BACK TO SCHOOL
By: Nick D’Amore
School officials are looking forward to the coming school year, as one that will see some important curriculum changes and an increase in the size of the student body.
School is set to open Sept. 7, with 7,247 young people attending school this year, an increase of 300, mostly at SBHS. The district has hired 100 new teachers to accommodate the new students and replace teachers who have left.
And there will be some structural improvements made to the Upper Elementary School and SBHS and construction of a new elementary school to accommodate the growth. The improvements are slated to be under way by October.
In addition to the growing number of students and teachers, students can expect changes in the foreign language and social studies curriculum designed to help meet state standards.
"A significant amount of curriculum work has been done" to comply with current state standards, said Vincent DeLucia, administrative assistant to the superintendent.
One such change involves the foreign language classes.
"Grades three through eight will be offered Spanish and French," said Mr. DeLucia "and Latin for middle school students."
There also will be a "whole new" social studies curriculum to prepare students for changes in the state tests.
"The state tests will be addressing specific time periods in history," said Mr. DeLucia.
Middle school students will be taught American history and high school students, world history.
"There will be a completely new curriculum for elementary students," said Mr. DeLucia.
To accomodate growing enrollment, there are several construction projects slated to start and a grouping of more classes per school. That work – approved by voters last year – is slated to begin in October.
According to Jeff Scott, the school business administrator, in two years, the elementary schools will be enlarged, housing grades K-5. A new 700-pupil elementary school – the district’s eighth – will be built and an addition will be made to the Upper Elementary School, converting it to a second middle school, with students in grades six thorough eight attending both middle schools. Currently, students in grades five and six attend the UES, while students in grades seven and eight attend Crossroads Middle School.
SBHS will also be enlarged, with an addition to be built by September 2003, to accommodate a rapidly growing student body.
"We’re using 21 trailers for classrooms (at the high school) right now," said Mr. Scott.
There also will be 100 new teachers and two new principals – Richard Chromey at Dayton-Deans and William Skowronski at Monmouth Junction – coming into the district this year. In addition, former Monmouth Junction Principal Joanne Kerekes will be taking the helm at the UES, replacing Nathan Levy, who retired.
Mr. DeLucia said the growing enrollment speaks well of the school district and the township.
"South Brunswick is a very attractive community to raise a family. We have exemplary schools," he said.