`Done deal'; Busing is major issue with fourth-grade's move.

Byline: Jan Gottesman

CLINTON - The fourth-grade move from Clinton Elementary School appears to be a "done deal."

But Superintendent of Schools Terrance Ingano told parents at Wednesday's PTA meeting that the work has just begun. The tough work will be figuring out how to implement the plan with the least disruption.

But Clinton Middle School Principal Michael Vetros had a direct message for the parents.

"I'm going to take care of your child," Vetros said. "My number one goal is to run a safe school. I don't allow baloney from anyone."

The fourth-grade is moving in response to overcrowding at Clinton Elementary School. The school opened in 2004 with 808 students. In October 2009, there were 899; in December, 906; and last week, 918.

A task force of parents was brought together to study options, including moving the preschool rather than the fourth-grade, using the old fire station, the former elementary school (now used for the administration and a special education collaborative), St. Mary School and the school at Holy Rosary. Only moving the fourth-grade to Clinton Middle School offered a low-cost solution that could be implemented quickly, allowing for programming at the elementary school to be improved by allowing some programs, including special education services, to use more appropriate space.

Vetros said the fourth- through sixth-graders would be on the first floor of Clinton Middle School, the seventh- and eighth-graders would be on the second.

"They would be segregated at lunch. They would be segregated during the school day. They would be segregated at recess," Vetros said.

Parents voiced concerns, mostly about fourth-graders mingling with eighth-graders on the bus, before getting a tour of an area at the middle school where fourth-graders will be located. It is a set of rooms, set off by itself, where the fourth grade...