A total of 12 temporary classrooms to be installed at high school and middle school.
By: David Campbell
MONTGOMERY The township Board of Education on Tuesday night approved the installation of a total of 12 temporary classrooms at both the high school and middle school.
Architect James Morton outlined a plan to install six temporary classroom units at the high school, two of which would be science rooms, and six on-site units at the middle school. Due to the holiday, members of the administrative staff knowledgeable about the leasing and installation cost of the new trailers were not immediately available to give specifics, Assistant to the Superintendent Jack Rotter said Wednesday.
Currently there are 10 on-site trailers at the high school, and six at the middle school, Mr. Rotter said. The modular classrooms were installed to keep class sizes small amidst growing enrollment and pending construction of a new high school.
High school Principal James Misek said Tuesday night that his school is expected to see an increase of 150 students next year. The new high school is scheduled to open in September 2005.
On Tuesday night, the board voted to approve several measures related to the installation of the new modular classrooms, which are expected to be in place for the opening of school next fall.
In fact, work on the units is expected to be brisk, with design and site work planned to begin while classes are still in session at the end of this year, Mr. Morton told the board. Board member Susan Edwards noted that the bids, when they go out, will include incentives to have the work finished on time.
Under the current schedule, Mr. Morton said, bids are expected to be advertised and awarded in April. Design and site work are planned to begin in May, and installation to be undertaken in June. The units are expected to be ready for occupancy around Aug. 15, the architect said.
In September, the school board decided to postpone the opening of the new Montgomery High School to the start of the 2005-2006 school year a year later than originally planned. Construction is currently under way off Route 601 at the site of the former state boys’ training school.
Construction of the new building, which earlier had been slated for completion in time for the start of school next fall, had been pushed back until November 2004 at the earliest, due to delays from bad weather and scheduling problems.
When the new school opens, the current high school will become an upper middle school, grades seven and eight, with the current Montgomery Middle School housing grades five and six.