The Alternative Press

SUMMIT, NJ - In a letter sent to parents and staff of Franklin School, Superintendent Dr. Nathan Parker today gave an overview of the proposed recommendations for the school, which has been the center of numerous discussions over space concerns.

The letter outlines the findings and recommendations of the The Franklin School Space Concerns Task Force, which finished its work on June 12. Parker said he supports the recommendations.

The task force's findings will be discussed in full at the June 21 meeting of the Board of Education, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Summit High School library.

"The final recommendation of laptops on a cart combined with modular classrooms would be the most viable solution for implementation for the 2012-2013 school year," Parker said in the letter. "This would provide Franklin School not only a classroom but provide the space needed for an art and music room."
 
Parker said cost estimates and timelines need to be developed over the next week and the goal is to have that information available to the Board of Education and then the public on June 21.

The letter include a summary of the findings of the task force, which was charged with determining the best recommendation regarding the short-term solution to provide more classroom space at Franklin in time for the start of school in September. 
 
To develop its recommendation, the committee:

• Reviewed superintendent’s charge to the committee and created norms for committee conduct. 
• Reviewed demographer’s study on population and previously proposed options.
• Individual committee members identified their top and bottom choice from the options that had been previously identified through meeting with parents and principals. Pluses and minuses for each option were also identified.
• The committee brainstormed additional ideas and again identified top and bottom choices.
• Options were analyzed and put in rank order. Identified and received additional information that was needed from administration to answer questions on feasibility of options.
• Discussed options within context of additional information received.
• Narrowed choices to laptops on a cart, modular classrooms, and team teaching.
• Developed committee’s final recommendation.

The matter will be discussed among the board of education members during the June 21 meeting, and the public is welcome to speak during the public comment session.