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Hawley School Celebrates `Temporary' Library Reopening

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

Sometimes, good things happen in stages.

The grand opening of the "temporary" library media center at Hawley School was

a cause for celebration last week, and media specialist Lorraine Littlejohn

couldn't have been more delighted to mark the occasion with a party for her

hard-working parent volunteers.

"I never could have done it all by myself. It's been a struggle, but we're

happy with the way it's come together," Mrs Littlejohn said, as she sipped tea

and surveyed her domain - the newly fitted LMC, complete with stacks, shelves

and check-out desk, now located in what had been the school auditorium.

Her ultimate goal, of course, is moving into the permanent library media

center now under construction and scheduled to open in September 1997.

But for now, the "temporary" LMC will do just fine, Mrs Littlejohn said.

The move - which took all summer and the month of September to complete - came

as the result of a series of domino-like adjustments that had to be made due

to the $4 million Hawley addition construction project.

When the portable classrooms were torn down to make room for the addition, the

former library media center was divided in two by the installation of a wall

and turned into additional classrooms.

That meant moving the entire LMC downstairs into the old auditorium, because a

year without a library would be unthinkable, Mrs Littlejohn said.

It was a back-breaking task, involving the moving of more than 300 boxes of

books down two flights of stairs. Of course, all those books had to be taken

down and packed, then unpacked and shelved several weeks later.

"Where, exactly, in the auditorium, do you want all this stuff, Lorraine?" was

the question she recalls hearing most often from the custodial staff, which

included Joe DeBiase, Frank Mills and Henry Velthusien.

"It became clear early on that the relocation of Hawley's library media center

was going to be quite an adventure," Mrs Littlejohn said.

The adventure started in earnest in June as Mrs Littlejohn and library media

clerk Bobbie Jackson measured for shelves, planned where videotapes, overhead

projectors and coat closets might go and puzzled over where to put the myriad

other reference items and learning centers a working school library must have.

Then, early on the morning of July 1, the parent volunteers (with their

children in tow) arrived to help tackle the onerous job of packing up all the

books into boxes.

Mrs Littlejohn said she is "eternally grateful" to the many individuals who

helped meet what she called the "Summer Challenge." They include Debbie

Barackman, Linda Benore, Linda Biscoe, Sheila, Matt and Liz Cole, Carolyn,

Dan, Thomas and Benjamin Cruson, Cindy D'Agostino, Eileen, Caitlin, Jennifer

and Patrick Dunseith, Cindy LaPorta, Brianna Littlejohn, Adella Mitchell,

James Siciliano and Robin Rambone.

Despite all the careful planning, there were occasional snafus, Mrs Littlejohn

recalled.

"Once you've unpacked, you think it's going to be fine. But interesting,

quirky things happened. Like finding out we couldn't dial the front office

because we'd covered up the buzzer," Mrs Littlejohn said.

They also discovered they had only three electrical outlets, two being

directly under the stage, which, complete with steps, took up one entire wall

of the large auditorium space.

Furthermore, the other three walls were interrupted by doors - making the

arrangement of furniture more complicated.

Nevertheless, the experience gave her a "deeper appreciation," Mrs Littlejohn

said, for the work of "architects, space planners, interior designers,

draftsmen, electricians, telephone and cable installers."

Although she's not really looking forward to moving again next summer, Mrs

Littlejohn figures that it'll be for the best possible reason - taking

occupancy in September 1997 of the new and permanent library media center in

the new addition.

In one way, though, that long-awaited facility will not be too different from

the current "temporary" library, Mrs Littlejohn said, because "the shape and

size are similar."

But, she added somewhat regretfully, "We won't have these nice high ceilings

anymore."

RDSCHOOLS

Rising College Tuition Costs: Finding A Way To Pay

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

There is good news and bad news for families struggling to keep up with rising

college tuition costs, according to a report released in September 1996 by the

New York City-based Kaplan Educational Center.

The Kaplan report, which summarizes information released by the College Board

Annual Survey of Colleges, 1996 and Trends in Student Aid: 1986 to 1996 ,

points out that college tuition costs are rising faster than the rate of

inflation.

In addition, the report states, while there are more students than ever

applying to college, the competition for financial aid is also increasing.

Compared to last year, for example, 1996-97 tuition and fees at four-year

public universities increased by an average of six percent. Tuition and fees

at four-year private universities rose about five percent.

As for the good news, the Kaplan report states there are many ways to help

fund a college education - methods that include sound financial planning begun

early on and a systematic effort to seek out available financial aid.

In many cases, money to lessen the tuition burden is out there, but families

don't know how to go about applying for it.

"Families may need to adjust their strategies" for getting help, said Kate

Foster, director of the Kaplan Student Loan Information Program (known as

KapLoan) and a contributing editor of the book, You Can Afford College.

Donald Elliott, Newtown High School's guidance director, agreed that financial

aid is definitely "out there and available," but "it takes a lot of hard work"

and organization on the part of the families to secure it. Sources are not

always well known.

"It's like an Easter egg hunt," Mr Elliott commented recently.

Hidden Tuition Costs

Providing background information that was taken from the College Board study,

the Kaplan report listed the following key points to give an idea of the scope

of problems faced by families nationwide in funding their children's college

educations.

For the 1995-96 academic year, the available amount of financial aid hit a

record high, increasing four percent to $50.3 billion, yet the annual rate of

financial aid growth trailed that of tuition and fee increases.

Financial aid includes educational loans, grants and scholarships. The amount

of available financial aid is increasing, but the majority of this increase is

in the form of federal loans, which must be paid back with interest.

Because of a demographic shift, more 18-year-olds than ever are applying to

college. This means that more students are competing for "free" money, such as

grants and scholarships.

The actual cost of college continues to outpace the inflation rate of three

percent, so the best strategy is to begin investing money wisely and as early

as possible, ideally at a yield of more than six percent.

Families should be aware that tuition, room and board figures do not include

the hid den expenses of college, which can be significant. These can include

travel to and from school, books, supplies, lab fees, dues, medical and

personal expenses.

Financial Planning Tips

The Kaplan report offers the following advice.

Never assume your family is ineligible for financial aid.

You must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to

receive financial aid. Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1,

but not before.

Contact schools as soon as possible to find out their financial aid deadlines.

Financial aid timelines may vary from school to school.

Find out from each college's financial aid office if any supplemental

financial aid forms are required.

Start the process as soon as possible. Don't wait to be accepted. Grants and

scholarships awarded by universities are limited, so the later you apply, the

less likely you are to receive "free" money.

If your goal is to get as much financial aid as possible, think carefully

about whether to apply for early decision, which commits you to a certain

school if you are accepted. You'll also be committed to whatever financial aid

package that school decides to give you.

Establish and maintain a working relationship with one financial aid counselor

at each school where you are applying.

Don't wait to submit the financial aid forms until after you complete your

taxes. Estimate income tax figures on the forms, and, if necessary, correct

them with the federal processor later.

Estimate your financial aid needs by considering expenses beyond tuition, such

as room and board, fees, books and supplies, entertainment and transportation.

Keep copies of all paperwork.

Evaluate financial aid packages from different schools carefully. Packages are

often negotiable.

Understand what kind of loans you may be eligible for. Increasingly, federal

loans are unsubsidized, meaning that families must pay interest on the loan

while the student is in school.

Inquire about tuition payment plans. Many schools allow a monthly payment

schedule.

Remember that you must re-apply for financial aid each year.

Mr Elliott agreed with the Kaplan report's advice that families needed to

start saving for college costs as early as possible.

"They should really begin the day that child is born - setting up a trust fund

or investing in CDs," he said.

Information Sources

Any Newtown High School senior who is planning to attend a college or a

university for an advanced degree should already be in contact with the school

guidance department, Mr Elliott said.

He and the four Newtown High guidance counselors - Jan English, Jack Quinlan,

Elaine Schwartz and Gerry Waterbury - are trained to help students not only

with the college selection and application process but also, later in their

senior year, with guiding them in preparing their financial aid packages.

The guidance office keeps an updated file on scholarships and grants, and

mails seniors a monthly publication with current news, titled "Senior Scoop."

The guidance office is located in the corridor adjacent to the main school

office and the phone number is 426-7651.

Mr Elliott said he hoped many seniors and their parents would attend Financial

Aid Night Tuesday, November 12, at Newtown High School. More details about the

upcoming event will be sent to the seniors, he added.

Students and their families interested in learning more about financial aid

strategies might also want to consult with outside educational specialists.