times, students must cram into the small hallways. It is a safety issue.