The story
The number of BHS students is growing. Other schools must be very scared, and the Inside Scoop is probably very happy.
Explain
Our enrollment is currently 1511 students. Despite what’s said, 1500 students is actually BHS’ core capacity. However, there is only enough classroom space for 1200 students. At least 300 students are assumed to be in managed time or in the gym in any given block.
So is it really that bad?
Meh. We’re just full, and it’s noticeable. And while we’re supposed to be one big family, we still firmly believe in personal bubbles. We would definitely welcome a new plague.They changed to double advisory last year because we don’t have enough rooms. To look more closely at the effects of our huge enrollment, we looked at the library and the commons (the cafeteria for all of you non-students).
But first lets review.
There are four areas where a student can choose to spend their managed time in school: the library, the commons, the academic center and bulldog corner. The commons is unavailable during block 3, bulldog corner is suboptimal because you have to sit on the floor, and the academic center is either forgotten or avoided. So the library, which is quieter than the commons, tends to be students’ first choice. This isn’t a problem during first or fourth block due to late arrival and early release.
And the other times?
The library can get crowded, especially in block 3, though it’s actually always been this way. But the problem of 1500 students isn’t lost on the area. Mrs. Gilcreast, the librarian, said that the library is usually at maximum capacity partly because we have managed time over study hall, which would be in a designated space. For block 3, there isn’t enough seating for everyone, and there’s no room to increase the amount of seating.
Any other problems?
This is also where students choose to spend their off-advisory. Mrs. Gilcreast said that with so many people, and everyone being so loud, it could be a potential safety hazard. They’ve also had some problems with ordering books, specifically for the freshman class. But it’s not a budget problem– it’s ordering such a large amount of books.
And the commons?
Get this — the commons is crowded too! But part of the problem is that no one really brings lunches anymore. However, with the increase enrollment since the high school has opened, the amount of available seating has diminished, and the lines at the five points of sale have increased. We measured that it took more than 20 minutes for the snack line to empty in just one lunch, and lunches are half an hour.
What else?
The amount of prep going into lunches has also increased. The 21 food services staff (for both Lurgio and BHS) arrive at 7:30 to start prepping and work to 10:30. After the lunches, they start prepping for the next day. And even with all of this prep time, there is still food selling out before the last two lunches.
The Runaway
Mr. Fournier is estimating that our enrollment will decrease in the next few years back to the 1400s. We’re not exactly sure how, but we will blindly believe him. And if he’s wrong, we can conquer Lurgio.
What to say…
When you’re still not over last week’s traumatic WiFi experience…
Let’s talk about tech, baby. Last week, the WiFi was down for three days, and the school basically shut down. And it was not just a ploy to have a truly tech-free advisory on Friday. Assignments couldn’t be turned in, and classes couldn’t do any work. Some resorted to competency recovery and others to movies. Yep. Let that sink in. We’re that dependent on technology, and it’s going to increase. The district is proposing a total of $807,497 for technology-related expenses, $435,565 of which is going to equipment. One big ticket item for equipment is chromebooks for second grade classrooms. But Bedford isn’t exactly out of the ordinary for technology. Souhegan is almost exactly like Bedford, where all of the students have one-to-one Lenovos all four years. However, 30% of students use their other computers instead. Central has chromebooks, but they must stay at school. Hollis-Brookline has chromebooks for the high school and middle school, but they also can’t take them home. Goffstown doesn’t have one-to-one technology, and only has computer carts that teachers occasionally check out. If a student wants to use a laptop during a free block, they don’t have access to one. Most students just use their phones. So they could be doing anything when it seems like they’re doing their work. Absolutely genius.
When you don’t think BHS is the only place we need a new plague…
We better get on that global warming thing. And we are! Kind of… There are 38 proposed future projects to improve the district’s energy efficiency, costing a total of $2,010,758. Most of the projects should pay for themselves by the time they need to be replaced again. One major project for BHS is switching the fuel to natural gas, which was rejected by voters last year in the energy efficiency bond. It appears that the board is putting this into the district budget rather than a separate bond. It should actually pay off within five years for BHS/RAL, just like the bond would have… Don’t you love budget season?
Things to Know
Not Over Yet…
Fall sports awards tonight! We can celebrate all of the sports that ended a month ago and golf’s lonely state championship!
Just in case you cared…
Londonderry won the DI football championship. It’s fine. We’re fine.