Lincoln's Log

Overnight, the Lupinacci’s Deli on Valley Road was changed into the Cardillo’s Deli …

Click here for story in the Greenwich Time

New owner Mario Cardillo said he hopes to open this weekend. Meanwhile, the signs inside still said “Lupinacci’s.”

10. The town has four exits on I-95.
9. The dump has a book exchange.
8. Low taxes uber alles.
7. Rummage Room in OG where I buy my suits.
6. Best ice cream at Longfords.
5. Only racial profiling is in the police dept itself.
4. No difference between the Democrats and Republicans – just vote for whomever and you get the same results.
3. Mooring my boat next to the Giffords.
2. City Limits Diner (oops that’s in Stamford).
1. Stepford school board (our schools are really good, so stop being so negative).

This is a topic that must be whispered in hush tones in the hallways of Havermeyer and Field Point. It’s been raised several times but only by town officials who have either already announced their retirement or decided not to seek re-election. Is it time to consider closing some elementary schools in Greenwich given that the enrollment forecast for the next 10 years is for a slow decline in student population?

First consider the wide discrepancy in school enrollment in Greenwich. Eastern Middle School is jammed, with almost 800 students projected for next year. But Western only has 481.

Among the elementary schools, Riverside is forecast to have 507, while New Lebanon is coming in at 191. That is a huge range, and it begs the question: If Riverside can hold that many students and still deliver among the best scores in the town, if not the state, why can’t we consolidate some other schools?

The most obvious area for consolidation would be in the western section of town where Glenville (282), Parkway (301) and New Leb have the three lowest enrollments.

Schools are expensive places to run. And there is no correlation between school size and academic achievement, studies have shown.

Greenwich has a long history of neighborhood schools. They provide an important social hub as well as neighborhood centers.

Still, other towns like Wilton have shown that large schools are not only more efficient but they also can provide a higher quality education (although I will get plenty of argument on that point). Wilton has a student population of 4,357 but only five schools – one high school, one middle school, one school for Grades 3-8 and two elementary schools (PK-3). Greenwich, on the other hand, has 15 schools for just under 9,000 students. The largest school in Wilton is not the high school but the 3-8 grade school (1,054).

So, Wilton has proven that large elementary schools can be run efficiently and at a much lower per capita cost and is ultimately more desirable.

Would Greenwich residents be willing to trade their neighborhood schools for a more efficient system where we can apply the savings to hiring more teachers and raising the bar for all? I doubt it. But this is a worthy topic that should be debated openly and not just whispered.

Photo by Elaine Knapp

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This house being built on the mouth of the Mianus River has an interesting tapestry as seen from the water.

Two things came to mind when I attended the massive block party held in honor of retired Greenwich police officer Antonio Rivera at the foot of Greenwich Avenue this afternoon:

- Tony is one beloved guy; I don’t know him, but he must be one special human being. Tony is fighting a number of illnesses that has left him with failing kidneys and blindness.
- It is great to see the Greenwich police come together as a Band of Brothers on behalf of one of their own; it makes residents feel that this is a special force.

BTW, you don’t have to wait for special events to assist Greenwich officers. The Greenwich Police Silver Shield Association has been on my list for annual charitable donations since I moved here. It should be on everybody’s list.