Leopold Expansion - Trust but verify

There has been a good deal of debate over suggestions that the proposed plans to add a second building to the Leopold School site would create a "megaschool" of undesirable proportions. Arguing that 'everyone' knew that the physically linked (MMSD calls it 'paired') schools would have a combined enrollment of more than 1100 students, proponents of the administration's plan are confident that a school this size would have no additional challenges or needs. The idea that the addition should be built but for a smaller number of students is considered heresy by those who fear critical assessment of administration ideas.

Anyone who is interested in the debate - pro, con, apathetic - will benefit from taking a close look at the schematics for the addition, which are available on-line at:

http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/boe/longrange/20050124/item04a.pdf

http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/boe/longrange/20050124/item04b.pdf

http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/boe/longrange/20050124/item04c.pdf

http://www.madison.k12.wi.us/boe/longrange/20050124/item04d.pdf

Of particular interest is the size/layout of the cafeteria(s) [one room separated by a folding divider], the number of ESL class rooms for a school that can be expected to have 250 - 300 ESL students, and the size/location of the playground space, parking lots, and school bus drop off/pick up locations.

Posted by Lucy Mathiak at March 7, 2005 9:54 AM
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