Board of Ed: No Portable Classrooms in Elementary Schools

The Board of Education has made it clear that portable classrooms will not be used next year to house elementary school students after the closing of Kirdahy and Westbrook schools.

During the budget presentation on March 29, Trustee George Smith addressed specific rumors regarding the portable classrooms that he claimed were posted by concerned parents on West Islip Patch.

"If we thought we were going to have to use portable classrooms, we wouldn't have even contemplated the issue [of consolidating]," he said.

Superintendent Richard Simon echoed Smith's statement, telling parents "Tell everyone you know: No portable classrooms."

Simons also presented updated elementary enrollment projections for the 2012-13 school year, which were prior.

Second grade saw the largest drop in average class size, which was down 2.5 students from earlier projections, as two more sections were added to accomodate for higher enrollment. The average class size for Kindergarten dropped .9 students.

Here are the updated projections of each grade: 

• Kindergarten: (18-22 per class), 282 total students, 20.1 class average.
• 1st Grade: (20-24 per class), 308 total students, 20.5 class average
• 2nd Grade: (20-24 per class), 332 total students, 20.8 class average. 
• 3rd Grade: (20-24 per class), 356 total students, 20.9 class average. 
• 4th Grade: (24-27 per class), 339 total students, 21.2 class average.
• 5th Grade: (24-27 per class), 391 total students, 23 class average.

Simon said the numbers may change slightly as the administration finalizes the boundaries for each school and double checks enrollment numbers.

"There may be a slight variation," said Simon regarding the final numbers, noting that updated figure will be released to the public as the budget process moves forward.

The next budget workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, April 3, 7:30 p.m. at .