GREENWICH — Greenwich elementary schools and Greenwich High School could have some expanding to do in order to accommodate future classes, according to a recent update of the Greenwich Public Schools 15-year master facilities plan.
Collectively, Greenwich elementary schools are missing about 95,000 square feet of core instruction space, according to Russ Davidson, president of KG and D architects, the firm completing the master plan. That’s the equivalent in square footage, of about two whole elementary schools.
KG and D has been evaluating each of the district’s 15 schools and comparing their capacities to their highest projected enrollment in the next eight years in order to gauge the schools’ readiness to meet upcoming demands. The architects do not yet have specific recommendations on how to renovate or maintain Greenwich schools.
“We have completed some capacity analysis work and enrollment work and we are about to come up with some ideas about how to improve each school,” said Davidson. “We’re getting near the end.”
He said some of the schools might need to be renovated.
“Your enrollment is trending upwards,” he told Board of Education members Thursday night. “It is not dramatic but it is about 3.7 percent overall.”
Increasing enrollment over the next several years at Greenwich High is responsible for the lion share of the increase, Davidson said. The high school could need modest renovations to accommodate more students, he suggested.
“Is it worth exploring creating a freshman academy?” Davidson said. “Maybe that is an interesting thought to look at.”
Meanwhile, while elementary school enrollment is not predicted to change in the future, a few schools are at or over capacity already. Many schools have smaller classrooms than is recommended by national and Connecticut standards, and some lack certain kinds of learning spaces, like science rooms, that are present in the district’s more modern schools. Julian Curtiss, Old Greenwich and Riverside schools are not Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible.
“A bunch of your elementary schools need adjustment to be on par with your new buildings,” he said. “Big changes are needed at Riverside, even Old Greenwich and Julian Curtiss have a shortage, North Mianus — these are buildings that do not have generous amounts of space.”
School board member Lauren Rabin wondered if building a 12th elementary school should be considered. Davidson said renovations of existing schools would be recommended.
“If you build a new elementary school, you still have 11 substandard buildings that students go to every day,” he said.
Greenwich middle schools are equipped to handle their future enrollments, Davidson said, but at previous public meetings he suggested poor 1960s design and indoor air quality issues might make some of the schools candidates for tear down.
KG and D and district administrators emphasized that they still have a lot of planning and analysis to do before they unveil specific construction plans.
“We are having to reinvent and reimagine schools for the next 50 years,” said Superintendent of Schools Jill Gildea. “We are going to have to build that road map together.”
“This is a starting point,” said Board of Education Chair Peter Bernstein. He said the board will devote a retreat to facilities discussions when the master plan is ready.
KG and D architects held public meetings to get community input on Greenwich school facilities in the fall. The master plan will be presented to the school board in the spring. It will form the basis of the school district’s 2019-20 capital budget and those going forward.
emunson@greenwichtime.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson