There are empty classrooms at Juniper Park School that can be used for grades four and five.
WESTFIELD – Current overcrowding of bilingual students at Highland Elementary School has forced School Department administrators to consider changes in class assignments there and at nearby Juniper Park Elementary School.
The School Committee has given Superintendent of Schools Suzanne Scallion and principals the go ahead to consider having the current grade three class at Juniper Park School remain there for the next two years. The change, if implemented, will reverse the current kindergarten to grade three structure adopted two years ago at Juniper.
The need for change, Scallion told the School Committee is the high number of bilingual students at Highland and the need for additional English programs for those students.
Highland principal James P. Kane said last week an over population situation has developed in grades kindergarten and grades one and two.
“Currently there is a large bubble of third graders at Juniper Park that would be assigned to Highland next school year,” said Kane. “The plan under consideration will allow that population to remain at Juniper and thereby relieving some of the situation here,” he said.
Juniper Park currently has several empty classrooms that can be utilized by grade four and five, officials said.
There are about 480 students enrolled at Highland and the third grade class at Juniper numbers in the 60s.
The city leases Juniper Park from Westfield State University and that lease was due to expire at the end of the current school.
But, pending construction of a new $36 million, 600-student elementary school at Ashley and Cross streets has resulted in an extension of the Juniper Park lease until June, 2014.
School Committee vice chairman Kevin J. Sullivan said plan under consideration “allows a good opportunity to litigate the issues.”
School Committee Cynthia A. Sullivan, no relation to Kevin Sullivan, agreed adding the plan “makes sense because of empty classrooms at Juniper.”
Scallion said the change at Juniper will “allow us the space we need until the new school is completed and opened.”