Oak Ridge Schools will address student population growth. Is a new school in the future?

Oak Ridge Schools has contracted with a consultant to explore ways to address the growing student population, including the possibility of building a new school.

The contract is for $5,000 per month plus reimbursable expenses, according to a memo from Allen Thacker, the school system's supervisor of maintenance and operations. The memo was included in the agenda for the Oak Ridge Board of Education August meeting.

The company, Cornerstone Project Management LLC, will provide advice for the school system, "including developing a plan for a possible new future school, central offices, and other needed school improvements or expansions," Thacker stated in the memo. "This work is in response to anticipated future enrollment growth and program needs throughout the district."

Oak Ridge Board of Education member Laura McLean made the motion to hire the consultant and fellow School Board Member Benjamin Stephens seconded. It passed unanimously.

Oak Ridge Schools Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers said at the Aug. 1 meeting the board would watch new housing and growth “on a regular basis,” looking at what the school system can do to meet the demand. He said the consultant will meet monthly on the issue.

“We want to make sure we are ahead of the game before we have too many new students joining us,” he told the Board of Education.

Oak Ridge Schools current enrollment

As of the Sept. 2 reporting period, the city's eight schools had 108 more students than the end of last school year, according to a document provided by Bruce Lay, the system's executive director of school leadership.

The changes in student population from the end of last school year ranged from 12 fewer at Jefferson Middle School to 116 more at Oak Ridge High School. The reporting period is composed of 20 school days, he explained in an email last week.

"Our student enrollment is in line with enrollment projections that were provided this past school year," Lay said. "We are currently using available data to determine potential student growth in the next five to 10 years so we can take the steps necessary to be prepared."

Two years ago, Cope Architecture presented the school board the results of a study regarding the city's growth and its effect on the schools. Linden Elementary School on the west end of Oak Ridge was the greatest concern.

Although the latest reporting period showed ORHS leading the way in growth, Linden had the highest number among the four elementary schools.

The Tennessee Department of Education requires a lower teacher-student ratio for elementary school classes than classes at the high schools.

"Linden has been our greatest challenge due to required teacher-student ratios," Lay stated. "Grades K-3 must maintain a 1-to-20 teacher/student ratio. We are currently compliant with a 19.24 K-3 classroom average. "

Linden's student population is 92, 101, 103, 117 and 124 for kindergarten through fourth grade, respectively. Glenwood Elementary's population, according to the latest reporting period, is 76, 71, 59, 76 and 74 for K-4, respectively.  At Willow Brook Elementary, the numbers are 67, 89, 77, 76, and 72. And at Woodland Elementary, the K-4 population, respectively, is 72, 98, 83, 89 and 79.

A need for more schools in Oak Ridge?

Holly Cross, Oak Ridge Schools' supervisor of career readiness and communications, talked about this potential growth with the Oak Ridge Municipal Planning Commission earlier this year and shared statistics with The Oak Ridger.

Each grade level in Oak Ridge Schools, she said in March, had about 400 students, counting students at that grade level in every school.

With four elementary schools, the school system has approximately 100 students per grade level per individual school.

"Using that logic, if we were to have a population growth that increased our student population by 100 students per grade level, we would certainly need one more elementary school.

"If that number doubled, we would need two elementary schools and a middle school. At that point, we would also need to consider options for expansion and an additional high school," she stated. "Of course, we would also need to consider staffing needs for all school positions to support additional schools. I used a class size of 25 as an example for the expansion of teaching staff needs."

The study by Cope Architecture presented to the school board two years ago cited population growth at The Preserve, Harbour Pointe, Main Street Lofts, Groves Park Commons and Forest Creek Village.

If the school districts remain as they are, Willow Brook Elementary would serve Main Street Lofts, Woodland Elementary would serve Harbour Pointe, and Linden Elementary would serve the rest.

Long-term solutions for Linden could include adding classrooms, redistricting Linden into two schools or building a new Linden school and enlarging the current school and moving Willow Brook into that building.

Short-term solutions include repurposing other spaces into classrooms or redistricting students to Willow Brook.

While Linden was Cope's highest concern, the study stated most schools will likely exceed capacity by 2030, except Glenwood Elementary.

The study looked at options for the whole school system including redistricting, repurposing spaces, building new schools, adding or renovating school buildings and moving schools.

This story updated a story compiled and written by Benjamin Pounds. Contact The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith at dsmith@oakridger.com or by phone at (865) 220-5514. Follow her on Twitter @ridgernewsed.

This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Oak Ridge Schools addresses student population growth at Linden