District asks for help shaping its future

LYNDEBOROUGH – A committee charged with determining the course of the school district over the next 20 years is preparing a survey to determine what the townspeople want to do.

Members hope to get an answer at the district meeting in February.

Options include an addition to the Central School and a new building on a different site. Whatever is decided, 2005 or 2006 is the target date for improvements.

Committee members said they want a questionnaire to be comprehensive, but not so overwhelming that people won’t fill it out.

Among the topics being looked at are:

n Moving the sixth grade to the Wilton-Lyndeborough Middle School.

n Incorporating a kindergarten into the system.

n Use of a new building by the community, such as building a gym or large meeting room to be used for Town Meeting.

n Adding technology and a science lab.

n Improving security and air quality.

n Increasing space for special education support services.

The school has 99 students in grades 1 through 6. There are 27 staff members, including six full-time teachers, a principal and a part-time librarian, computer technician, nurse and other aides and specialists. Many of the therapists have no adequate space in which to meet.

Earlier studies have determined that one more addition may be made to the present school. Previous plans for a new school have been defeated as too expensive.

The original part of the school – six grades in two classrooms plus an office – was opened in 1949. Several additions have been made over the years and classes gradually separated.

The committee will next meet Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at the school. Public input is welcome.