TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Additional classrooms might be needed at schools in the Westwood Regional School District, which serves Westwood and the Township of Washington, as trustees look at new development rising in the township.
Trustees at the Oct. 28 board meeting discussed a possible bond referendum or public question for construction of additional elementary school classrooms stemming from anticipated enrollment hikes.
The town recently approved the 66-unit Viviano/American Dream project on Van Emburgh Avenue and is hearing an application Franklin Court Management LLC’s 44-unit rental apartment complex, the first of its kind in the township.
Board members noted other developments are possible on the horizon and requested its June 2020 demographics study be regularly updated.
District Business Administrator Keith Rosado prepared a report based on district committee reports and the 2020 study that showed minimum, optimum, and maximum class sizes for kindergarten, grades 1–2, and grades 3–5.
He said the finance and facilities committee wanted to know what it would be like with the optimum number of pupils in each grade.
Sticking to the optimal number of 18 students for the elementary grades, Rosado said the district needs eight additional classrooms to be in compliance with that optimum number by the 2024–2025 school year — when American Dream students may be entering local schools.
If the grade levels were at a “maximum” of 22 students per classroom, the district would need only two additional classrooms for 2024–2025, according to the projections compiled by Rosado.
Rosado presented his findings in a detailed report to trustees on Oct. 28.
He said the next steps needed were for trustees to determine what would be the maximum class size they wished to achieve by 2024-2025; discuss the need for a new demographics study that includes the Franklin Court development; and determine whether a bond referendum or public question at the general election would be the better selection.
Rosado said that a possible September 2022 bond referendum or public question, if approved, would enable them to complete construction of additional classrooms needed by September 2024, when students from American Dream and other developments are entering the district.
Rosado noted bidding, getting funding, and signing contractor contracts must be done to get the project moving with a deadline before the 2024-2025 school year.
In 2017 district voters approved a $24 million question to significantly expand Westwood Regional Middle School. The work was completed amid the pandemic, when many students were studying remotely.
(Separately, we’re reporting on the Montvale School District’s Dec. 14 special election on upgrades at its elementary and middle school.)
Rosado said his recommendation would be to build four classrooms, a compromise between the two and eight classrooms projected to be needed.
He said four classrooms could be built at Washington Elementary School or Jessie F. George Elementary School, which would balance the number of classrooms at 34 for the township and 34 for Westwood. The township has 30 classrooms offered in local schools.
Otherwise, Rosado said, the board could consider Brookside in Westwood. He said Berkeley had flood zone and DEP issues with its proximity to a brook.
Trustee Thomas Snee noted American Dream was a 66-unit project, with 24 townhomes and 42 single-family homes. He wondered how the classrooms would be added to either township elementary school.
Snee said that the board previously considered doing an updated demographics study for Washington Township only.
However, Rosado said any future study should include both district towns. “In fairness, if we’re going to move forward, I mean there’s been a lot that has occurred over these past two years that could have a substantial impact on our decision… a lot of people moved out, a lot of people moved in.”
Snee said he was glad another study would be done.
Trustee Maureen Colombo questioned whether four new classrooms were enough and said the project needed to be done right
Member Michael Pontillo said that construction now might not be a good idea. “I think we’re talking about building in possibly the worst time in the history of the world to build anything.”
Pontillo, who also is Westwood’s police chief, noted supply chain issues, contractor time constraints, and a deadline for a referendum question six months before September 2022 made this effort “an uphill battle.”
He said he agreed with Colombo about doing the project right. He said the finance and facilities committee identified Washington School as the best site.
He said dealing with asbestos abatement and flooding issues at the school must first be addressed.
“I don’t know that we can actually do it and do it right,” Pontillo said of a classroom expansion.
He said to address public concerns, other ways to address more students and increasing class sizes could be adding instructors for co-teaching and monitor the results. Meanwhile, he said the discussion should continue over how many classrooms need to be added.
He said when the supply chain issues resolve and contractors are not so backed up, he said the district would get a “better value” for the construction needed.
Rosado said the two projects, American Dream and Franklin Court, need to be fully accounted for “and will be subject to change to what (development) actually happens.”
Rosado said the new demographic report may include the new units. He said even an updated demographics report “will be subject to change to what actually happens” with area development projects.
He said that the impact of the American Dream project in the current demographics study projected four students more per grade in each grade from K–12 in 2024-2025, when families are expected to occupy
Pontillo said we should update the demographics report in a year or two to give trustees “the current data” to make the decision on adding classrooms.
Trustee Roberta Hanlon said “we really have to look at the eight” classrooms to be added. She said the eight classrooms is a better number. “It gives not just parity but cushions too,” she said.
She said electrical upgrades along with HVAC “is a major focus.” She said the board first needs to agree on how many classrooms should be added.
Member Andrew Gerstmayr said “We want to get this right” regarding more classrooms, and that the district needs to look at upgrading its electrical infrastructure to match the new classes.
Snee said the 44 Franklin Court development “will be a challenge” to the district. He later said they will fill homes as they build them on the site. He said should construction occur quickly, students could start arriving in district schools by late 2022 as homes are sold at the site.
Snee said that means there would not be “an onslaught” of children in 2024–2025. He said it’s likely to be “a drip, drip, drip sort of thing” for students being added to the district, starting next year or 2023.
Rosado’s report also suggested an “art on the cart” option for teaching art, which could free up a classroom in schools if needed — and not cost millions, he said.
Most trustees did not appear too happy with the art on the cart alternative.