Royal facilities group to meet

ROYAL CITY - The  Community Committee, which is studying solutions to the challenges of crowding in Royal School District buildings, will meet at 7 p.m. today at the high school library. The public is welcome.

The Community Committee was formed after a school board work session called earlier this year for the discussion of crowding. Several community members said they wanted to study the problem and formulate a recommendation.

The Committee has met three times since it was formed. So far, according to Superintendent Rose Search, there is no recommendation. And there may not be one in time for this school year.

Although school construction continues to be the leading option, it is not dominating the discussion, Search said. Committee members are tackling the issue of public relations. They are concerned about building a positive image for the schools.

"How do we get information to the community? How do we inform the public about good news at our schools?" Search asked rhetorically.

One reason the Committee may not be ready to recommend a school construction bond election is recent election history. Royal voters have turned down three in a row. In April, 12 school districts ran bonds, and all 12 were rejected.

The Committee is made up of about 15 consistent participants, Search said. However, there were as many as 25 people at one meeting.

The Committee is studying possible solutions for a school system whose enrollment is beyond designed capacity and growing.

The district projected fewer than 1,400 students for the current year. The number, as of last Friday, stands at 1,469.

And enrollment is expected to grow next year. This year's kindergarten group is at 110. Already registered for next year are 117 children.

"We usually have more registrations during the summer, maybe 15-20," Search said.

While the next kindergarten class is expected to be 130-135, this year's senior class will graduate only 84.

If there is no recommendation from the committee or action by the board in favor of a bond election, then the question will be whether "to make do" or exercise some other option.

"Portables are still a possibility," Search said.

However, portables have a logistics time line. If they are ordered too late, they may not be ready for the next school year.