Announcements - Thursday, 2/14/08

[Deb]

School will be closed on Friday, 2/15 and Monday, 2/18 for President's
Day Recess.


Informational DVDs regarding the Master Plan, (1) Referendum Overview
and (2) Middle School Construction Fly By, are available for parents
and community members to sign out and borrow. Simply come to the Main
Office and sign out one of the copies.


COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS FOR THE MASTER PLAN VOTE WILL BE WEDNESDAY,
2/20/08, AT THE VAN WYCK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND THURSDAY, 2/21/08, AT
THE WAPPINGERS JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO CAST AN
INFORMED VOTE ON MARCH 11, 2008.

WCSD MASTER PLAN REFERENDUM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

How does the vision of the Master Plan equate to the need for
additional instructional space in our existing buildings?

Instructional space needs to be developed in our existing buildings
for both programmatic and logistical reasons. The vision is to have
ten K-5 schools, two middle schools (grades 6-8), two high schools,
and one alternative high school, with improved class sizes,
consistency in programs, stable feeder patterns, and special education
services available in every building. It is impossible to merge all of
the District's sixth grade students into our current junior high
schools without planned renovations and additions.
Additional instructional spaces are also needed to keep elementary
class sizes from possibly increasing to 30 or more students should
future enrollments increase as a result of the housing start potential
that exists, particularly in the southern portion of the District.