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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW OHSU opens rural 'hub' campus in Klamath Falls ... Portland dispensary fined $2,500 for handing out products in parking lot ... Surveillance video captures Medford surgery center thief ... OHSU opens rural 'hub' campus in Klamath Falls ... Portland dispensary fined $2,500 for handing out products in parking lot ... Surveillance video captures Medford surgery center thief ... OUR VIEW Our View: School construction discussion should start soon Comment MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Sep. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Social News Medford School District officials face a challenging task as they get ready to plan a new elementary or middle school to accommodate growing enrollments. Adding modular classrooms to elementary schools already bursting at the seams will buy some time, but only some. A story in today's Mail Tribune by education reporter Teresa Thomas describes the many moving pieces of the puzzle, and the accompanying chart shows the pressure points in the district of more than 12,000 students. Hoover, Jackson and Lone Pine elementary schools are over capacity already. Modular units will accommodate the overflow for now, but Hoover especially has grown quite large, with 643 students. Lone Pine is nearing 600. Numerous studies in recent years have examined school size and its effect on learning. Some researchers conclude that 500 should be the upper limit for an elementary school, while others say individual class size is more important than overall school size. Limiting class size is crucial, and Medford administrators have hired additional teachers in an effort to address that issue. But overall school size is a concern as well, and common sense suggests there is a limit to reliance on modular buildings to accommodate growing enrollments. Cafeterias, gymnasiums, media centers and playgrounds don't expand as classroom space gets added. And the logistics of managing an elementary school can become daunting as the number of students grows. The Medford district has several options for dealing with growth in the long term. Building a third middle school and adding sixth-graders to middle school would take the pressure off elementary buildings. Adding another elementary school would also relieve crowding, but that would involve redrawing attendance areas, always a potential for controversy. Adding a new building also raises the question of location. District administrators say they are watching the city's process of changing its urban growth boundary to try to anticipate where growth will occur. The district has been offered building sites, one near Coker Butte and Springbrook roads and one on Hull Road near the southwest edge of town. Another likely place could be in the area of the city's Southeast Plan development off North Phoenix Road. Wherever the next new building is planned, administrators should begin a conversation with district patrons sooner rather than later, because they likely will be asked to pay for new construction. Building a new elementary or middle school may be five to seven years off, but building community support for a major capital project needs to begin much earlier. many f MailTribune.com Writer Posted Sep. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501