The other day as I drove past Churchill Junior High School in East Brunswick, I was amazed at the size of the much-needed addition to the school. Overcrowded classrooms have been an ongoing problem for years.
I hope that with the addition to the building, consideration will also be given to the makeshift science rooms at the Smith annex. The lab facilities leave much to be desired; however, the safety and health of the students and staff involved are more important.
Proper exhaust fan hoods were never put in place when eighth-grade science rooms were moved from the Churchill main building to the kindergarten rooms at the Smith annex. Windows and doors had to be opened for ventilation for many of the chemical labs that were performed in order to allow for the escape of fumes. The sinks did not drain properly, and the former kindergarten toilets had to be used for water disposal.
The curriculum was adjusted to fit the inferior facility in the past. However, I would think a Blue Ribbon school system such as East Brunswick would take this opportunity to ensure that the buildings accommodate the curriculum.
Constance Orban
South Brunswick
retired East Brunswick Schools
science teacher