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                         December 5, 2003

Elementary school to get new classrooms, parking

Story and photo by Jim Fox
Asst. Editor

As construction wraps up this winter on a new school gymnasium here, construction is about to begin on a new project that will add six new classrooms to the West Point Elementary School.

Neelam Construction Corporation of Closter, N.J. will begin work on the $3.17 million project that will also include a new parking lot and a bus loop, according to Department of Defense Education Activity Logistics Management Specialist Linda Murawski.

School officials said they expect work on the three-phase DoDEA-funded project to stretch until Feb. 2005 beginning with the building addition, then the parking lot and finally the bus loop.

Murawski said the 8,400-net square-foot building will be located on the north side of the elementary school and will mirror the southern building addition in appearance. It will include six classrooms, circulation and support spaces.

West Point Elementary School principal Donna Kirsch said the project will enable the WPES to reduce classroom size to 18 students for grades 1 through 3.

"Research showed the reduced pupil-teacher ratio will ensure that each child gets the teacher attention needed to ensure ideal success in those critical early learning years," Kirsch said.

The parking lot will be reconfigured to improve safety by controlling vehicle and pedestrian circulation patterns, Murawski said. The new parking lot will be below the Middle School with a bus loop and green space added between the two schools, she added.

Murawski explained that the existing school buildings will continue to operate during the construction, except for the north entrance to the WPES, which will be closed.