School News
Space Needs Task
Force Reviews New Information
by Chuck Ott, Superintendent of Schools
The current Space Needs Plan was adopted by the
School Board in May of 2001. It calls for the construction of
a new elementary school and the renovation of Hilltop Elementary
School. New information related to enrollment projections as
well as concerns related to the renovation of the Hilltop Elementary
School have prompted a review of the School Board's Space Needs
Plan.
Enrollment Trends
Enrollment projections for both elementary and
middle school students predict a substantial downward trend
over the next several years (see graphs below). Clearly projections
are just projections and do not account for such factors as
new housing developments. However, it is not simply projections
that reflect a downward trend in enrollment. Actual enrollment
has also declined. Elementary school enrollment (K-4), for example,
has declined by 89 students since 1999. Such declines appear
to reflect a state-wide demographic trend of lower birth rates.
Births to Somersworth residents have declined from over 200
in 1990 to just 140 in 2002.
Enrollment projections for school year 2007-2008
predict 114 fewer elementary students and 94 fewer middle school
students, for a total of 208 fewer students. Enrollment projections
will be calculated again this fall in order to continue to assess
the accuracy of these estimates. The Space Needs Task Force
is also working with the City's Department
of Development Services to monitor the impact of new housing
and building permits.
In light of these new projections, the question
arises, Might it be possible to meet our space needs within
our existing facilities and direct scarce resources to their
maintenance and upgrade?
Renovation of Hilltop Elementary School
Hilltop Elementary School is a key component to
the overall Space Needs Plan. In 1999, the architectural firm,
Team Design, produced a program analysis for the renovation
of the Hilltop School, including the addition of a kindergarten
classroom and an overhaul of systems necessary to meet handicap
and life safety codes. The cost of the project in 1999 was estimated
at $3,084,000. Had this project been approved and completed
prior to this year, we would have received 55% of the cost in
building aid. A recent revision of the building aid formula
will likely increase this percentage slightly, but could also
compromise the eligibility of the project.
In order for this renovation to qualify for Department
of Education Building Aid, it was first necessary to obtain
a waiver of site size requirements. Hilltop sits on 4.6 acres,
while state standards require 6 acres for a school of 140 students.
A waiver, limited to site size only, was obtained in February
of 2001. Later, even when the plan for renovation was redrawn
to include two additional fifth grade classrooms, the waiver
was continued.
Again, keep in mind that this waiver pertained
only to site size. To be able to move forward with the proposed
renovation and to qualify for state building aid, the school
district sought approval of the plan from the Office of the
State Fire Marshal. An inspection took place in April of 2003.
A subsequent letter to the superintendent in May of 2003 simply
stated that the proposed addition and renovations "appear
to be a possibility…" and recommended an update to
the 1999 program analysis. This clearly did not represent an
approval to move forward and it is noteworthy that an update
of the program analysis would cost at least $10,000.
An
alternative to the full renovation of Hilltop is to make modest,
incremental improvements to Hilltop that do not fundamentally
address handicap and life safety code issues and leave the building
in its current configuration. These improvements would need
be relatively modest, because there is a threshold that triggers
the obligation to meet all of the major codes. That trigger
is 25% of the assessed value of the building, which in the case
of Hilltop is $1,827,400. Therefore, the school district would
be limited to $456,850 in costs.
Clearly one of the essential questions the Space
Needs Task Force must address is: What renovation of Hilltop
is educationally sound, will comply with relevant codes, and
is reasonably cost-effective?
The Space Needs Task Force met on July 15 and
is scheduled to meet again on July 27 at 6:00 p.m. at the SAU
56 Office at 51 W. High Street. The public is welcome. The Task
Force would like to hear your opinion. Please weigh in on this
most vital decision.
Members of the Space Needs Task Force are:
Ken Bolduc,
Citizen |
Bob Siede,
Citizen (Chair) |
Woodard Openo,
Citizen |
Duane Ford,
Business Admin. |
Jim Wiggin,
City Council |
Chuck Ott, Superintendent |
Mike Micucci,
City Council |
Jim Cowan,
School Board |
Lincoln Soldati,
Citizen |
Mike Watman,
School Board |
Maurice Desmarais, Citizen |
Caroline Butler, Principal |
| Johanna Gwinn, Principal |
Paul Maskwa, Principal |
|
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