Bridge Builder: What will it take to solve the overcrowding and infrastructure problem in Fort Lee Schools? A tragedy?

I attended the Board of Education meeting Monday night and was surprised to learn that the student populations in the elementary schools are beyond what I expected and far beyond any projections that I have seen in the past couple years. However, there are still people in the general citizenry and influential members of the town who say we do not have an over crowding problem. It was mentioned by the BOE that the current population for School 1 is about 650 students, an increase of over 75 students in just 2 years. This number is subject to rise as there are parents still registering students. School 1 has had such an influx in population that it had to add a fifth kindergarten section and move other small classes into what was the PTA storage closet, a room with no windows. The population at School 3 increased to about 560 students, an increase of about 15% from last year and substantially above a projected 4% increase. These schools are not the only ones in town to have substantial increases. Instead of focusing on educating students, the BOE has to figure out logistics to provide a reasonable and safe lunch period that won’t exceed fire code, regulations in the school gym and allow a child more than 15 minutes to eat his/her lunch.

In the last school year, schools were evacuated for a boiler fire and another for dangerous levels of carbon monoxide from a different boiler, but both part of the ancient roster of boilers in our schools that are over 50 years old and failing. We have failed to pass a school referendum in Fort Lee in over 20 years and have added over 1,200 students to what was already described as an overcrowded district, and Fort Lee hasn’t added one new classroom. Although the schools in Fort Lee have achieved academic successes, especially compared to its socio-economic classification, how can it continue to do so with severe overcrowding, failing infrastructure and obsolete facilities such as high school science labs that are over 40 years old? Is it going to take a tragedy of a boiler fire or worse to wake up this town and its leaders? Does a child have to be injured or G-d forbid worse?

Moreover, it is my understanding that plans are in the works to add approximately 1,400 residential units in the next few years. I have heard comments from influential members of town that these units will only be 1 and 2 bedroom units and will have minimal if any children. Others say that the residents of luxury units will be so affluent that they would never consider sending their children to public schools in Fort Lee. I think whoever believes this is delusional. Fort Lee public school children come from the most affluent areas and the poorest areas of this town. I have seen a family of four live in a one-bedroom apartment. It will be no different with these new developments.

Does Fort Lee care about its schools?