Superintendent Ralph Johnson said. Committee members dissected district finances, anticipated enrollment figures, existing classroom space and residential development projections in making their choices. Most compelling, member Suzanne Hoy said, was the comparison of existing classroom space to anticipated enrollment. New Albany Elementary has 54 classrooms and four special-education rooms, Gary Switzer, curriculum director, told the group. Climbing enrollment will fill those classrooms this fall.
Plans are to move fifth-graders into one wing of the middle school, which is under construction.
Kindergartners through fourth- graders will occupy 53 rooms of the school. By the 2002-03 school year, those same children will need 54 to 56 classrooms and 60 the following year, Switzer said. Feb. 22 is the filing deadline for May ballot issues. The building proposal calls for a second elementary school for 600 students and a high-school addition for 700 students. Planners said they expect the proposed buildings to cover enrollment increases through the decade.