Norwich - Monday could signal the start of a new era for Norwich public schools, as the City Council will be asked to support hiring a consultant to study a major redesign of the school system that could involve realigning grades, creating a new preschool-kindergarten school and merging programs.

School officials are asking the council to fund a $132,000 redesign study by LEARN, the regional education service agency based in Old Lyme. The study would involve extensive research into population trends, areas likely to be developed in the future, the condition of the school system's existing buildings, education trends and interviews with Norwich residents, planners and city officials.

The council is expected to vote on the resolution, sponsored by Mayor Peter Nystrom, during its meeting that starts at 7:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall. Residents can comment on the issue during the public comment session prior to votes on council resolutions.

A proposed schedule calls for the study to begin in October and be completed by May, giving school officials a third-party view of the school system that now has seven elementary schools, two middle schools, an alternative high school and two special education schools.

Board of Education Chairman Charles Jaskiewicz and Superintendent of Schools Abby Dolliver plan to attend Monday's council meeting to answer questions and try to respond to any objections to the proposal. Jaskiewicz said the independent study by education professionals is essential to any future redesign of the school system.

Norwich school officials do have ideas they would like to study for a possible redesign. One would be a full-day preschool-kindergarten school for all the city's children in those grades. Elementary schools could be redesigned to absorb sixth grade again, and perhaps all middle school students could attend the renovated and expanded Kelly Middle School on Mahan Drive.

Jaskiewicz hopes any redesign could result in cutting school operating costs by at least 10 percent.

But Jaskiewicz said Friday that those ideas would be presented to the consultants as one possible scenario. The consultants would be expected to study city population statistics and also the continuing trend of enrollment fluctuation. This year, for example, the school system took in 500 new enrollments, including kindergarten, but that still left the district some 125 students below the total from last June, making school planning more difficult.

Aldermen are expected to bring mixed views and many questions to the discussion Monday. Alderwoman Laurie Glenney Popovich, who used to work for LEARN, said Friday she has confidence the agency can give the city a thorough study.

"We have got to do some real hard work this year," Popovich said, referring to a second consecutive expected tough budget season.

Alderman H. Tucker Braddock would not commit to supporting funding the study. He said he would ask questions about the proposal Monday.

"We certainly do need more consolidation," he said.