School Construction, Barlow and Woodland: We'll Snap Our Fingers and Get It Done?

By now it is obvious that our current school board and school district top administration are set on their own ways and pretty much don't care about communicating with the public until: a)the very last minute; b) because it is mandated by law; c)because it makes them feel good to downplay the bad with their notion of what is good, d)because we bloggers force any given topic.

This past Tuesday's proposed school construction presentation is one good example of the above. The proposed construction was perceived by yours truly as an item that the school board feels is a done deal. But will the state be so quick to approve the proposal? I don't know about you but I am curious to find out what the state's response will be, after all, even if the money is already at the district, the money is public money and there seems to be a new need to have a good reason to spend it nowadays.

With this said, it is not that Barlow and Woodland couldn't use a new kitchen and a new gym. And sure Barlow and Woodland proposed construction, dating from a 2005 plan, was valid back then and it is still valid today, but...can we say building a kitchen and a new gym is the most pressing need of the school district today on 2011?

District-wide enrollment numbers obtained through OPRA (will post link later) show that even if rearranging, again, the district's elementary schools was to happen, the overcrowding that some schools have wouldn't be solved, for example:

Washington school, a brand new school, has already surpassed its capacity of 548 students (p.240)by its current enrollment of 602 students. Cedarbrook, who is housing Cook's 8th graders this year, is also experiencing overcrowding and while Cedarbrook has trailers on its property and the overcrowding is hardly felt, how long can students be housed at trailers? Evergreen is also way over crowded with 582 students and counting.

But just what would solve this overcrowding? Yes, while returning all 6th graders to Maxson and Hubbard, which currently have 301 and 325 students, could help alleviate some of the overcrowding, the real issue, or so it seems, is with younger children. Kindergartners to be exact. Enrollment figures tell that there are currently 713 kindergartners v. 578 students on 6th, 7th and 8th grade. At some schools some K classrooms house as many as 29 students or more.

So, my question is this:

Will new kitchens and gym help solve the classroom space need Plainfield public schools have? If not, then what is the district and school board planning to do to address overcrowding at schools, and what are the plans to address the need for additional classroom space for incoming younger children?

If anyone has to snap out of lethargy here is the community. Speak up, get informed, and ask questions. Schools can not be ignored any longer. More on this subject later next week.