Watkins looks at consolidation progress

Watkins looks at consolidation progress

    WATKINS GLEN—The Watkins Glen school board reviewed the current changes to the middle and elementary schools as part of the district’s consolidation to one campus, during the Monday, Sept. 17, board of education meeting.
    The board toured the middle and elementary/high school buildings.  Starting this year, the fifth grade remained at the 12th Street campus instead of being housed at the middle school on Decatur Street.  The plan is to relocate all grade levels to the main campus by 2014.
    During the tour, Superintendent of Buildings and Grounds Mike DeNardo said there are 10 classrooms in the middle school that are currently not being used.  Eight of those are on the third floor.  He said that next school year the only room on the top floor that will be used is the library.  Middle school Principal Kristine Somerville said she looked at eliminating all classrooms on the third floor this year, but couldn’t without isolating one teacher from the rest of the grade and requiring renovations to what would have been the temporary science classroom.
    At the elementary school on 12th Street, there are five classrooms currently not being used.  DeNardo pointed out where the grade levels would be located once the consolidation is complete.  In order to move the middle school grades to the main campus, major renovations will be made to the high school library side of the building (facing 12th Street) and an expansion of the cafeteria.  The project was approved by voters in December, 2011.
    DeNardo said the district has another deadline to file information about the project to the state Oct. 10.
    During the tour, Superintendent Tom Phillips pointed out the Epson Projectors in some of the elementary rooms.  DeNardo explained they work like the Promethean Boards, but can project onto a white board.  Because the special screen is not needed, DeNardo explained the projectors are one-third of the cost.  He added they will eventually be able to project television and video feed onto the dry erase boards.