Space is getting tight at Harold Martin School in Hopkinton, and administrators say the district is likely to propose an expansion project for at least one of its schools at the district meeting in March.
Harold Martin, a lower elementary school, has its largest enrollment in 20 years with 327 youngsters filling pre-school through third grade.
The growth runs counter to a regional and statewide trend of declining school enrollment.
Figures from last school year show the number of students in public schools in the capital area dropped below 20,000, with about 830 fewer students than five years ago, for an overall decline of about 6 percent.
Hopkinton and Bow are two local school districts that have shown growth amid the regional decline. From 2012 to 2017 Bow grew by about 13 percent, Hopkinton by 3 percent. School districts around the state must report their current enrollments to the state Department of Education at the start of October.
Hopkinton will report it has 1,017 students across its four schools, an increase of 40 students from last year.
Superintendent Steven Chamberlin said he is happy to see the growth, even though it presents some challenges.
“We like increased enrollment,” Chamberlin said. “We’re glad people are moving here, and we’re stable in staffing, which we like.”
Since voters approved a full-day kindergarten program in Hopkinton in 2014, the district has seen an uptick in enrollment. This year, the school has 35 children in pre-school, 63 in kindergarten, 70 in first grade 86 in second grade and 73 in third grade.
The Harold Martin School can still accommodate all of its students, but temporary facilities may be in order in the next couple of years, Chamberlin said.
“Most likely there will be a proposal at the school district meeting in the spring about expansion,” Chamberlin said.
As for the present space issue, Chamberlin said “It will be more complicated as we move forward. We’re managing this year.”
The four kindergarten sections at Harold Martin have an average of between 15 and 16 students per classroom. In recent years, the school has consolidated space to make room for the growing student population.
One example is the combined music/art classroom, which until this year was the staff break room. Art and music were combined because the former art room was converted into a classroom. The staff room, where most teachers eat lunch, is combined with the computer lab this year.
Harold Martin Principal Bill Carozza said the faculty has been flexible.
“They just don’t complain,” he said. “We manage.”
The gymnasium – which doubles as the cafeteria – has a small office attached, traditionally for the physical education teacher. This year, the office is the home base for two additional faculty members: a special educator and the school psychologist.
Dr. Alvin Caldwell, the school psychologist, uses a small desk and a small chair, one better suited for third-graders. Caldwell, who has moved offices twice in two years, said the tight space and small desk hasn’t hindered his ability to help students.
“All I need is a table and chair that fits me and a chair fitting (the student), and my files,” he said. Staying positive, Caldwell added that he likes this office compared to his previous one because it has two windows, which he said has a positive effect on students when they meet.
Storage and faculty space has been limited as the school tries to add more ancillary space. One storage room was recently converted into a quiet space for reading specialists to work with students, but this can sometimes be interrupted as the room also has a backdoor for receiving deliveries.
At the school district meeting last March, the school board tabled a warrant article that would have established a building renovation and expansion fund. The board also intended to amend the article and ask voters to appropriate $225,000 for future building projects. But after a contentious debate and failure of an article to purchase the Boys & Girls Club building for new administrative offices, board members decided to table the proposal.
(Nick Stoico can be reached at 369-3321 or nstoico@cmonitor.com.)