By Jarret Liotta
As summer draws toward closing, school officials are gearing up for what will be one of the more unique school years in Westport’s history.
One of the new structures, which will house a total of six classrooms, account for 5,600-square feet of new space at BMS. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
“I am feeling positive, optimistic and excited for the new school year to arrive,” said Adam Rosen, principal at Bedford Middle School (BMS), which for the 2019-20 school year will house the town’s entire population of students in grades six, seven and eight while Coleytown Middle School (CMS) remains closed for extensive renovations.
“For this upcoming school year … we’ve combined all students and staff into one population,” Rosen said, unlike last year, when CMS and BMS students were kept separate, with eighth grade students from CMS attending classes at Staples High School.
“Now that we’ve had adequate time to prepare and redevelop a new master schedule, students from both CMS and BMS have been fully blended onto the teaching teams,” he said, “and we’ve integrated the staff.”
While Rosen said last year’s separation of students was the better decision for the time, it helped make the year particularly challenging, stretching resources, staff and schedules near to the breaking point.
“Team and teacher placement is … an incredibly lengthy and detail-oriented process that takes months to complete,” he said.
“In contrast to last year’s schedule, by combining both middle school populations, we’ve been able to substantially improve student distribution across grade-level teams,” he said, resulting in average, even-distributed class sizes.
Superintendent of Schools David Abbey, who took over on an interim basis for at least the next year, reported that his office is moving forward overseeing a range of tasks, with the unique needs of BMS among them.
Bedford Middle School Principal Adam Rosen, entering his eighth year in the fall at the BMS helm, welcomes students back to school last year with a fist bump. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com
“The only real difference in being an interim during the summer is learning a few new policies and procedures,” he said. “However, much of it is similar to my prior summers as a superintendent.”
Abbey said the construction crew at BMS has been “working hard to complete the interior construction, which will yield additional classroom space and office space for counselors, speech and language therapy, and school psychologists.”
The construction project, which was approved by the Board of Education in the spring, centers on reconstruction in the area of the library media center. Cost is expected to run about $250,000 and is due to be completed by the start of the new school year on Aug. 27.
“BMS will be fully ready for students, parents and staff on Tuesday, Aug. 27,” Rosen said.
“Everything we’re working on this summer, which has touched nearly every aspect of our operation, has to be completely student-ready for opening day,” he said, calling the scale and scope of the construction project “impressive.”
“I am thrilled with the pace of work,” Rosen said, “the high quality of craftsmanship, and (I) have the highest level of confidence we will be completely ready for our incoming students.”
Along with the work in the library, he said, “We’ve redesigned numerous interior spaces to accommodate for the increased population and for function of the staff.”
The BMS modulars are in place ready for students. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jarret Liotta for WestportNow.com
Likewise, the portable classrooms purchased for the building have been put in place.
Abbey said the two separate new structures, which will house a total of six classrooms, account for 5,600-square feet of new space at BMS.
“Installation has, thus far, gone flawlessly and remains on schedule,” he said, with fire alarms installed and various security measures in place, including fencing and barricades.
“I can proudly say that they are the finest modular classrooms I’ve ever seen in my 20 years in public education,” Rosen said, noting the two modular sites have been lovingly dubbed “North Cottage” and “South Beach.”
Extra attention is being given to safety and security issues, he said, as well as communication with students and parents alike on the relevant changes, such as how to access the new buildings.
“The district has provided a great deal of additional support and enhancements to our safety and security systems,” Rosen said, including an officer permanently stationed outside throughout the year.
