While Rome teachers still want to undo a temporary student relocation next fall despite a Board of Education commitment, Bellamy school’s principal offered to try out a portable classroom that is among teachers’ concerns.
Board of Education President Patricia Riedel responded Wednesday night by presenting Rome Teachers Association President Robert Wood with a board-backed letter supporting the relocations, and by telling Bellamy Principal Nancy Opperman that a portable unit would be sought for a tryout.
Issues were addressed at a board meeting that was preceded by nearly two hours of informational picketing outside Ridge Mills Elementary School where the meeting was held. Taking part in the picketing, which objected to the student relocations and expressed concerns about educational disruptions, were at least 100 people including many teachers, other staffers, teacher retirees, parents and children.
The dispute involves a student relocation prompted by a $25.4 million renovation of Strough Middle School planned for 2013-14. The board on Oct. 3 voted 5-4 to place Strough’s 7th and 8th graders in the Staley Upper Elementary School building, while the 5th and 6th graders who normally attend Staley would be uprooted for that year; 5th graders will be placed among six K-4 schools and 6th graders at the former Fort Stanwix school.
Portable classroom units will be needed at some K-4 schools to help accommodate 5th graders, generating criticism about the units including their effectiveness and safety as well as concerns about overcrowded schools and disrupted programs.
Opperman told the board "5th grade in our building next year" will not be easy, while she and the staff are anxious over "how it’s going to work;" Bellamy is slated for at least three mobile classrooms, she said. She noted "we need to start planning for this tomorrow," and offered to "pilot a mobile classroom now" for a tryout so Bellamy would have some experience "before next September." Bellamy could "share our experience with other buildings," which could help ease anxieties, she added.
Riedel replied, "we’ll see if we can get you one," while Superintendent Jeffrey P. Simons said he would discuss it with district buildings and grounds officials to "set one up." He said afterward the tryout unit could be for a "possible reading class" but was not yet sure of details including whether state Education Department approval would be needed.
Wood, meanwhile, said while the board is "steadfast and unwavering" with its decision on relocations, the teachers union also is "still unwavering" and wishes there could be "minimal disruptions." He said "I ask the board tomorrow to re-evaluate and reconsider this reconfiguration plan" and how it affects educational progress that has been made. He added, "I remain hopeful something can occur" that would allow placing 7th graders in one building and 8th graders in another; the teachers union supported a proposal to use Fort Stanwix and New York State School for the Deaf without involving Staley, but complications were found for NYSSD.
Riedel read aloud her letter to Wood, which cited the board’s "responsibility to work towards successful implementation" of the temporary relocation plan.
Others also commented: Erin Gannon of 304 W. Linden St., a Denti school parent and a teacher in the Camden district, expressed concern about disrupting eight of the nine Rome schools during the Strough renovation. She mentioned that Camden High School remained occupied during a renovation, adding "it can be done safely" if planned properly.
However, Simons said the Strough project’s scope is far larger than any of the Camden renovations, including extensive asbestos removals.
Jolene Matt of 6391 Pillmore Drive in Lee, who has children at Staley and Stokes schools, wondered about security for portable classroom units that she called "trailers," and whether an intruder might have "access they don’t have" for a school building. Simons said there would be "supervision at each school" as students move "back and forth" between the units and a building. He added they are "not trailers," but are "modular classrooms" that follow state education regulations including air quality, lighting and size.
Kathleen Murphy of 1404 Franklyn St. said she was "amazed...a lot of parents did not attend" various meetings involving the Strough renovation plans. She said that if parents were not opposed, she does not think anyone else should be at this point.
