New computers await middle school students

Construction started
on new addition
to open next year

BY SHERRY CONOHAN
Staff Writer

Construction started
on new addition
to open next year
BY SHERRY CONOHAN
Staff Writer

WEST LONG BRANCH — The upcoming school year will be one of anticipation for the borough’s two-school community.

Ground was broken on July 12 for a new addition with a library/media center and several classrooms to serve both the Frank Antonides School, grades four through eight, and the Betty McElmon Elementary School, grades kindergarten through three, which are located in one complex at Locust Avenue and Parker Road.

The $7.65 million project, which also includes renovations to both schools and improvements to the ballfields outside, won’t be completed until September 2005. Borough taxpayers will pay $5.5 million of the cost while the remaining $2.1 million will be picked up by the state from the $8 billion Educational Facilities and Construction Act fund.

Superintendent of Schools Joan Kelly noted that the footings for the new addition are about 60-percent complete and work on the ballfields is under way.

"So far, everything is on schedule she said. "We’re making progress."

Kelly said the renovations in the existing schools won’t be undertaken until next summer.

She stressed that no work will be going on inside the existing school buildings during this school year so children will not be impacted.

"There won’t be any disruptions to the classrooms or programs," she said.

While the focus currently is on what’s going on outside, there’s no lack of activity inside. Kelly said a new wireless technology system has been set up in the Frank Antonides School for use by students in grades four through eight.

She said there is a new wireless lab with 25 wireless laptop computers.

"The kids love them," she said.

Kelly said the school district also will be evaluating the social studies curriculum this year, with an eye toward revisions and new textbooks. She said that is the last major area to undergo a curriculum review.

In the past two years, she said, the math, science, reading, spelling and computer programs have undergone curriculum review. This year the results of changes made during those reviews will be evaluated, she said.

Kelly said that in addition to the social studies program, curriculum reviews will be done this year of the art, music and physical education programs.

There also will be some staff changes this year. Kelly said there will be a new computer teacher, a new physical education teacher and three new classroom teachers on board when classes begin Sept. 7.

There are a total of 747 students enrolled in the two schools for fall, with 475 at Frank Antonides and 272 Betty McElmon.