Citizens panel cites need for new elementary school
BY TALI ISRAELI
Staff Writer

MARLBORO - The Board of Education's Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) has presented its recommendations to the board.

According to the committee, due to the enrollment issues that face the K-8 district, a new elementary school (about 97,000 square feet) which would be able to house grades K-6 and have a capacity of 750 pupils is needed. The estimated cost of this project is $36.5 million.

The CAC estimated that the annual tax impact for a home assessed at $300,000 would be $189 a year for 25 years.

The CAC is also recommending that classrooms be added to the Marlboro Early Learning Center, Harbor and Tennent roads. The estimated cost for an eight-classroom addition to MELC (12,400 square feet) is $5.56 million.

The annual tax impact for a home assessed at $300,000 would be $29 a year for 25 years.

The CAC, which is made up of residents, teachers and board members, was created earlier this year to research and analyze how administrators can best address space and enrollment issues facing Marlboro's K-8 public schools.

The group was split into five subcommittees - class size and school configuration; enrollment projections; finance; available land; and facilities and programs.

The CAC is projecting an increase of 369 pupils over the next five years. There are currently 6,143 students attending school in Marlboro; in the 2009-10 school year that number is expected to rise to 6,544 students, before declining to 6,512 pupils in 2010-11.

According to the CAC's presentation to the board, the forecast reflects a slower enrollment growth over a five-year period, with peak enrollment seen in 2009-10.

Regarding class size, the CAC recommends having 20 pupils or fewer in kindergarten and first grade; low to mid-20s for second through fifth grade; and mid-20s for sixth through eighth grade. Adhering to these recommendations would require 48 additional classrooms, which would necessitate the construction of a new elementary school.

The committee also discussed adding a special education wing to the proposed elementary school due to calculations which concluded that special education enrollment projections could have a significant impact on the district.

The estimated cost for a 10-classroom special education wing (11,200 square feet) is $5.24 million. The annual tax impact for a home assessed at $300,000 would be $28 a year for 25 years.

According to the CAC's presentation, in 1998-99 the Marlboro school district had 381 classified students; last year the district had 606 classified students (a 59 percent increase over the past seven years). In 1998-99, the district had 30 autistic and multiply disabled students; last year the district had 100 autistic and multiply disabled students (a 233 percent increase over seven years).

According to the presentation, a potential school site would require a minimum of 15 acres, excluding wetlands, streams and stream encroachments. With the majority of new residential development occurring in the north and northwestern portions of town, the CAC concluded that a school constructed in that area would be the most beneficial course of action.

Out of nine parcels of land examined, only two were deemed suitable to build a new school, according to the committee. The first property is about 20 acres of farmland at the corner of Conover and Pleasant Valley roads. The other property deemed suitable for a new school is approximately 132 acres on Texas Road.

According to board President Terry Spilken, an application would have to be submitted to the state by September in order to place a construction referendum before voters in March 2007. Spilken noted that it takes the state six months to approve the plans before the district can go ahead with a referendum.

The administration is expected to make a recommendation to the school board on June 20.