By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

In pondering long-range plans for the Hooksett School District, the school board wants to consider a transition to schools serving neighborhoods rather than specific grades.

District officials said no immediate plans to change the district’s structure are likely, but some said a switch to neighborhood schools warrants consideration as Hooksett grows.

“This isn’t something we’re going to take lightly,” said School Board Chairman Joanne McHugh.

Currently Hooksett has three schools, each serving specific grade levels.

Fred C. Underhill School caters to kindergarten through second grade, Memorial School serves grades 3 through 5, and Cawley Middle School serves grades 6 through 8. Hooksett sends its high school students to Manchester schools.

The discussion surrounding “neighborhood schools” grew from a suggestion from SAU 15 Superintendent Phil Littlefield that the board form a long-range planning committee to consider the district’s 10-year plans.

The board held off forming the committee at its Tuesday, Sept. 19, meeting, until it at least has a discussion about neighborhood schools.

On Tuesday, Oct. 3, the board voted unanimously to establish the long-range committee and make investigating neighborhood schools part of its charge.

McHugh said Hooksett switched from the neighborhood structure to the grade level structure at some point in the late 1980s.

Littlefield told the board little research has been done on the educational impacts of neighborhood schools versus schools determined by grade level. But, he said, plenty of research exists regarding the effects of changing schools can have on students.

Littlefield suggested such transitions have led to declines in educational performance, motivation and self-esteem.

On reducing the number of transitions for Hooksett students, Littlefield said, “I don’t think they’re monumental ­ don’t think they’re earth shattering ­ but there are educational benefits.”

A more “far reaching” benefit of a neighborhood school approach, said Littlefield, is the amount of transportation money that could be saved, as bus routes could be streamlined.

The flip side of the argument, Littlefield said prior to the most recent meeting, is that schools based on grade level are inherently specialized. Underhill and its staff, for example, are exclusively focused on early elementary education.

A switch to neighborhood schools would be most easily accomplished if and when the district builds a new school, said Littlefield.

“I think this would all coincide with the construction of a new facility, if that facility is needed,” he said.

McHugh suggested any such transition would require some public relations.

“Before we can jump into this mold, we have to make sure the community is behind us,” she said.