Haddonfield Board of Education members are attempting to address the overcrowding situation at J. Fithian Tatem Elementary School, finding an alternative location for the pre-school program.
According to Superintendent Rich Perry, the board has been exploring various locations and met with members of Haddonfield United Methodist Church to possibly use its updated facility.
“It’s been going on for quite a while, and Tatem parents and teachers are doing a fantastic job there, but we are trying to look at creative solutions,” he said, adding the board is waiting for approval from the institution.
Perry said the cost to rent the space would be $5,000 per month from September to June, or $50,000 per year. It would not affect the cost of tuition.
The district would use five rooms on the third floor and might have to look into staggering program times. Twenty-five teachers and support staff would be onsite, including one administrative member.
The district would also be responsible for the facility’s maintenance and upkeep, using its own workers. One bus would be available for transportation. Further details would be worked out after the agreement and hopefully before the school year, Perry said.
“It’s in our budget,“ he said.
Parents’ opinions regarding the change were split at the June 27 meeting. Some agreed with the change saying it would alleviate the overcrowding situation, bettering safety and the learning experience.
Others were concerned about safety and children’s learning and social experiences. Amy Naticchia, member of the over population committee at Tatem, said she supports the board’s decision to move the preschool program.
“The burden of carrying an additional 200 students more than the other elementary schools has taken a toll,” she said, adding teachers and staff have done their best to accommodate and teach all the students as the committee attempted to find a alternative solution.
She said moving 90 students would open up more classroom space and better the learning experience for all children.
“Children’s’ experience at Tatem because of the overcrowding are different than at the other schools,” Tatem principal Karen Schultz said.
Many concerned parents understood the situation.
Kristin Smyth said they have enjoyed the convenience of Tatem and is pleased to see the board is addressing the situation, but she is concerned her children will miss out on the community aspect of attending Tatem.
“We do have a community feeling as our kids play after school until dinnertime. I just wanted to let you know the loss that is going to be there, “ she said.
Perry assured Smyth children’s walking routes pass the church and they would still interact with other children in the district.
As far as security a similar key fob locking system that is being installed in the district is used at the church, Perry said.
Perry said it is not possible to build an addition to the school since it’s “landlocked.” If the church does not agree to allow the school district to rent the space, he said the other option is to keep the children at Tatem.
The religious institution could lose its tax-exempt status, which might be holding the church back from agreeing. But Perry said he was assured by the state Department of Treasury that with the change in the most recent statute the church would not lose its status.
The board made a motion to give Perry the power to make a decision when the church responds to the proposal. Perry said he would be able to approve the adjustment without making the process longer.
“We have been talking about this for two to three months. There are different areas that we needed to address, and right now the ball is in Methodist’’ court,” Perry said.
