The Board of Education discussed major facilities needs for the short term in 2000-01 and 2002-03, at its Dec. 14 meeting. (This should not be confused with the long-term facilities that covers the district's space needs through 2009, and still awaits board approval, a bond referendum and implementation.) The needs identified resulted from meetings that had been held with all principals and directors. They outlined the additional facilities that will be needed in specific buildings or for specific programs, and took into account specific programmatic initiatives. However, it was noted that the ongoing stress put on the infrastructures of the buildings in areas such as physical education and all special areas were not addressed.

According to School Board President Dr. Roy Nelson, the board is attempting to make sure that the short-term solutions dovetail with the proposed long-term plan. And, wherever possible permanent structures be erected in lieu of temporary ones. It is also opting for an educationally sound approach to space problems, thereby providing adequate space for educational needs.

"Also on the horizon," said Dr. Nelson , "it's conceivable that Salem could be renovated by September 2001." This could relieve some of the stress from the enrollment crunch for the short term.

Dr. Inserra informed the board of another matter on the horizon. The number of students who have been identified as requiring special education services in pre-K this year, and coming into next year's kindergarten, is 40. This represents roughly 12 percent of the incoming class of about 350 students. In addition to the increase in special ed. students, the district is attempting to comply with the county mandate to provide space within the district as opposed to outside placement.

The short-term needs for the specific facilities, as outlined in a packet provided by the administration, are as follows:

Schreiber-No specific additional facilities are requested although there is concern that there be sufficient rooms to enable students to have a full schedule without putting a constraint on the elective program or causing a significant increase in class size.

The increase in enrollment in special education, the expansion of programs and the return of students in the high school from outside placements beginning in September 2000 and continuing through the next year will have an impact on facilities needs at Schreiber. In '01-'02, it is anticipated that a class will be established for ED students which will require one classrooms and also that additional resource room and special area PPS staff will be added to meet the needs of the growing population. Therefore, either one or two additional classrooms will be required.

Sixth grade-The enrollment in 6th grade increased from 277 to 346. This increase prompted the need to begin the phase-in of the 4th house. One additional two-person team was added to 6th grade in this school year, raising to seven the number of two-person teams.

Sevebth grade- Current enrollment 289. Projected enrollment 361 for an increase of 72 students. If no change, team size will be 120-121 pupils and average class size will be 30-31.

Desired option to address team and class size: add one additional four-person team.

Eighth grade-Enrollment in 2000-0001 projected to be 293 and for 2001-02 projected at 366 for an increase of 73 students. Maintaining team structure and team numbers would result in a class size of 30 students. Adding one more four-person team would bring class size to 22-23.

Desired option to address team and class size: add one additional four-person team.

A list of several options with their positive and negative impacts outlined was reviewed. (A copy of this is available at the Administration Building.)

The packet distributed by administration summarized the short-term needs at Weber as follows:

The programmatic impacts of most options, as presented in this report, are far reaching. With the exception of the addition of portable classrooms, the remaining options erode the quality of the current programs and practices at the middle school. Essentially, by creating and implementing stopgap measures to address the severe limitations of the Weber facility, we would be abandoning the prestige and promise of our commitment to the parents and children of the Port Washington community. Changing a philosophy by abandoning a successful program doesn't make educational sense. Port Washington should not allow its buildings to determine its programs.

While this report presents the obvious in terms of impact, there are a number of subtle changes that will affect the education of many children. Our special education population is growing each year, and it would be a casualty of limited space. Access to teachers space for classes. and alternate locations for testing would be further limited. Support of these programs through counseling, psychologist services, and social worker is already limited by space constraints. Weber's infrastructure of cafeteria, bathrooms, lockers, small classrooms and extended footprint would be further strained without added spaces.

The short-term recommendations for Weber are '00-'01: four additional classrooms and for '01-'02 six additional rooms.

00-01 the enrollment is up 16 students to 447 and for '01-'02 is up 15 students to 462. However, the portables purchased this year were sufficient to meet the enrollment for next year and probably 2001.

'00-'01 the enrollment is up five to 588 and '01-'02 will be up 18 to 606.

'00-'01: * Based on enrollment projections, they have estimated four sections in grade five for the year '00-'01. At the present time enrollment is creeping up in the current grade four, which could impact on the number of sections for next year's grade 5. It is possible that five sections would have to be considered. This would result in 29 regular sections.

* There will be a second self -contained special education Aston class established to serve children in grades 1 and 2. This is based on children now in self contained kindergarten classes outside the district who will be returning to Port Washington for the first grade and also includes identified pre-school children who will require a self -contained kindergarten setting. It is anticipated that both primary classes, the existing K/1 and the project 1/2 will be fully enrolled.

01-02 *Based on projected numbers that will include six-kindergarten sections, there will be a need for one more portable.

00-01 the enrollment is up 19 to 553 and for 01-02 up 15 to 568 students.

* While the enrollment increase at Manorhaven for 2000-01 is 19 students, it is projected that an additional two portables will be needed for that building. The current 5th grade has 67 students. Next year's 5th grade will have 85 students, which will mean that instead of the current three sections in 5th grade, there will be 4. It is also projected that the current 3rd grade of 90 students in four sections will have 150 children next year, requiring five sections in 3rd grade. While the numbers are not large, they are at grade levels where the result will be 2 additional sections of children.

* For 2001-02, the increase of an additional 15 students at Manorhaven will result in an additional section in 4th grade, thereby potentially requiring one more portable classroom depending on the 2nd grade enrollment which is projected in five sections for 88 students but could be in four sections.

'00-'01- Enrollment projections are down three students to 608; for '01-'02 25 more are expected, increasing enrollment to 633.

* This is based on current enrollment projections which indicate a possible reduction in one section from five sections to four sections, for grade 5 for '00-'01.

Total additional facilities for the district are: 2000-2001---seven to eight portables; 2001-2002---nine to 10 portables.

In terms of the long-term facilities plan which will most likely be voted on at the meeting scheduled Jan. 4, administration was asked to provide the operating costs associated with the increase in enrollment anticipated over the next several years. The point was made, however, that an increase in operating costs will be necessary regardless of where the additional students are physically placed.

* Commenting on the $85 million proposed facilities plan, Frank Russo said he was "shocked" at the number and feels that "it's a waste of time," but added that he knows the board is "well intended." He reported that he spoke with at least 20 other people who feel as he does, however they wouldn't even bother to attend the meeting.

He then stated that the overall budget is already at an "absurd level," and disagrees with taxpayers who believe that "you can't spend enough on education."

He reiterated some of the points he made in a recent letter-to-the-editor, in which he pointed out that the district has accommodated large student populations in the mid 1980s, in roughly the same amount of space.

He pointed out that even though the enrollment had decreased from that time, the number of teachers had not.

* Weber PTA co-president Gail Thorpe urged the board to opt for the use of portables to solve the short-term problems at Weber, because she doesn't know," how you would be able to keep the integrity of the program without portables."

* Ellen Ginsberg expressed concern over the lack of support space (gym, cafeteria etc.) for the 568 student enrollment projected for Manorhaven School. "You can build more classrooms, but you still need other space," she said.

She asked that when considering redistricting, that it be done to hurt the least number of students (i.e. not having two children from one family in different schools).

She also suggested that the schools might stagger school hours and schedule special services (i.e. psychological, speech, etc.) before and after school. This would also avoid the problem of taking students out of class during the day.