Back to where it all started

Sparta - After a long and exhaustive search and an often contentious debate to find relief for overcrowded classrooms, the school board attempted to solve the problem by approving a $73.3 million project this week to reconstruct the existing high school. The vote, which was tallied after just minutes of debate, was the end of the road to a journey that had taken the Sparta community nearly three years to complete. District officials now have to work to convince the electorate to vote yes to renovating and expanding the 50-year-old high school, off Route 517 on Mountain Road. “I’m pleased the board decided on a direction,” said Sparta Schools Superintendent Thomas Morton, who spearheaded a committee that first began looking to address the student population dilemma some three years ago. “Now we can look forward to finalizing a plan that will meet the needs of our high school students.” The school board will now forward its plans related to spending, curriculum and facilities to the Department of Education for approval to hold a public referendum in September 2006. Taxpayers will then be asked to approve the reconstruction project, which if all goes as planned, would be completed by September 2009. The plan, which was chosen from one of six designs presented by the Spiezle Architectural Group of Trenton, would expand the school to accommodate 1,525 students and introduce additional facilities, including 24 new classrooms, three music and faculty team rooms, an auditorium, a commons/cafeteria, a kitchen, a double gymnasium and new locker rooms. The cost of the additions, which total 137,910 square feet, is estimated at $34.5 million. The more than 115,000 square feet of renovations will feature nine classrooms; three science, technology and computer laboratories; a television production studio; three dividable classrooms; art rooms; media center; and space for home economics and life skills. Cost of the renovations is expected to be $18.2 million. Other expenditures include $4,667,702 for architectural services; $3,750,000 for site development costs; $1,107,700 for temporary classroom space and $352,000 for new furniture. During reconstruction, some classes will be held in trailers on the existing school parking lots. A new parking configuration for approximately 650 cars as well as trailers has yet to be determined. Sparta School Board President David Slavin said the board opted against presenting a second referendum to add athletic fields to the project because of the “prohibitive cost” involved. The approved plan also eliminates an existing softball field. According to Slavin, the proposed plan does not solve enrollment questions at the elementary school level. Originally, the board of education had intended to build a new high school and convert the existing facility to house grades K-4. “This (referendum) will address our high school needs, space-wise, curriculum-wise,” said Slavin. “But we do expect problems in the elementary school grades. That’s not going away.” The school board will now confront its most difficult task of gaining public acceptance for the referendum. “We just want to let the public decide,” said Slavin. “They’re (residents) getting good value for their tax dollar with this plan. We think this will address the needs of the high school population for many, many years.”