Bedford Minuteman
Wednesday, July 28, 2004

Bedford could lose 20 percent of student body

By Noah R. Bombard/ Staff Writer

The potential closure of Hanscom Air Force Base would mean the
departure of a couple thousand military personnel from the area - and with
them their kids.

That fact could come into play in both the Bedford and Lincoln school
districts, both of which are facing a potential impact by the base's
closure.

Currently, high school students living on base attend Bedford High
School, comprising about 20 percent of the school's approximately
750-student enrollment - and the district is predicting enrollment growth
over the next 10 years.

Although in the schematic design phase of a high school renovation
project, the Bedford School Department has yet to determine what the loss of
Hanscom students and the potential leveling, or drop, in enrollment would
mean to the district, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maureen LaCroix said.

"I would go under the assumption that the Hanscom students would stay;
how can you do otherwise?" said School Committee Chairman Michael Rosenberg.

Although the town receives payment from the federal government for
educating the base's high schoolers, LaCroix said the payments do not match
the per pupil expenditures incurred by the town.

But if the departure of Hanscom students sounds like a good solution to
Bedford's enrollment growth, officials disagree.

"It's less enrollment, but at what cost?" Rosenberg said. "The
qualities that military kids bring to our high school can not be replaced."

Students of military personnel are integral parts of the school's
music, sports departments and many other clubs and organizations, he said.

LaCroix said the loss of the Hanscom students would be a $400,000
impact to the town. It could also require some downsizing, including the
elimination of some teaching positions, she said.

The Lincoln School District is facing a much different problem should
the base close. Currently, Lincoln is contracted to educate the base's K-8
pupils on base. Hanscom's closure would mean the loss of that contract, but
more significantly, the potential for an surge of enrollment at
Lincoln-Sudbury High School.

The majority of base housing is located in Lincoln. If Hanscom were to
close, the housing could become public residential housing for Lincoln,
providing the district with the potential for a sudden burst of incoming
families whose high school students would fall under Lincoln-Sudbury's
responsibility.

It's a scenario the town of Lincoln is already preparing for.

In April, Lincoln-Sudbury School Committee member Renel Fredricksen
voiced concern over the impact.

"There is something like 800 units that will be attractive to families
with kids," Fredricksen said in April. "If that would happen, it would mean
an immediate impact to the town."

Fredricksen allayed fears somewhat, saying that the new high school
building, set to open in the fall, could absorb the added numbers.

The impact to the town, she said, would be Lincoln residents forced to
pay a greater percentage of the cost of educating Lincoln-Sudbury students.

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