Mindful of the multiple messages of the recent school budget vote and revote, the Board of Education met in a June 22 work session to hammer out school facilities options and recommendations in a cost-contained fashion and with an expressed desire for community input. Educational facility planner Dr. Franklin Hill's presentation of aspects of a prototypical elementary school, called " a work in progress" since alterations, large and small, can be made, was followed by a general consensus among board members that they had moved a step forward to suggest the following in answer to the district's needs:

* Creation of one middle school at Sousa,

* Establishment of five elementary schools, consisting of Weber, Salem, Manorhaven, Daly, and Guggenheim, and

* Expansion and renovation of the high school to accommodate an increased student body.

Attendees numbered only about 35 on this Tuesday evening. A moment of silence was observed in honor of Guggenheim teacher of 29 years, Mrs. Ann McCabe, who recently passed away. On a happier note, Ray Hernandez presented a trophy won by Port 7 and 8-year-olds in a chess tournament with Westbury. Bert Cohen asked about the status of the Guggenheim property, and the situation regarding water and sewage usage. Board President Bob Scheer said it was "status quo," adding that we must have a specific plan before we can approach the water and sewer authorities for information and answers.

Other comments and questions from the public, though, reflect a still-divided community, with some angry about costs and mistrustful of school officials' decision-making processes; others voiced full support and commitment for the board and administration and its educational plans. It is this matter -- finding Port's formula for balancing cost containment with educational quality -- that now confronts the board and the community. Melissa Janis, for instance, pleaded for "extra time and means" for the community to have input into the facilities plan. "Please don't give us a long range building plan without public input," she said, noting that community anger and disillusionment will decline if the community is allowed to participate. One unidentified community member told the board that the public is angry, and to gain public support they must show fiscal responsibility. People have a right to live in an affordable community, she added.

On the other hand, Linda Levinger, co-chair of the Coalition for Port Washington Schools, gave full-fledged support to the budget, the board, and its educational plans. Toward the end of the session, another community member recognized the Board for the many hours devoted to this task.

Dr. Inserra explained that the BOE started by focusing on the elementary schools; Dr. Hill and associates were asked to start plans with the renovation of Daly. After interviewing a number of staff throughout the district, examining the buildings, and incorporating other information, Dr. Hill presented some drawings/renderings of options for a prototypical elementary school. He emphasized the inclusion of cost management in the proposals and even more so, the desire and need for questions, input, discussion, and for direction. A document too large to be made a handout to the non-board members in attendance, the entire proposal is available at each elementary school.

In what may have been the central point of the evening, the BOE's Dr. Nelson raised the issue of "want vs. need," in facilities planning. He asked how the document differentiates between the two. In reply, Dr.Hill explained that his team will work with what we give them, and the priority we assign it.

Dr. Nelson raised another significant issue by asking about the state aid formula for additions and renovations. NYS utilizes a formula to determine the maximum cost allowance, that is, the rate at which the schools can get aid. Dr. Inserra asked whether the district could get the maximum cost allowance before going forward, but apparently the schools can get only an estimate; the actual maximum cost allowance will not be determined until the facilities plans are final.

From several different vantage points board member Richard Sussman reminded the planners that it must fit this town's needs, be economical and flexible, and incorporate the opinions of many constituencies. He asked about the frequently-referred to target class size of 20 students. "How was this arrived at? " he inquired of Dr. Hill. "It isn't the practice now -- or the plan," Mr. Sussman added. He asked how flexible changes in enrollment, or interage classes - grades two and three together in one classroom, as has been tried in the past, for example -- would be handled. While Dr. Hill suggested switchable or flexible rooms as an option, Mr. Sussman asked, "Wouldn't it be better to make all rooms 900 square feet in case we need it?" referring to the future wherein enrollments might rise or fall.

Echoing Dr. Nelson's point, Mr. Sussman emphasized that we must know the basic minimum needed to accommodate students, and what, in the plan, extends beyond the minimum. It was offered that the state requirement is 28.5 square feet per child and at 20 students per class, the total square footage is well below the 800 or 900 sq. feet under discussion. Mr. Sussman also asked whether any consulting of Port residents without children in the schools was conducted, saying "Isn't it important to know how they feel?" He advocated for the definition of a construction manager's services before the hiring of one.

Board member Sandy Ehrlich raised the question of whether there is a districtwide standard for the amount of time elementary students spend in art, music, and physical education, asking, "shouldn't we be designing it so these subjects are given fair time, and the same time, in every elementary school?" Some elementary school principals highlighted the need for additional storage space for projects when there is just one art room, yet it might be just as useful to have multi-purpose space. "If we had two art rooms, would one sit idle for a significant amount of time? Would it be better to have one room with a divider?" Dr. Hill asked. Still, the current conditions at Daly are such that every activity and class has to be prioritized to juggle simultaneous instruction, according to Daly Principal Jeffrey Morris. Mrs. Ehrlich also asked about the possibility of having rest rooms near playing fields and physical education rooms, to accommodate community use during non-school hours. "We want to be more hospitable to the community," she added.

School Board member Nancy Cowles raised concerns similar to those of her colleagues. She found that "what was missing [in the facilities plan] was a rationale for what was being proposed in the plan...Are minimum guidelines acceptable for us? If not, what is the best for us?" Ultimately, she added, there was more square footage in the building than she wanted to pay for. "I want to go lower, not higher," she stated.

Another possible option to save construction dollars was mentioned by Board member Dean Nardone. He wondered whether the formation of two middle schools, housing grades 5 through 8, might be promising. It seemed, to most board members, that too much time would be needed to study this idea; the public hadn't been informed and asked about their views. Ms. Cowles and Dr. Inserra reasoned that if there was no compelling educational reason to examine this thought, it should be shelved for the present.

Summing up, Mrs. Ehrlich proposed that the consulting firm develop plans to modify Sousa to be the middle school, use the three current elementary schools, plus Weber and Salem as the five elementary schools, and expand and renovate Schreiber to accommodate a larger student population. "My hope is that the community will discuss with us what they would support regarding the above," Mrs. Erlich said. Mr. Scheer remarked that the BOE was now entering another phase of planning and felt "the community will respond positively if involved." As outgoing President of the School Board, Mr. Scheer was recognized and thanked for his service, given a round of applause in appreciation, one individual spoke for many when telling Mr. Scheer, "you will be missed."