BOE Looking to Renovate School Library's "Dangerous" Condition

The held a regular meeting on Thursday evening in the library of Franklin Elementary School to talk about:

Balancing Enrollment at : The Board of Education approved an $8,500 study by Haber Associates to “balance enrollment in elementary schools”. One of the pieces of data among several that are being looked at includes sending students to other elementary schools to balance out the overcrowding, but the board emphasized that it was not seeking this as a solution, but brainstorming many options. “Our space issues at Franklin have to do with the fact the building wasn’t made for so many students,” said Franklin’s principal, Dr. Sheila Cole. Cole said that when she arrived at the school over 10 years ago there were about 250 students. Now, the enrollment at the school is well over 350. Cole said the school is close to having four classes per grade level, an unprecedented student population for the school.

Bringing Franklin School Library Up to Code: Architecture firm EI Associates will handle the approved $33,500 administration contract to renovate the library at Franklin school which is currently not up to code according to school officials. The 3,400 square-foot space could cost from $340,000 to $408,000 in total to upgrade. The Franklin school PTA has agreed to contribute to the cost of renovating the space. The project, according to an EI architect at the meeting, could be completed by Oct. 1 of this year.

Currently at issue, however are Franklin Library book shelves which administrators say are a danger to students because they are tool tall. “These shelves are not safe for our kids,” said Cole, the school’s principal. “We’ve been trying to do the renovation for the last four years,” she said. Cole said that Franklin’s library is the only one in the Summit School system that is not up to standard and its construction dates back to the mid 1970s. “All other elementary school libraries have been redone,” said Cole. “That’s fairly true,” responded school’s Superintendent Nathan Parker.  Parker explained that the greater safety issue and priority for the board had to do with a parking and traffic issue at Lincoln-Hubbard elementary.
“The situation at Lincoln-Hubbard is the most dangerous,” said Parker.

In other news:

The Board of Education also rendered several decisions:

• The Superintendent approved receipt of reports of six cases of harassment, intimidation and bullying in January, and approved the review of three more reports for February.
• With the guidance of the state department of education, the board approved the 2010-2011 cost per student as follows: Pre-school/Kingergarten: $9,497; elementary 1-5: $12,855; middle school: 6-8, $12,953; high school: $14,191
• The board approved the creation of a Girl’s varsity gymnastics team for the fall. The program, which will operate out of The Connection in Summit will come at no cost to the district with the exception of $500 fee for entry officials. Coaching staff will be made of volunteers and the gear and supplied will be donated.
• Four new school aides will be appointed, one at the Washington school and three at the primary centers for a cost ranging from $13,784.50 to $29,088.
• Board approved adding three assistants to the high school lacrosse program for $7,138 a piece. The positions are paid for by grants.

Next month there will be a regular Board of Education meeting on March 15 at 7:30p.m. at Washington Elementary School. Also, a special meeting on March 27 at 6 p.m. followed by a Board of School Estimate meeting at 6:30p.m.