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Last Updated: Nov 19, 2008 - 10:01:33 AM |
The first review of the Capital Improvement Program for fiscal years 2010 - 2015 was presented during last week’s school board meeting. Among the items outlined in the CIP, several schools will see additions and renovations as approved in the 2004 bond referendum. Projects in eastern Chesterfield are outlined here.
Gates Elementary
Add classrooms and additional space for special education, more storage, and conference room space. Capacity is expected to be increased by about 150 students when complete in spring 2012.
Harrowgate Elementary
Design and construction funding will kick off project that will add new classrooms, parking, and work space. The new space will increase capacity by about 150 students. Completion is expected in fall 2013.
Enon Elementary
This project includes additional new space for classrooms, special education, storage, conferences, and the cafeteria. Renovations of the main office for security are also included in the plan. Capacity at the school is expected to be increased by about 150 students when opened in fall 2013.
Matoaca Elementary
This project includes the design and construction of additional classrooms. Renovations to some existing classrooms, the cafeteria, restrooms, and the main office for security are also included.
Salem Church Middle
The school will recapture space to be used for special education and storage space, renovate the main office area for security, and make other improvements both inside and outside the building. Funds ($1,000,000) were previously provided for the design of the project.
Enrollment trends
“We had lowered our projected enrollment for the current year, but didn’t lower it enough and have lowered it more for next year. With the slow economy, we have had to go back and take a look at our projections again and take things year by year. We do have every reason to believe, though, that the economy will pick back up and we will see enrollment grow again.”
- Tim Bullis, director of community relations
How school projects are selected
“We caution against thinking that because a school is not at student capacity that it doesn’t need space. Many of these additions and renovations are not strictly for student space. In addition to building new schools, we have to maintain and renovate the ones we have. It goes beyond student enrollment.”
- Tim Bullis
Other items within the CIP include the construction of a new high school in the Bermuda District to alleviate overcrowding at Thomas Dale, Matoaca, and Meadowbrook high schools. Projected to house 1,750 students and open in fall 2016, the new school will be constructed using funding of $6 million that is available in 2012 for design and $76,669,300 in 2014 for construction. A site for the school has not yet been established.
A new elementary school is also projected to open in the fall of 2015 to house 900 students. For this school, $2 million in funding is available in 2012 for the design and $25 million will be available in 2014 for construction. Officials are still studying possible sites.
Update on Leveling in High School
In an effort to increase the rigor in Chesterfield’s high schools, school officials are continuing their study on class levels, looking to restructure the leveling system for history and English classes.
“From one building to the next, there is an inconsistency in the class levels,” says Joe Tylus, CCPS Director of High Schools. “They become containers for kids.”
Under the proposed system, there would be three levels for students: comprehensive, which would be weighted at 4.0 and contain grade-level work; honors, which would be weighted at 4.5 and contain honors, specialty center, dual enrollment, pre-AP, and pre-IB level work; and advanced, which would be weighted at 5.0 and contain AP, IB, industry certification and college-level work. A level would also be created – accelerated – for students who come to high school with skill deficiencies. Placement in these classes would be strictly based on recommendations.
“We don’t want the accelerated level to contain students who are unmotivated, but competent; it’s strictly for students who have trouble with the work,” says Lin Corbin-Howerton, Director of the Office of School Improvement. “We will identify kids for this level.”
Officials hope to have their report ready by the spring of 2009. The changes would begin to take place with the scheduling in the winter of 2009 for the 2009-2010 school year. Any rising 11th and 12th graders for 2009-2010 will not experience any change in the weighting of their courses.
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