CPS’ long-term school solution also good investment

Last week’s column documented how elementary enrollment is rapidly increasing in the Columbus Public Schools. This year’s kindergarten class of 320 students is the largest number in recorded district history. Kindergarten classes are projected to continue to grow until 2012 when the enrollment is forecast at 349. As these young students proceed through the grades a crunch will also occur at the middle school.

Currently, the middle school is 774 students. The facility space is barely adequate for this number. Make-shift classrooms have been created in former storerooms, library areas and even lavatories. As the large kindergarten classes reach middle school age this number will climb to over 900 students. What is currently a space problem will become a facility predicament.

What does the Columbus Public School Board propose to answer this challenge?

After a two-year study and consideration of multiple options, they have devised a plan that will do more than meet short term middle-school needs. Their plan will take care of middle school space problems well into the 21st Century. It is also an excellent investment of taxpayer dollars. Finally, it represents a critical step in solving the elementary housing crunch as well.

The plan is to move fifth graders out of the elementary schools and house them with sixth graders at the current middle school facility. That facility might also be used for other district needs should space allow. These other needs could include an alternative school setting and/or spaces for central office administrative functions such as finance, special services, technology, curriculum and human resources.

Taking the fifth graders from the elementary schools will free up space at each site to help meet the classroom needs of an expanding elementary population. This would save taxpayer money that would need to be invested in more K-5 rooms.

But what about the seventh and eighth graders that have been displaced? The plan would move them to a site north of town where a new facility would be built. The location for this building is not finalized. However, it would be near the new arterial. This is an excellent location for a school for several reasons.

One is, the city is expanding to the northwest. The completion of the arterial likely will escalate this movement. Secondly, the project could include enough land to allow other city partners to join the school system and share the facility. This would make an efficient use of the taxpayers’ investment.

Thirdly, it would allow for future expansion of the site as district bonds are paid off. When the current district bonds expire, a vote could be taken to also house fifth and sixth grade students at the site. At that point, a decade or more down the road, the current middle school facility could be utilized for other school district or city uses.

The school board has now set the stage for the real planning to take place. Partners to join with the school district in their venture are being sought. Donations from industry will be requested. Final design and cost estimates will be solidified.

It is hoped that a citizen group can bring the finalized plan to the community for their consideration in 2009. A date for a vote on this project has not yet been set. However, an initial target is the fall of 2009.

This is an exciting possibility for the city of Columbus. Not only will this comprehensive plan address the needs of elementary and middle school students; it also will improve the appeal and attractiveness of the community. Partnerships with others in the community to improve services to our citizens will bring added value to the entire Columbus area.

Please join with the Columbus Public School Board in exploring this exciting venture. It will help Columbus continue to be the city of power and progress.

Paul Hillyer is superintendent of the Columbus Public Schools.