Posted: Jan. 26, 2010 |(0) Comments

Germantown — School Board members want to know the last date possible to decide whether to put two modular classrooms at Amy Belle Elementary School in fall.

But, at this point, the board does not know how long municipal approvals will take to add modular classrooms at the school. District administrators are researching the approval process and will work backwards to figure out a deadline for the board's decision.

Board members also are expecting a plan, likely next month, on how to fund those additional classrooms in the face of a $583,000 operating deficit in the 2010-11 budget.

And, administrators will hold a public hearing on the creation of shared attendance areas for all elementary schools before April 15.

These are the options the board is pursuing in response to space crunches in the district's elementary schools this year.

Board members Monday called the options temporary solutions and blamed the deficit on the state's school-funding formula and the overcrowding on the public's refusal in fall to approve referendums to build a new school and fund it.

Superintendent Kenneth Rogers said a new elementary school is a strategic solution to address the overcrowding issue. Since the referendum was blocked, "we had to go with larger class sizes," he said.

"That doesn't mean we don't have more strategic solutions," Rogers said, but called the current options temporary solutions.

Boundaries may shift often

Without a new school, the district may have to shift boundaries more than once in 10 years, maybe every three years, he said.

Rogers said the board could change the policy on class sizes so schools aren't going beyond the guidelines, or pursue these alternatives.

Board member Cari Brust said she has been on the board for two years and hasn't heard of a better solution than a new school to alleviate overcrowding.

"Truly, what is best for kids is we need a new school," she said.

Without the funding for a new school, board member Michael Schultz said, "I think modular classrooms are the right thing to do."

He said administrators could look at funding the project through state trust fund loans or zero-interest federal bonds.

Although he voted in favor of determining the deadline to decide on adding modular classrooms, board member Michael Erdmann questioned how the district would fund the additional classrooms when they are talking about laying off teachers.

"There are a lot of other demands on us," he said, adding that the cheapest solution to the overcrowding issue is adjusting school boundaries.

He also noted that $1.2 million was shifted from state aid to local taxes with the current budget because of decisions made at the state level.

Parents urge modulars

Parents asked the board to find an option that least affects students.

Stacey Clement, an Amy Belle PTA member, presented a petition with 65 signatures asking for a two-classroom modular building at Amy Belle.

"I'm hearing it is a complete fiscal impossibility," she said.

She said she and other parents have been begging for relief since August. The board this summer decided to add a third section of kindergarten at Amy Belle and in September increased instructional aide staffing at all four elementary schools.

Clement asked the board to get creative, maybe even get a corporate sponsor to fund the modular classrooms.

"I'll call it anything, just pay for it," she said.

Next step

WHAT: School Board hopes to have data on funding mechanisms and deadline to place two modular classrooms at Amy Belle Elementary School in fall

WHEN: 7 p.m. Feb. 8

WHERE: district administrative offices, W13840 Donges Bay Road