Post by concerned on Aug 4, 2006 6:15:54 GMT -6
Brand-new school sleeps in
Peterson Elementary waits for more students to warrant opening
By Britt Carson
staff writer
August usually is crunch time for a new elementary school. The last coats of paint are being added, and teachers and staff are busy preparing the school for students.
However, when classes in Indian Prairie District 204 resume Aug. 28, the doors at Peterson Elementary will remain closed, the rooms empty. The doors to the brand-new school will stay shuttered for possibly the entire 2006-07 school year.
The 850-student school, at 248th Avenue and 103rd Street on the southwest side, was built to house the children expected from homes in the Ashwood development. However, the 800-home project has been slow to develop and so far there are fewer than 20 elementary school-age children from the area, said Donna Crawford, assistant superintendent of elementary education. The children are currently split between Graham and Kendall elementary schools.
"It just didn't work out with the enrollment levels where they need to be to make opening viable," school board President Jeannette Clark said. "It is prudent to keep it closed in the very short term, and I look to see it opening within the coming year."
This is the first time the district has built a school and not immediately needed it, she said.
'We did need to build it'
The school was built with $12 million from the State Construction Grant Program.
"We will have use for this school," Clark said. "I would say the circumstances were beyond our control and this could not have been foreseen. The money was from a grant and either we built it then or we would have lost that money and had to use taxpayers' money. We did need to build it when we did. The cost of the school would have only escalated and I am comfortable we did the right thing."
Board member Christine Vickers said the Ashwood slowdown reflects a national trend, but wishes something could be done to use the space for this year.
"It is a disappointment," she said. "I feel like if we don't use it, we have wasted a lot of dollars. I feel like at some point we will have to revisit how to use that space accordingly."
Last fall, Superintendent Howie Crouse suggested moving students and staff from Wheatland Elementary to Peterson, the district's 22nd elementary school. However, Wheatland parents objected, saying they liked the small classrooms and atmosphere at their 350-student school and did not want to move. In November, board members decided against the move for 2006-07.
Not fit for secondary level
The district is struggling with a space crunch at its middle and high schools, but administrators have said Peterson is not suited for the secondary level.
"We are working on more suggestions for the board," Crouse said. "At this point we made the decision to keep it closed for this year and look to next year for more opportunities."
Board member Curt Bradshaw said he doesn't fault the board for making the decision to go ahead with construction at the time.
"As that area grows there will be ample need for that space and that building," Bradshaw said. "It just looks like they were a year early in making the decision. I can't fault them for having made the decision that on knowledge on the pace of real estate that later changed dramatically."
Bradshaw said if enrollment numbers do not justify opening in fall 2007, he hopes the district will have another use for the building, possibly for expansion of the district's preschool program. Bradshaw has two young children, one of whom is enrolled in the Prairie Children Preschool program this fall.
Demand for the program is so great there is a lottery held for spots in the program.
"The preschool program is highly in demand," Bradshaw said. "I know there are far more taxpayers with children that would like to get into that program than space currently provides."
Contact Britt Carson at bcarson@scn1.com or 630-416-5269.
08/04/06
Peterson Elementary waits for more students to warrant opening
By Britt Carson
staff writer
August usually is crunch time for a new elementary school. The last coats of paint are being added, and teachers and staff are busy preparing the school for students.
However, when classes in Indian Prairie District 204 resume Aug. 28, the doors at Peterson Elementary will remain closed, the rooms empty. The doors to the brand-new school will stay shuttered for possibly the entire 2006-07 school year.
The 850-student school, at 248th Avenue and 103rd Street on the southwest side, was built to house the children expected from homes in the Ashwood development. However, the 800-home project has been slow to develop and so far there are fewer than 20 elementary school-age children from the area, said Donna Crawford, assistant superintendent of elementary education. The children are currently split between Graham and Kendall elementary schools.
"It just didn't work out with the enrollment levels where they need to be to make opening viable," school board President Jeannette Clark said. "It is prudent to keep it closed in the very short term, and I look to see it opening within the coming year."
This is the first time the district has built a school and not immediately needed it, she said.
'We did need to build it'
The school was built with $12 million from the State Construction Grant Program.
"We will have use for this school," Clark said. "I would say the circumstances were beyond our control and this could not have been foreseen. The money was from a grant and either we built it then or we would have lost that money and had to use taxpayers' money. We did need to build it when we did. The cost of the school would have only escalated and I am comfortable we did the right thing."
Board member Christine Vickers said the Ashwood slowdown reflects a national trend, but wishes something could be done to use the space for this year.
"It is a disappointment," she said. "I feel like if we don't use it, we have wasted a lot of dollars. I feel like at some point we will have to revisit how to use that space accordingly."
Last fall, Superintendent Howie Crouse suggested moving students and staff from Wheatland Elementary to Peterson, the district's 22nd elementary school. However, Wheatland parents objected, saying they liked the small classrooms and atmosphere at their 350-student school and did not want to move. In November, board members decided against the move for 2006-07.
Not fit for secondary level
The district is struggling with a space crunch at its middle and high schools, but administrators have said Peterson is not suited for the secondary level.
"We are working on more suggestions for the board," Crouse said. "At this point we made the decision to keep it closed for this year and look to next year for more opportunities."
Board member Curt Bradshaw said he doesn't fault the board for making the decision to go ahead with construction at the time.
"As that area grows there will be ample need for that space and that building," Bradshaw said. "It just looks like they were a year early in making the decision. I can't fault them for having made the decision that on knowledge on the pace of real estate that later changed dramatically."
Bradshaw said if enrollment numbers do not justify opening in fall 2007, he hopes the district will have another use for the building, possibly for expansion of the district's preschool program. Bradshaw has two young children, one of whom is enrolled in the Prairie Children Preschool program this fall.
Demand for the program is so great there is a lottery held for spots in the program.
"The preschool program is highly in demand," Bradshaw said. "I know there are far more taxpayers with children that would like to get into that program than space currently provides."
Contact Britt Carson at bcarson@scn1.com or 630-416-5269.
08/04/06
and the rest hovering around that 1 mil mark....things are gonna be slow IMHO.
