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Phoenix-Talent studies crowding issues Citizen group to assess school building needs BY VICKI GUARINO PHOENIX -- New schools, changes in school enrollment boundaries, even the possibility of year-round classes all will be up for consideration by a new schools committee. During the next few months, a citizens' group will study building needs in the 2.800-student district, and weigh options for accommodating growth. Board members have discussed several options, including building a new school. Talent Elementary School, for instance, is operating at capacity. The board has even discussed the option of running classes through the summer -- a seemingly unpopular alternative, according to Phoenix-Talent schools Superintendent Dave Willard. The board is turning to the citizens' committee to bring more of the community into the discussion, and bring new alternatives into the debate, Phoenix-Talent board vice chairman Craig Prewitt said Monday. "We know we are going to grow," Prewitt said, "so the point of this citizens' committee is to give us the opportunity to be prepared." The committee is scheduled to hold its first meeting in September, and file a report with the school board in December, Willard said. This week, the district is sending out invitations to join the committee to 28 people who in the last several months have shown an interest in school building issues. Anyone in the district who is interested in being on the committee may contact the school district. The school board is expected to appoint committee members in August. Prewitt said he would like the board to set up a 30-member committee that would include two to three board members. The first meeting will include a tour of all five district schools. Some schools, like the high school, have room for more students. Willard said enrollment is about 800, but the school has room for about 950. Talent Middle School last year added new classrooms, but those filled as soon as contractors finished them. With about 660 students, that school is operating at capacity. Orchard Hill Elementary is full; Phoenix Elementary has some room; but Talent Elementary is overloaded with 540 students. Prewitt notes that four rooms were added to Phoenix and Talent elementary schools two years ago. Altering school enrollment boundaries would be a way to move students into schools that have sufficient space. Altering the school calendar would put classrooms to use during the summer, allowing schools to accommodate more students overall. The district may need to build a new school, Prewitt said, or the committee could come up with solutions so that no new building will be needed in the next few years. "We're trying to listen to what the community wants," Prewitt said. "We think this is the best thing we can do to find out what the community wants." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA