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Last Updated: Jul 23, 2008 - 11:26:37 AM |
Chesterfield County is considering a new tool to limit overcrowding in public schools. The planning commission last week approved adding language to the county’s comprehensive plan addressing levels of service.
Levels of service would limit the number of students at any given county school to 120 percent of its functional capacity. That’s not the number of students the school was built for, but the number of students the school can actually instruct due to special programs such as ESL (English as a Second Language) and special education that require fewer students per classroom than the school was planned for. Trailers are not used in the formula for calculating school capacity, according to Cynthia Richardson, schools director of planning. The board of supervisors will now consider the planning commissions recommendations.
The new item in the plan could restrict growth in some areas of the county. Recently, Dale District School Board Representative David Wyman told the Village News that while four of Chesterfield’s schools are above the proposed 120 percent cap, overall, county schools are below or just slightly above capacity. High schools are at 102 percent capacity, the middle schools are at 98 percent capacity, and the elementary schools are at 90 percent capacity.
While the school board pushed to have the functional capacity cap raised from 110 percent to the 120 percent approved by the planning commission, Bermuda School Board Representative Marshall Trammell is cautious about jumping on the levels of service bandwagon.
“While I don’t have serious problems with it, the levels of service issue is very difficult and complicated. There is no simple answer,” says Trammell. “We’re pleased that the county wants to look at school numbers, but functional, not built capacity has to be kept in mind. Functional capacity changes year to year and special programs drive how many kids a school can handle.”
Trammell says zoning approvals should not be made based on a snapshot in time and that sometimes attendance numbers can change rapidly.
“We’re [school board] pleased that they’re looking at it, but they should make sure not to look at it in a simplistic way,” he says.
The county is currently seeking a facilitator to begin the process of evaluating and restructuring the county’s comprehensive plan, which is a guide for planners to use when considering how land should be used or zoned.
Matoaca resident Brenda Stewart questioned the planning commission as to why they were considering levels of service now when the comprehensive plan process will begin soon. “Why is this most significant proposed revision being rushed into the plan without proper consideration, without cost benefit analysis and without the opportunity for public participation?”
The school board has also taken up the task of growth in schools and has developed a task force that has been working over the summer to make recommendations on the efficient use of current school facilities; student enrollment trends and county demographics; best practices for school construction, design, maintenance, and financing.
The task force is charged with developing a report with recommendations for the school board’s consideration relative to the capital improvements budget process, comprehensive facility planning, and further study needs. The task force is expected to make recommendations to the board by the end of the year.
mfausz@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421
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