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allows the advantage of a September 2 starting date for students.
Mr. Carlson reported on the readiness of school facilities
for the arrival of students, with thanks to all support staff
for their successful efforts.
As usual, the Board adjourned from the public meeting into
an Executive Session on personnel and legal matters.
SEPTEMBER 9 WORK SESSION AND BUSINESS AGENDA
WORK SESSION:
Possible Classroom Project
Extensive consideration was initiated on the possible need
for a construction project to provide additional classroom
and core space at each school, due to continuing enrollment
increases. Architect Armand Quadrini of Perkins Eastman presented
an outline on the topic, while the Principals and other administrators
were also present for dialogue with the Board. The outline
(available in the district office) included preliminary needs
assessments for space at each school, as well as longer-range
questions such as class size guidelines and enrollment projections,
and district organization options.
The review of each school's needs indicated an expected shortage
of classrooms at each of the four schools, with that need
already felt at Coman Hill, and soon to be in evidence at
Wampus, as illustrated by the use of portable classrooms.
Core space needs, such as possible expansion of cafeteria
or special program services at some of the schools, also figured
in the summary. Identifying this summary as the base for future
reports to the Board, Mr. Chambers and Mr. Quadrini called
attention to a next meeting on the subject, on October
22.
Class size guidelines and enrollment projections for each
school were also illustrated. Mr. Chambers discussed
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the district's recent favorable experience with class size
guidelines, and discussed the strengths and weaknesses of
enrollment projections. Noting that students already enrolled
in the district were the best, most reliable predictor of
future enrollments at upper levels, he also cautioned about
the difficulty of predicting enrollments in the earlier grades,
particularly Kindergarten. Nonetheless, it is clear that the
district will have a need for additional classroom and other
space, even if the growth trend stabilizes.
Accordingly, Mr. Quadrini identified areas on a site plan
of each school where additional classrooms might be constructed.
District organization options were examined against the possibility
of still more growth, with the caveat that decisions on these
options could only be taken after further study. Reviewing
the current organization structures of a dozen comparable
Westchester districts revealed a broad variety of structures,
ranging from neighborhood schools to single, large elementary
schools. Byram Hills was unique among the sample in organizing
its elementary schools in a "Princeton Plan," or
K-2 and 3-5; discussion confirmed the advantages of that structure
for Byram Hills.
Those advantages were weighed against other alternatives
through an inventory of district organization options for
the future, with Mr. Chambers and Dr. Taylor emphasizing their
concerns about the change to a structure other than that currently
employed. Lively discussion explored the various alternatives,
with a concluding promise to return to the topic in future
meetings.
Committee on Classroom Facilities
Among other efforts to involve the public in discussion of
the possible classroom project, the Board intends to name
a "Committee on Classroom Facilities." Volunteers
wishing to commit to
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attending at least one Board meeting per month from October
to January are encouraged to contact the superintendent with
an expression of interest.
BUSINESS AGENDA
A short business agenda followed the extensive discussion
of the work session. As usual, several consent agenda items
were approved, and are shown in the following summary. Also
on the agenda were reports on the opening of school, including
a summary of opening day enrollments which may indicate a
rate of growth lower than the previous forecast.
The upcoming Board Retreat of 9/16 was noted, with a promise
that suggestions on goals emerging from the Administrative
Retreat will be shared with the Board.
Driver Education was discussed as a possible after-school,
pay-as-you-go, contract program. Dr. Taylor promised to come
back to the Board with an eventual recommendation as soon
as a number of questions can be answered.
Board reports included Back-to-School Night invitations,
and the prospect of a new round of Byram Hills Education Foundation
grants. Finally, the Board adjourned to Executive Session
to discuss several personnel matters.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
September 16—Board Retreat—
September 23-Regular Meeting
7:30 p.m., District Office—
October 22-Work Session on Possible Classroom project,
7:30 p.m., District Office
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