Franklin's historic Red Brick School facing closure
Bruce Lerch II
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FRANKLIN - One of the oldest one-room schoolhouses in the United States may be forced to close its doors in 2008 due to financial constraints.
The 216-year old Red Brick School is facing its most serious threat after a new policy passed by the Franklin School Committee prohibited the school from accepting gifts or donations for operational expenses.
The school relies on such funding to operate but the school committee vote for the prohibition with a 6-1 vote, saying they didn't want to give the historic school house preference over other school budget needs.
"Public education is supposed to be about equal access, and once you start accepting gifts, you're taking the public out of the equation," School Committee Vice Chair Paula Mullen said.
Supporters of the Red Brick School have formed an action committee devoted to saving the historical school, a non-profit organization called Brick School, Inc.
"We are dedicated to the preservation and educational excellence of Franklin'soldest and one of the country's oldest one-room schoolhouses," said Mary Jane Schofield, president of the Brick School Association. "We will work toward whatever is within our power to help save it."
Supporters of the Red Brick School say they have $27,000 ready to be donated to help cover operating expenses and half of the teacher's salary, but are frustrated that the new policy will not allow them to do so. It costs $37,600 annually to operate the one-room kindergarten.
"We have the money, but they won't accept it," said Bethany Barry, a Franklin resident who has seen two of her children attend the school. "By implementing the policy, they're making it impossible for the Red Brick School to stay open."
Mullen also made to sure to point out that the new policy was not aimed directly at the Red Brick School.
"I am more concerned about the 45 teachers that we may have to cut from the school system next year," she said.
Franklin is a town with much history. It was named after Benjamin Franklin, and is home to the nation's first public library, thanks to a donation by Franklin to get it started. Franklin is also the birthplace of Horace Mann, known as the founding father of public education.
Built in 1833, the Red Brick School has been threatened with closure three times previously, and each time was saved by the support of the townspeople. In 1976, the school was added to the U.S. National Historic Register and remains a source of pride for Franklin residents, having provided more than 200 years of education in the town.
"It's just sad to me because we have the money," Barry said. "It's not like we're taking money from any other programs. The school is historic, and the school committee is not allowing us to keep it open."