Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Boomers' babies crowd schools that lack funds to expand Date: Mon, 16 Nov 92 17:03:26 EST Message-ID: \SE A \HD Boomers' babies crowd schools that lack funds to expand \BY Kristan Metzler \CR THE WASHINGTON TIMES At Mount Vernon Elementary School in Alexandria, the English as a second language classes often get squeezed into the hall for lack of a classroom. "We look for creative ways to find space," said principal Jalna Jones. "Whether it means turning a book room or closet into a classroom or meeting in the corner of a hallway, that's what we do. We have to carve out space to teach." Mount Vernon Elementary is not alone, and it may have more company in coming years. Across the area, school officials already struggling to get students out of trailers and hallways and back into classrooms are facing increasing enrollment and tighter county budgets. Already juggling money to maintain the quality of education with current school populations, officials are coming up short when it comes time to build new classrooms to accommodate a growing enrollment. An expected, student population in the coming years will mean even bigger problems if the economy doesn't improve, experts say. "The economy has slowed the amount of revenues available to accommodate for growth in student population in terms of school construction, supplies, instructional material and class sizes," said Jeremiah Floyd, associate executive director for the National School Boards Association. "I can't say it's happening in all 50 states, but it is certainly happening in many of them," he said. Four million children have been born across the country each year since 1989, said Gregory Spencer, chief of population projections at the U.S. Bureau of the Census. The lowest number of new births since World War II occurred from 1973 to 1977, he said. Since then, there has been a steady increase. "School districts are facing some of the biggest groups of elementary school children since the days of the baby boom," said Mr. Spencer. "This is the first time since the early '60s that we have a birth group so big. They are not in school yet, but they will be starting year after next." "We've been experiencing dramatic increases in enrollment. They call it a baby boomlet, where the baby boomers are having babies," said David R. Rorick, Arlington County's school spokesman. Rising student populations and tighter budgets are already squeezing Fairfax County and Alexandria schools. Fairfax School Superintendent Robert Spillane has already cut $28 million out of next year's budget and expects to cut $20 million more. The Alexandria City Council has told school officials they shouldn't expect a $1.3 million increase school leaders say is needed to ease the population crunch. Council members were told two weeks ago they might face a $15 million shortfall when the budget is presented in February. "By the year 2000, the population will be close to 11,000 students. When we have 238 new kids show up next year, we've got to house them," said Alexandria School Superintendent Paul Masem. Budgets are tight, county and city leaders say. "Schools are dealing with overcrowding now," council member Kerry Donley told the School Board. "They might just have to continue that for another year." Others say once the economy begins improving, there will be a lag time before school funding is increased. "Local governments don't tend to increase allocations until the money starts rolling in. It may very well be at least two or three years before things start getting better," Mr. Floyd said. Even counties that have managed to hire more teachers and lighten classroom loads in the past will face difficult budgets this year. That's the case in Arlington County, where the County Board last year raised taxes to bear the cost. "Our revenue is probably going to be down. The question is how the county will pay for all services, including schools," Mr. Rorick said. "Arlington has weathered the current government fiscal crisis better than other jurisdictions; but projections aren't real encouraging, and we don't know what it will bring in the future," he said. Although student enrollment has decreased in the District, money is still needed to cut class sizes and serve children with special needs, said Patricia Lambe, a D.C. schools spokeswoman. "I think it's very unlikely any school system in this area will get what they need when we all are facing an economic crisis. Most of us are bare bones as it is," she said. Schools are shuffling money from building improvements to programs, said Gary Marx, senior associate executive director of the American Association of School Administrators. "Schools in this country have about $100 billion dollars in deferred maintainence of school facilities. The dollars have been so tight," he said. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM