[BPt111]

Stamford is growing ? Are u surprise by this ?





STAMFORD -- As the city weighs building a new school to address over-enrollment issues, Superintendent of Schools Winifred Hamilton says statistics show many local schools have reached their limit in student capacity.
At the Board of Finance's Education Committee meeting Monday night, Hamilton gave a presentation illustrating a 26-year period of growth in school populations with a projection of more students to come in 2014.

"Enrollment in Stamford public schools is increasing," Hamilton said at the meeting, which was held at the Stamford Government Center.
Hamilton provided statistics for all elementary, middle and high schools in the district.
As of this year, six of Stamford's 12 elementary schools and the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering are over-capacity in students.
More schools are expected to become over-enrolled in students in the next four years as the city's birth rate is projected to remain stable through 2018, Hamilton said.

"I think it's sort of important to look at historically and over time what some of the issues are in enrollment," Hamilton said.
Since 1987, enrollment in Stamford Public Schools has increased from 11,413 to 16,069 students in 2013, an increase of 4,656 students. That total is expected to become higher in 2014, with a projection of 16,315 students in the public school system.
From 1987 to 2013, elementary school populations have risen by 1,496 students, middle schools, 1,693 students and high schools, 1,360 students.
By the 2015-16 school year, Scofield Magnet Middle School is expected to be over capcity in students. Hamilton says Stamford High School and Westhill High School are projected to be over enrollment capacity by 2016-17.

"There are absolutely legal and necessary areas that we need to address," Hamilton said.
Stamford's birth rate is projected to remain the same through 2018 at approximately 1,825 children, according to Hamilton. This rate is expected to generate 1,225 kindergarteners through 2023, she said.
Hamilton said the state has implemented mandates in recent years that require improvements to the schools' special education, English Language Learners and struggling student programs.
Tamu Lucero, assistant superintendent of Stamford's elementary schools, said that space has become so tight in one elementary school that two English Language Learners classes have needed to be taught in storage closets.
"Our elementary teachers, our elementary principals are making the best out of a not so great situation," Lucero said.
Lucero said in another elementary school, cafeteria tables are stacked in the middle of a hallway because there is no place else to put them.

"There was just enough space to be in compliance, but the people from the fire department do not like that our tables are out in the hallways," she said.
Last month, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed a bill expanding the state's School Readiness Program.
The program provides high-quality preschool to low-income 3- and 4-year-olds in priority and competitive school districts in the state.
In Stamford Public Schools, though, Hamilton said there is no room to add preschool programs.
Mayor David Martin was also in attendance at the Education Committee meeting to update the board on his request to purchase the former Sacred Heart Academy property at 200 Strawberry Hill Ave.
According to Martin, city administrators are not sure whether they want to convert the 10.8-acre site into a school campus or some other use.


"I want as many options available to us to deal with as many different contingencies as possible," Martin said.
He says the site may be utilized for a pre-K to 8, 6 to 8 or elementary school, and educate anywhere from 400 to more than 800 students.
The Board of Representatives is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether it should authorize the appropriation of up to $10 million to acquire the property, as well as $55 million to renovate Sacred Heart Academy into a new school.
Martin said future bonding for the project will require approval from city boards.
"We're going to need more authorization at a later date," he said.

[Tubeworm]

Originally Posted by BPt111

Stamford is growing ? Are u surprise by this ?

nope

[DairyGodmother]

Ha! This affirms our decision to leave Stamford for better schools (and a better town IMHO) in Fairfield. Our son was going to be lost in this mess, and the new magnet system chopped up our neighborhood because we were in a 'preference zone' for a magnet school that allowed a hunk of people in but not all. It sounds great if you get in, but you really destroy the community feel of an area with magnet programs. Stamford is diverse enough you could draw the lines (in my area anyway) to obtain diversity in most schools.

We are doing our part to solve Stamford's crowding problem!! SEE YA!

[BPt111]

Funding approved for Sacred Heart Academy property purchase - : News