West Valley Schools Getting More Crowded

Sat., Jan. 20, 1996

Marny Lombard Staff Writer

Pasadena Park Elementary Principal Larry Bush stands like a rock in a stream of kids. As students flow past, he’s talking about the crowding in his school.

“We’ve got, let’s see, seven programs and seven specialists using this locker room,” he said.

At another West Valley school, Orchard Center Elementary Principal Fred Traher charges into the bitter wind toward a four-classroom annex that’s separate from his school’s main building.

“There are bathrooms over here, but every time we want to bring kids over to the main building, they have to go out in the weather,” Traher said.

West Valley School District will ask voters on Feb. 6 to approve a $4.2 million bond issue. The money would add 16 new classrooms to the district’s elementary schools.

Officials cut last year’s failed bond request by more than half, eliminating everything but the classrooms. “That’s quite a whack,” said West Valley Superintendent Dave Smith.

West Valley’s schools are full, and the district is growing.

Pasadena Park has gained 30 children since September. Enrollment now is 280 kids, kindergarten through fourth grade. That’s the highest ever at the school, where one class was transplanted to another building, Bush said.

Orchard Center hasn’t grown much since the start of the school year. Its enrollment is about 255.

Ness Elementary, the district’s third K-4 school, has 268 students, up from 253 in September.

The district expects about enrollment growth of 2 to 3 percent each year for the forseeable future, said Doug Matson, assistant superintendent.

Right now, 36 kids are being bused from one school to another. If a new family moves into the district, there’s no telling where the kids will end up going to school.

It depends on what grades are open, Bush said.

The extra busing eats up about 45 minutes of class time every day, Traher estimates. A starting time of 8:35 a.m. turns into 9 a.m. or later, as bus students trickle in.

The stages at all three elementaries are used for storage. And all three use locker rooms and shower rooms for music programs, specialists and counselors. One former bathroom is an office, with physical education equipment stored in the stalls.

Although unconventional, the extra space does work.

“We’ve done such a nice job of making it nice for kids. The point is, there’s none left,” Smith said.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WV measures On Feb. 6, West Valley School District will ask voters to approve a construction bond and a supplemental levy. Here are the amounts and how the money would be used: The $4.2 million bond would add 16 new classrooms, four each to the existing elementary schools: Pasadena Park, Orchard Center, Ness and Seth Woodard. The $7.5 million, two-year levy would help pay day-to-day operating expenses. The tax rate would be $4.91 per $1,000 the first year and $4.06 the second year.

This sidebar appeared with the story: WV measures On Feb. 6, West Valley School District will ask voters to approve a construction bond and a supplemental levy. Here are the amounts and how the money would be used: The $4.2 million bond would add 16 new classrooms, four each to the existing elementary schools: Pasadena Park, Orchard Center, Ness and Seth Woodard. The $7.5 million, two-year levy would help pay day-to-day operating expenses. The tax rate would be $4.91 per $1,000 the first year and $4.06 the second year.