Game plan in motion for new school

From the BCCT.

Game plan in motion for new school
By JOAN HELLYER

Bristol’s new, estimated $34 million Warren Snyder-John Girotti School is expected to open in six months when the 2009-10 school year begins Sept. 9, district officials said.

But before that can happen, crews have to finish building the school off Beaver Street, and district administrators have to develop a game plan for the school that will be able to serve up to 1,100 students in pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade.

The administrators gave school board members an update Thursday night about what they’ve already come up with and explained what areas still need to be worked out.

Among the areas covered were time schedules, which will be staggered for the students depending on their grade level.

Middle school kids in sixth through eighth grade will begin their day at 7:45 a.m. and their school day will end at 2:31 p.m., according to administrators. Elementary school students will begin their day at 8:05 a.m. and end it at 2:40 p.m. Details on student drop-off and pickup are being worked out.

Also addressed during the meeting were core curriculums for the two levels. Both will continue, as will all middle level electives and other courses, including the exploratory language program, the administrators said.

Administrators will continue working out operation plans and give the board an update in May about several issues including time schedules for both elementary and middle level students.

Principal Rosemary Parmigiani will meet in July with fire officials in the borough to develop an emergency exit plan.

During the meeting, the board approved the 2009-10 district calendar that includes the Sept. 9 start day for the new school year. That differs from the start dates in recent years, when kids were generally back in school by the end of August.

The later start date will enable district officials to have enough time to make sure the school is ready for business, Superintendent Broadus Davis Jr. said.