Maria Hegstad, The Examiner
2007-06-06 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

Alexandria -

Possible renovations at one of Alexandria’s public elementary schools will be discussed Thursday at a schools facility committee meeting.

Concerns about academic progress have led to the scrutiny of Jefferson-Houston School for Arts and Academics and rumors that it may close, said its parent-teacher association president, Bill Campbell. The school has been accredited with warning since the 2004-05 school year, according to a January academic review.

At a February town hall meeting, the facilities committee heard from residents, teachers and parents who urged the school system to keep Jefferson-Houston open, but improve the 42-year-old building.

The facility staff has drafted five renovation options, ranging in price from $250,000 to $12 million, according to school documents. The cheapest option involves installing skylights and cabinets. The most expensive option suggests building a new school on Jefferson-Houston’s playing field, then demolishing the current building and turning it into a playground.

Also Thursday, just a month after approving its $189 million 2008 budget, the school board will take its first look at its 2009 budget. The public will have an opportunity to comment.

The school board was criticized for its 2008 funding request to the city, which provides most of the schools’ budget. The schools asked for $6.8 million more than the city targeted for them, citing loss of federal funding and the resources required to teach a growing population of special needs and non-English-speakingstudents. City officials questioned the increasing costs in light of the schools’ declining enrollment.

mhegstad@dcexaminer.com