District to unveil expansion plans

Officials go to the public on Monday with further elementary school plans.

By: Rebecca Tokarz
   School officials will present the school board and the public Monday with plans to upgrade or expand five elementary schools to help cope with growing student enrollment.
   "I encourage people to get involved early so they are understanding and knowledgeable of what’s being planned," school board President Robert Long said.
   The plan is expected to head to the voters in the form of a December bond referendum.
   If approved by voters, the project could cost about $20 million to $30 million. The district expects to receive state aid funding for the project, but is uncertain of how much, school officials said.
   The proposed referendum includes plans to build permanent walls and rooms that will be used as cafeterias in various schools.
   The meeting will be held at 8 p.m. in the South Brunswick High School cafeteria, and will be broadcast on Viking Television Network, Channel 28.
   During the meeting, district architect Scott Spiezle of Scott Spiezle and Associates Architects will present proposals for renovations and additions to Brunswick Acres, Cambridge, Constable, Greenbrook and Monmouth Junction schools.
   The school board and the administration will take questions and comments from the public, according to a press release issued by the Board of Education Friday.
   The plans stem from recommendations made by the board’s Facilities Committee at a special April 23 meeting and will help the district cope with anticipated increases in student enrollment at the K-5 level, school officials said.
   Newer schools such as Indian Fields on Route 522, Brooks Crossing on Deans Rhode Hall Road near Route 130 and the high school on Ridge Road, will not be touched. There are no plans to alter Dayton or Deans schools either, school officials said.
   The plans for each school could include additional classroom space, permanent walls for classrooms without them, a faculty/work room for staff, art and music rooms and permanent built-in stages. Additionally, the plans allow for a cafeteria separate from the gymnasium, that would have the capacity equal to one-third of the school’s student population.
   This will be the second bond referendum brought to the public in the last five years. In 1999, voters approved a $46.99 million plan to build Brooks Crossing, which opened in September; a 120,000-square-foot addition to the high school; upgrade what is now called the Crossroads South Middle School campus on Major Road and convert the Upper Elementary School on Georges Road into another middle school. An addition also was placed on the building.
   According to a demographic report conducted in November, the district can expect an additional 600-plus students at the elementary school level by the 2006-2007 school year.
   Currently, 4,019 students are enrolled in the district’s eight elementary schools. The study shows the district should expect 4,617 in grades K-5 by 2006-2007.
   The district already has trailers at Greenbrook, Constable and Brunswick Acres. In March, the school board approved the purchase of one used, double-wide portable trailer at an estimated cost of $45,000 to help with increasing enrollment at the school at Greenbrook which, at 451 students, is 50 more than the district anticipated. The trailer will be in place by September.