Tarhe installs modular classrooms
By TODD BONDS, tbonds@nncogannett.com
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
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LANCASTER -- Students enrolled at Chief Tarhe Elementary School finally can attend school in their neighborhood after six years of busing to other schools because of overcrowding.
''It's been a long time coming,'' said Jack Stiers, Lancaster City Schools business manager, about the eight, 27-foot-by-27-foot modular classrooms that still are under construction.
The new classrooms should be completed by mid-August. Once the state gives the final approval for occupancy, the classrooms should then be ready for students by the first day of school Aug. 24.
''Parents have been promised over and over that we will have something for them,'' said Stiers. ''This is one way we of providing (the students) with the opportunity to attend classes in their neighborhood with out being bused over.''
Without a building or construction levy passed by voters since 1964 and the continuous growth in the area, some 260 students were involuntarily bused daily to schools outside of their neighborhoods. The new modular units will alleviate that problem. Officials at the city schools offices also hope this will bring back the parents and students who left the district because of overcrowding. After six years, busing students from Tarhe had become a hassle.
''Busing was starting to create a real problem,'' Stiers said. ''(Busing) created a real confusing bus schedule that was costing us extra money, lost class time for the students, that was starting to impact their education.''
Each individual classroom will be able to support 25 to 27 students. The modular units are set to be equipped with all the technology from the traditional school buildings, such as computers and a P.A. system. The buildings also will be climate-controlled year round. In addition to the technology, the annexed building will have a separate restroom for girls, boys and teachers, and a wet room for custodians.
Use of the modular classroom is expected to save Lancaster schools some $35,000 to $40,000 in transportation costs each year for the next five years, allowing the money to go back into a general fund for other improvements to education in the district.
As the district keeps growing, the need for more class space will as well. For now, the modular classrooms will cease busing at Tarhe only. However, busing will continue if needed for parents choosing to be in the open enrollment program. Busing also may be required for special needs programs.
City schools Treasurer Scott Osborne says the need for a building is still there, along with the need for additions to buildings.
''This is a temporary fix,'' said Osborne. ''The modulars are a temporary fix, to get us by for four or five years.''
Originally published Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Please note this is ''ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX.'' I wonder if we could find some comments from PLSD in the 80s about our portables?
By TODD BONDS, tbonds@nncogannett.com
The Eagle-Gazette Staff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LANCASTER -- Students enrolled at Chief Tarhe Elementary School finally can attend school in their neighborhood after six years of busing to other schools because of overcrowding.
''It's been a long time coming,'' said Jack Stiers, Lancaster City Schools business manager, about the eight, 27-foot-by-27-foot modular classrooms that still are under construction.
The new classrooms should be completed by mid-August. Once the state gives the final approval for occupancy, the classrooms should then be ready for students by the first day of school Aug. 24.
''Parents have been promised over and over that we will have something for them,'' said Stiers. ''This is one way we of providing (the students) with the opportunity to attend classes in their neighborhood with out being bused over.''
Without a building or construction levy passed by voters since 1964 and the continuous growth in the area, some 260 students were involuntarily bused daily to schools outside of their neighborhoods. The new modular units will alleviate that problem. Officials at the city schools offices also hope this will bring back the parents and students who left the district because of overcrowding. After six years, busing students from Tarhe had become a hassle.
''Busing was starting to create a real problem,'' Stiers said. ''(Busing) created a real confusing bus schedule that was costing us extra money, lost class time for the students, that was starting to impact their education.''
Each individual classroom will be able to support 25 to 27 students. The modular units are set to be equipped with all the technology from the traditional school buildings, such as computers and a P.A. system. The buildings also will be climate-controlled year round. In addition to the technology, the annexed building will have a separate restroom for girls, boys and teachers, and a wet room for custodians.
Use of the modular classroom is expected to save Lancaster schools some $35,000 to $40,000 in transportation costs each year for the next five years, allowing the money to go back into a general fund for other improvements to education in the district.
As the district keeps growing, the need for more class space will as well. For now, the modular classrooms will cease busing at Tarhe only. However, busing will continue if needed for parents choosing to be in the open enrollment program. Busing also may be required for special needs programs.
City schools Treasurer Scott Osborne says the need for a building is still there, along with the need for additions to buildings.
''This is a temporary fix,'' said Osborne. ''The modulars are a temporary fix, to get us by for four or five years.''
Originally published Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Please note this is ''ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX.'' I wonder if we could find some comments from PLSD in the 80s about our portables?
