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By BERNIE WEISENFELD
Courier-Post Staff
Responding to a big spurt in the number of 10 to 14- year-olds, township school officials have found more space within the walls of 26-year-old Monongahela Middle School.
Some course changes made it possible to carve out new classrooms, said Monongahela principal Carolyn Morehead.
"Home economics was deleted from our optional programs," Morehead said. "And one of our home economics rooms was made into a computer lab."
"Then this past summer the other home economics room was made into two classrooms," the principal said. One is now a science room and the other is used for special education.
"Also this past summer, we had two areas that were shop areas that were no longer being used for shop. They were constructed into five classrooms. There were some walls taken down. Obviously floors had to be done."
The recycling of building space comes as the U.S. Census shows Deptford experienced a 24 percent jump between 1990 and 2000 in children 10 to 14 years old - those in middle school or soon to be there. The group added 359 children, from 1,487 to 1,846, in the 10-year period.
It was the largest increase in the four categories of children and teenagers living in Deptford. The 15 to 19- year-old group rose 6.4 percent to 1,567. Those 5 to 9 were up 12.6 percent to 1,778 and children under five dropped 2. 3 percent to 1,668.
``We definitely needed more classroom space," said Morehead, and that (eliminating shop and home economics) allowed us to do that.
"We're growing here tremendously. Last year, we ended in the 660s. We now have 695. And that's just in six months." Monongahela, which houses seventh and eighth grades, was opened on Tanyard Road in 1964.
A new team-teaching program now occupies the former shop rooms, said Morehead. "It's four teachers, four different subject areas and about 110 students."
As shop was dropped, other new classes needed space in the middle school. "We now offer foreign languages to every child on a full-time basis," said Morehead.
"There is a next phase, and that should be starting shortly, I hope," said Morehead. "We're going to be expanding one of our corridors so we can be making use of a fifth classroom - one of those new (former shop) classrooms that isn't being used right now. And we're also expanding our band room."
The changes at Monongahela are part of an $18.2 school improvement bond issue voters approved in December 2000, combined with $11 million in state aid. The district is also building a new early childhood education school and adding pre-kindergarten space at existing elementary schools.
| Deptford Ages 10-14 1990: 1,487 2000: 1,846 Change: +24.34% Source: U.S. Census Bureau |
Today and Tomorrow stories:
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