This article was originally published in the print and digital editions of the Nashua Telegraph.
HOLLIS — Portable classrooms could be the solution to Hollis/Brookline High School’s overcrowding problem, which has jeopardized the school’s accreditation.
School officials were charged with addressing the overcrowding in a warning given by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). School officials met Wednesday night to hash out a plan with a timeline for how they will meet the space requirement, which calls for 160 square feet per student.
“I don’t feel like people truly understand what it is like to be a roaming teacher in that building … and what its like for students either,” Christina Brown, a Brookline resident and Hollis/Brookline High School math teacher told school board members.
“I am inefficient when it comes to working in someone else’s classroom,” she said. “Anything can happen. It slows me down and makes me inefficient to the students.”
Principal Cindy Matte acknowledged the current conditions are not ideal.
“It’s so hard to be the best we can be all around when we are under these circumstances,” Matte said.
A school committee, organized earlier this summer by Matte, presented three different options to the co-op School Board on Wednesday night.
Options A and C suggest adding portable classrooms, which are estimated to cost between $34,000 to $43,000 each. According to Matte, walkways are estimated to cost approximately $15,000.
Portables, which will “most likely” satisfy all NEASC requirements, would be leased over a five-year time period. These units provide additional space and alleviate teacher movement and planning space, which according to the committee’s recommendations is a “huge benefit.”
However, the committee says portables present several disadvantages such as their high cost to taxpayers, effect on limited water availability, and history of health concerns.
Option B presented a different solution. Without the use of portables, the committee recommends converting two computer rooms to classrooms, increasing class sizes, eliminating courses with low enrollments, using the auditorium for lecture classes, and using the cafeteria for large study halls. While the committee says this is the most cost effective option, they said it might have a negative impact on test scores, including the SAT, NECAP, AP and PSAT.
In addition, Option B reduces AP classes such as AP psychology, which would only be offered every other year.
“Reducing AP classes reduces the amount of students that could take them,” Matte said. “That would allow us to focus more on our core classes.”
Without these AP classes, Matte said the 20 kids that would have been in the class would be dispersed in different classrooms in the building which would “free a teacher up for that period.”
While Matte said not all members of the committee agree, she said she “truly believes” Option B would have a negative impact on the students’ education.
Associate Superintendent Betsey Cox-Buteau agreed.
“The choices are really very simple,” she said. “A and C are choices to add space and retain programs and quality. Option B is to reduce,” Cox-Buteau said. “Are you going to stand by what you have given students or are you going to reduce it?”
Several community members expressed concern over the rush to make a decision by the deadline.
Brookline resident Diane Power was a member of the NEASC committee and said none of the options were thoroughly analyzed,
Others agreed.
“We have insufficient information to choose between the three options and we have to provide a report within the next three weeks,” School Board member Fred Hubert, of Brookline, said
In an effort to buy time and make a more informed decision, the board plans to present all three options to NEASC, which must be given by Sept. 1.
“My concern is that we are putting a sense of urgency, rushing to try and come up with a decision,” said parent Debbie Pucci.
The committee voted to bring a warrant article to the March annual meeting to purchase new rectangular tables. By eliminating the current circle-shaped tables, the cafeteria will be able to seat more students.
More than 25 community members came to Wednesday’s meeting, an increase from the average 5 or so attendees.
“To have that many people in the room and caring about these issues,” Pucci said, “It’s exciting.”
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