School's space woes a puzzler for officials

The use of modular classrooms to expand capacity at old school buildings, usually a simple solution to a common problem, has turned into a tricky, expensive, and contentious dilemma for Wellesley High School.

The 1938 high school building does not have enough rooms to accommodate its projected enrollment for next year. That doesn't seem to be too difficult a problem, given that the school district recently solved a similar issue at two elementary schools by simply attaching modular classrooms to the buildings.

But adding modular classrooms to the high school has turned out to be much more complicated. Depending on where they're placed, officials say, the units have the potential to compromise student safety and security, complicate efforts to renovate or rebuild the aging school facility, and fail to be ready in time for next fall, when they are urgently needed.

Superintendent Bella Wong said the high school will need at least four to five classrooms for the next two school years, when 58 additional students are projected to swell this fall's enrollment figure of 1,216.

By the 2010-11 school year, the enrollment is expected to reach 1,336, requiring eight more classrooms than the building currently has. And by 2016, officials say, the high school's 1,517 students will require 15 more.

The town's School Building Committee is developing a plan for either expanding and renovating the existing building or constructing a new high school. But the earliest estimate for completion of a new or renovated high school is 2014, according to the School Committee's chairman, Michael Young.

In the meantime, the space problem looms for next year.

"What's been tricky," said Wong, "is that we know we have a definite need that's here, but we have so many variables to consider."

Officials say bringing in modular classrooms for next year will require approving a plan this month, having it approved by Special Town Meeting and into the permitting process next month, designed, bid out, and the contract awarded by March, and the units fabricated by June and installed by August.

But the School Committee found that even approving the plan is riddled with difficulties. The modulars can't go on one side of the school because of protected wetlands. They can't go on another side because of floodplains.

One option, to construct an eight-room modular cluster in the parking lot, takes up scarce parking. Another option, to put one across the street near the tennis courts or on a playing field next to the school, would save parking but would be much more expensive to hook up with utilities. And some committee members were adamant that no modular rooms can be detached from the main building.

Two other options call for modular rooms connected to the building, but their placement could interfere with renovation work.

Then, of course, there's the cost.

"Very preliminary" figures put the cost of the initial six to 10 modular classrooms at between $3.5 million and $4.7 million, said Joel Seeley, a spokesman for the architectural firm working with school officials to find solutions.

Wong said the School Committee could consider converting library or other space into classrooms until the modulars could be brought in. Converting library space could yield five classrooms, said Wong, at an estimated cost of only $827,000. But the resulting serious limitation on library use could compromise the high school's accreditation, said Wong.

Wong also discussed modifying the schedule of classes, shortening class times, and extending the school day as a way to stretch classroom space. But those options appeared likely to be more cumbersome and stressful to students than they would be beneficial, she said.

The committee postponed its planned vote on modulars at its last meeting, on Sept. 25, but Wong warned the panel, "The kids are here and they're coming. So I appreciate there's less we know now than what we might know six months from now, but you might have to make a decision when you're not absolutely sure."

A final presentation and vote on the modular options are scheduled for the School Committee's meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the high school library.