Superintendent/Principal Dan Vinson envisions an “interesting and challenging year” ahead with the challenges of construction, construction, and more construction at Woodside Elementary School.
“It only took about two hours last month to bring down the school’s administration building that took months and months to build back in the 1960s,” he said.
The school office has moved into portable buildings near Sellman Auditorium. The 17 aging portable classrooms now in use will be replaced.
Construction fences are in place, cordoning off the future sites for 13 permanent classrooms, a new administration building, two music rooms, a computer lab, a new restroom for middle school students, and a community room. A full-size soccer field will be installed when construction is completed.
This project to expand and modernize the K-8 school is being funded from the sale of $12 million in bonds that district voters approved by a 68.5 percent majority in November 2005. The preliminary budget of $13.3 million sets aside $1 million for contingencies.
“We have our fingers crossed that one of the seven pre-qualified construction firms will come in with an acceptable bid,” said Mr. Vinson. The bids are to be opened at a special board meeting on Tuesday, September 5. Construction could begin 30 days later.
It will take a lot of flexibility, tolerance and patience during the school year, and everyone working together to meet the challenges imposed by ongoing construction, he said.
The district has taken steps to ease some of the challenges. School bus transportation — unheard of in Woodside since the late 1970s — will be offered in the mornings to students along the Canada Road corridor, from Jefferson Avenue to the school. The plan is for the 84-passenger bus to make its first of four stops at 8 a.m. and arrive at school by the first bell at 8:20.
The district has entered into a $36,000 contract with Laidlaw Transportation to provide bus service for the school year, but there’s an escape clause.
“We’re encouraging parents to ride the bus with their children to school the first couple of days, and then ride home on the reverse run,” said Mr. Vinson.
Kids can come early: The Sellman Auditorium and library will be open daily at 7:30 a.m. for students and there will be supervision.
The school has lost 30 parking spaces during the construction period. There are 26 parking spaces designated for parents and visitors in the parking area near Sellman Auditorium. The town of Woodside has agreed to let the district use the library parking lot for parents who want to park and walk their children to class.
Parents and children are encouraged to car pool, walk to school and ride bikes.
Instead of staggering construction over several years, “we’ve decided to bite the bullet and do all the construction at once,” said Mr. Vinson.
Following is the report on Woodside School, where classes started Tuesday, August 29.
WOODSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
3195 Woodside RoadWoodside
Phone: 851-1571
Dan Vison, superintendent/principal
Grades. K-8
Enrollment. 450, about the same as last year
Class sizes. 20 or fewer students in K-3; and 21-22 in grades 4 and 5; the goal is to keep upper grade math classes at 16.
New teachers. Woodside Elementary School has four new teachers. Linette Griffith, Laura Symon and Brian Myrtetus, who has substituted at the school, are the new second-grade team. Gerri Greenlee, who brings 30 years of experience from the Burlingame district, will teach seventh-grade English and literature.
Changing places. Woodside’s Cyndi Furhman moves to kindergarten after teaching second grade, and Toni Allen moves from second grade to fourth grade this year. Mary Blazensky, who has taught second grade for the past 15 years, has retired.
Focus. Besides coping with construction, teachers will focus on reading, language arts and literature. New Scott Forsman instruction materials for social studies have been adopted for grade K-5.
Math program. Algebra will be offered over a two-year period, starting in seventh grade and continuing in eighth, instead of only in eighth grade. An honors geometry class for eighth-graders is offered.
Electives. This year middle school students will be able to choose from a wide range of elective classes, held during the last period. Electives include art, the art of persuasion, environmental science, band, string instruments, poetry, yearbook, peer counseling, algebra and writing labs, and a study hall to get a jump start on homework.
Back-to-school barbecue. This annual get-together for parents, kids, teachers and neighbors starts at 5:30 p.m. Friday, September 8. Food will be available for purchase at this event, sponsored by the PTA.
Back-to school nights. Parents of kindergartners through fifth-graders will return to school Thursday, September 14, at 6 p.m. to meet teachers and learn about programs. For parents of sixth- through eighth-graders, the date is Thursday, September 21, at 6 p.m.
Preschool. The fee-based preschool offered on the school campus is filled. Classes are for two days, three days and five days for children, ages 2 years, 9 months, and up. For information, call Cathy Stienstra at 851-1571, ext. 194.
WOODSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICT
3195 Woodside Road, WoodsideSuperintendent/Principal: Dan Vinson
Call 851-1571.
www.woodside.k12.ca.us
