Date: Fri 15-Aug-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

schools-enrollment-additions

Full Text:

School Capacity Still A Concern Despite Additions

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Newtown may be growing too fast for its school system to handle.

The Newtown school system's expansion project at Hawley Elementary School is

nearing completion, but it may not be enough. New students are registering at

a record pace, especially in Sandy Hook.

It's still too early to tell if the town will need to build another school,

but town officials aren't ruling out the possibility.

Nearly two years ago, the Board of Education opted to offset the town's rapid

development by building a $4 million addition to Hawley School. Part of the

plan was to enlarge Hawley to make room for some students who were learning

under cramped conditions at Sandy Hook School. Despite the transfer of some

students to Hawley School, Sandy Hook has filled up just as quickly. The 85

students who were moved to Hawley have already been replaced by about 85 more.

The enrollment at Sandy Hook this September will be at or above where it was

in June.

"We would have been in big trouble if we didn't put the addition on," said

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed.

The good news is that the redistricting will bring 120 Sandy Hook students to

Hawley next year.

A year ago, administrators projected that this year's kindergarten class at

Sandy Hook School would number about 90 students. But 125 have already

registered and an extra 17 kids are signed up for the first grade.

"We were about 55 kids off the mark," Dr Reed said. "The growth is coming with

the younger kids. Unless we can figure out a way to do a door-to-door study,

it's tough to know where we stand."

As the superintendent points out, the economic recovery of this region has

been sustained over a longer than usual period, creating a "feeding frenzy" on

starter homes.

Buying trends are changing, meaning class sizes need to be continuously

monitored, Dr Reed said.

"If we're short of space in the elementary schools, then we're going to be

short at the middle school. Each year is a different year," he said.

To date, there has been no serious planning for a new elementary school, but

if the town continues to build 250 homes per year, it may be inevitable.

Dr Reed said the town will bring in a consultant this fall to assist the

school system with enrollment projection. A report will be made at a Board of

Education meeting in November.