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August 31. 2012 1:57AM
Pelham School Board seeks public comment on facilities plans
PELHAM — Residents will be able to offer input on the future of the town’s school facilities at an upcoming public forum.
“What are people’s priorities? That’s the type of thing I want to get out of this forum next week,” said Brian Carton, chairman of the School Board.
Residents will see a presentation of the draft report made by the New England Development Council before the floor is opened up for questions and discussion during the meeting, which is on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Pelham Elementary School gym.
Options in the study include renovating the high school with an addition, renovating and expanding the middle school, and building an elementary school addition to house a minimum of four additional classrooms and the SAU administrative offices.
Another option involves switching the high school and middle school facilities. Renovations would be required to prepare the buildings to support new programming. For example, the science rooms in the middle school do not have the labs required for a high school curriculum.
School Board members reviewed each option at their meeting on Wednesday evening, although costs for the various options were not available.
“It costs money to get costs,” Carton said.
About $70,000 remains in the budget for study and research. After getting public input, the School Board will determine the most popular options and develop costs and feasibility with available funding, he said.
The decision impacts every taxpayer, and Carton said he’s hoping to hear many different points of view.
Many of the decisions are time-sensitive. The district needs to find space to house the SAU offices after the split from Windham is complete. This is also the last year for the town to receive state funding for a kindergarten project, Carton said.
A progress report is due to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in March. The district was placed on warning status five years ago for curriculum and facility issues. Only facility issues remain, including bathrooms that aren’t compliant with ADA requirements, an electrical infrastructure that can’t support current technology, and classrooms that can be accessed only through other classrooms, according to Amanda Lecaroz, assistant superintendent for SAU 28.
If the remaining issues aren’t corrected, the schools could be placed on probation or face losing accreditation. A recent letter from the NEASC recognized the progress to date.
“We were commended for moving forward and for the progress that we made, but we still have some things to do,” Lecaroz said.
Julie Hanson may be reached at Jhanson@newstote.com.
“What are people’s priorities? That’s the type of thing I want to get out of this forum next week,” said Brian Carton, chairman of the School Board.
Residents will see a presentation of the draft report made by the New England Development Council before the floor is opened up for questions and discussion during the meeting, which is on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Pelham Elementary School gym.
Options in the study include renovating the high school with an addition, renovating and expanding the middle school, and building an elementary school addition to house a minimum of four additional classrooms and the SAU administrative offices.
Another option involves switching the high school and middle school facilities. Renovations would be required to prepare the buildings to support new programming. For example, the science rooms in the middle school do not have the labs required for a high school curriculum.
School Board members reviewed each option at their meeting on Wednesday evening, although costs for the various options were not available.
“It costs money to get costs,” Carton said.
About $70,000 remains in the budget for study and research. After getting public input, the School Board will determine the most popular options and develop costs and feasibility with available funding, he said.
The decision impacts every taxpayer, and Carton said he’s hoping to hear many different points of view.
Many of the decisions are time-sensitive. The district needs to find space to house the SAU offices after the split from Windham is complete. This is also the last year for the town to receive state funding for a kindergarten project, Carton said.
A progress report is due to the New England Association of Schools and Colleges in March. The district was placed on warning status five years ago for curriculum and facility issues. Only facility issues remain, including bathrooms that aren’t compliant with ADA requirements, an electrical infrastructure that can’t support current technology, and classrooms that can be accessed only through other classrooms, according to Amanda Lecaroz, assistant superintendent for SAU 28.
If the remaining issues aren’t corrected, the schools could be placed on probation or face losing accreditation. A recent letter from the NEASC recognized the progress to date.
“We were commended for moving forward and for the progress that we made, but we still have some things to do,” Lecaroz said.
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Julie Hanson may be reached at Jhanson@newstote.com.