By:Jeff Lipton
Students enrolled in the Lawrence Public Schools will report for the first day of school on Sept. 7, and students at schools in Hewlett-Woodmere will start the following day. Although the final enrollment figures are not yet in, the number of students enrolled in Lawrence schools will remain steady at around 3,600, while the number of students at Hewlett-Woodmere will be around 3,400.
Lawrence district changes
The major change in Lawrence is the decision to close the Number One School and move those students, teachers and administrators into the Number Six School in Woodmere, in a consolidation plan to save money and make better use of classroom space. The district is operating for a second consecutive year on a contingency budget.
"Under some trying conditions, we're off to a pretty good start," said Lawrence Superintendent Dr. John Fitzsimons. "We worked hard not to eliminate any core programs, and the class sizes are respectable."
The teachers at the Number One School packed up their belongings in about five days and moved into their new home, said Michele Lineal, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. "The Number Six School gym was used as a staging area for all the furniture, and the boxes [packed by the teachers] were put in the hallways outside the classrooms," said Lineal. "The whole process was a miracle to behold."
She credited Dennis Verriello, director of facilities, and the head custodian at the Number Six School for pulling it off before school began. Several Lawrence High School students also were helpful in the move. The first floor was cleaned up two weeks ago, and the second floor was completed by Aug. 1, said Lineal.
"They did such a good job that I defy anyone to tell me if it looks like the teachers had just moved in, or if they've been at the Number Six School for 20 years," she said.
As of May, about 280 students were enrolled at Number One and 263 at Number Six. With the merger, Number Six will enroll 468 students in a school built for 600 children, said Lineal. Number Six will make room for 26 classes, with an average of 19 students per class.
An open house organized by the Number Six School PTA was held for parents and students last Thursday, and it drew about 200 people. "The parents were very impressed with the building," said school board President Kathy Raquet-Barry, citing the spaciousness of the school's computer room, library and art room.
"At the Number Six they are doing an incredible job," Fitzsimons said at the Lawrence school board meeting Aug. 24. "We're in very good shape for the opening [of school]. We really placed the importance on that."
Under contingency, the district was forced to eliminate a total of 77 positions, including 31 "certificated" staff members. The fiscal constraints on the district, which allow Lawrence a 2.4 percent budget increase, also have handcuffed the district in terms of capital improvement projects to its buildings.
"I was over at the Number Four School visiting, and it's in very good condition," Fitzsimons told the school board. "But you are going to have some serious problems [with district buildings]."
He singled out brick-pointing work that is desperately needed on district buildings. The school board did not put up a $20 million bond for capital improvements in 2003-04 after the bond failed the previous year. "At the high school, significant improvements are needed," the superintendent said. "It's a shame. We can't keep deferring these physical problems. There comes a point in time that we're going to have to address [the needs of] the school buildings and school grounds."
Board member Pamela Greenbaum said that it's still not clear which clubs will be cut under contingency. Fitzsimons said he would meet with principals to go over details and determine if any funds could be restored to clubs.
Greenbaum said she was disappointed that the number of librarians at Lawrence Middle School was cut from two to one.
"Because of the 2.4 percent increase we were given to work with, we had to make some major reductions in personnel," said Fitzsimons. "Is it nice to have two librarians? Absolutely." He said he would speak with Principal Dr. Mark Kavarsky about the problem.
Hewlett-Woodmere changes
The major changes in the Hewlett-Woodmere district for 2004-05 are in its administration. Superintendent Dr. Les Omotani, who is beginning his first year in the district, left a 9,000-student school district in Iowa to replace Dr. Charles Fowler as Hewlett-Woodmere's superintendent. In addition, Peter Weber has replaced Dr. Karen Chapman as assistant superintendent for business.
"I'm looking forward to the opportunity," said Omotani. "We have an opportunity to build upon a school district that is known for its excellence in education. There are a lot of opportunities for the future, and I'm excited and very pleased to be here."
He said that during the summer, the district's focus was on literacy. "All of our students were engaged in summer reading, from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade," he said. "Our emphasis in staff development was in learning a comprehensive literary approach.
"We also spent time in making sure that everyone understands the need and value of teachers on local assessments and the educational development of our young people."
Omotani said the buildings are ready to go, as the district completes the final phases of modernization at Hewlett High School. He added that the district must still develop a comprehensive plan for the future of the Woodmere Middle School, since voters defeated a bond issue to build a new middle school.
During the past few months, Omotani said, he has met with individuals as well as groups to get a better handle on the community.
"I really do believe this is our opportunity to build from strength," he said. "I look for new and better ways to engage everyone in our community, and to communicate with them in a two-way form of communication. And I want to keep advocating the breadth of learning experiences for young people."
He said it is important to prepare young people in academics, but that it's also important to create well-rounded human beings, and give them experiences in art and athletics as well.
