Date: Fri 26-Jan-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

schools-Hawley-addition

Full Text:

School Officials Say Hawley Addition Will Be Important To Kindergarteners

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

What would happen if Newtown taxpayers rejected the school system's plan for

expansion at Hawley Schools this spring?

According to Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed, there is a very good

chance that kindergarten students from Sandy Hook School would have to attend

class next year in the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Company's Firehouse which is

adjacent to school grounds on Riverside Road.

Of course, administrators hope they won't have to go that route. Their plan is

to move 120 students, including some kindergarten students, from the

overcrowded Sandy Hook School into the Hawley addition. But that all hinges on

whether or not the town approves it.

Although Mr Vitarelli has met with the Sandy Hook fire company's board of

directors, Dr Reed said the issue is not a pressing one.

"The plan is on hold right now because I feel strongly that the Hawley School

addition will be passed," he said.

Nevertheless, parents of Sandy Hook pre-schoolers bound for kindergarten are

slowly learning about this game plan are growing more and more concerned.

"I think this is an absolutely unacceptable plan to me," said Eileen Burns of

Riverside Road.

Mrs Burns said her son would be denied the feeling of being in a school and

that his kindergarten experience would be more like pre-school. She also

pointed out that the fire whistle at the station could be a distraction.

Mr Vitarelli said Sandy Hook School would be willing to "bite the bullet" and

reallocate space within the school temporarily to accommodate the excess

student body, but not for any long period of time.

"We are almost maxed out of options," he explained.

Dr Reed said the school district would like to keep the kindergarten students

in a regular classroom. Putting the children in the firehouse, he said, "would

work out, but we're hoping we don't have to go that route."

There are currently 120 kindergarten students attending Sandy Hook School.

That number is expected to increase for the 1996-97 school year.

The rear of the firehouse has a large room that would be big enough to house

the young students. Dr Reed said portable room dividers could be installed.

The cost for renting the room at the firehouse would be about $15,000 plus

utilities.

The Hawley School and Newtown High School addition plans are expected to go

out to bid in February and March.