Dist. 41 may add portable space to Hadley

Hadley Junior High School might get six more classrooms next year, but they're not the kind officials really wanted to add to the school.

They'd come in the form of a portable classroom building rather than the building addition District 41 proposed last year. But while the lease on the structure would last for three years, officials still aren't ruling out anything more permanent in the long-run.

This simply takes care of needs next school year and for the following year in one area, Superintendent Ann Riebock told board members Monday night.

The district is in the process of revamping large portions of the Hadley curriculum and schedule, particularly as it relates to students with specialized academic needs. That means the requirements of the building likely will change.

Additionally, the school introduced a literacy program this past school year that required classes to work in a workshop-type setting. The only problem is that teachers don't have the space to do that. It's not uncommon for them to have to change classes mid-workshop, Riebock explained. They're also forced to pack up all their materials and take them to another room.

By adding the additional classrooms, the schedule will allow the school staff to provide language arts instruction to students in a single block of time from one teacher and allow for greater flexibility in scheduling other classes. A building study completed earlier this year by BrainSpaces concluded Hadley is short 10 classrooms with no program changes.

The portable would cost $525,000 to install and $54,950 per year to lease. Board members plan to vote on the matter at the April 19 meeting