MILLTOWN — The Milltown Public Schools had a smooth opening on Sept. 4.
This year, students in fourth grade returned to Joyce Kilmer School after a fouryear hiatus at Parkview School.
“I spoke with several students and teachers in grade four who had a great opening day and were excited to be at Joyce Kilmer,” Superintendent of Schools Stephanie Brown said.
In March, the Board of Education voted in favor of relocating fourth-grade classes to Joyce Kilmer for the 2014-15 school year to alleviate space issues at Parkview.
“The movement of grade four to Joyce Kilmer was a result of a diligent exploration of our existing facilities to accommodate population increases at certain grade levels,” Brown said. “There were many shifts in classroom assignments, in addition to moving fourth grade back to Joyce Kilmer, in order to make the best use of the space in our current buildings. “
There are 312 students enrolled in prekindergarten through third grade at Parkview, and 370 students in grades four through eight at Joyce Kilmer.
This school year, the district has a large population of 83 students in the second grade, with an average class size of 28 students. Brown said the surge was caused by many factors, including the closing of Our Lady of Lourdes School and younger families moving into the borough.
At Parkview, the school benefited from state ROD (Regular Operating District) grant funds, which were applied to a drainage remediation project.
“In the past, the grounds and sidewalks at Parkview School become flooded and it was very difficult to navigate through the excess water from the school to the parking lot safely,” Brown said.
Also at Parkview, students, staff, parents and community members continued to maintain the school’s newly planted gardens over the summer, Brown said.
“The Green Club hosted a garden party in July which showcased a variety of delicious dishes made from food harvested from our school gardens,” she said, adding that the Green Club is made possible through a municipal grant coordinated by Milltown Board of Education member Dawn Milburn.