Township Planning Board Members will Request School Representative at Next Meeting

Members of the Washington Township Planning Board reviewed the Westwood Regional School District pre-kindergarten conversion project at Westwood Jr./Sr. High School Wednesday night. The plan was submitted by FKA Architects for comments, which is required by the state Department of Education.

The project will move students from rented space at Our Lady of Good Counsel to the high school, which is across the street. Education officials have said the move will save the district $147,500.

Planning Board member Jacqueline Do said she was surprised no one representing the school district came to the meeting. She said she had some questions about the plan that she wanted to ask.

Board Attorney Scott Mooney and Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said the board could request a representative be present at the next meeting to answer questions. Members agreed that request should be made.

Much of the conversion project takes place inside the high school building, which board Engineer Paul Azzolina said is "typically beyond what we would comment on."

He explained that the submitted plans include a reconfiguration of an existing science lab to provide three integrated pre-K classrooms. Down the hall is a proposed classroom for autistic pre-K students.

Azzolina did discuss the play area for the children, which is proposed next to a parking lot on school grounds. The engineer said he wasn't sure it was the best location since there are "inexperienced drivers" maneuvering vehicles in the lot.

"I realize they're limited here, but I would say if it [the play area] has to be in that location, it may be prudent to install some form of a barrier," Azzolina said. "That would be my only recommendation as far as what this design architect firm should consider."

Councilman Steve Cascio said he had heard changes were going to be made to the parking and the drop-off and pickup times for the pre-K would be staggered with the high school. The parking reconfiguration wasn't reflected in the documentation, which was dated March 2.

Planning Board members directed Acting Secretary Diane Grimaldi to contact FKA Architects to see if there were any revised plans and to request a representative come to the April 27 meeting, since no other matters are expected April 6. Grimaldi said that if a representative is unavailable April 27, she would see if someone could come April 6.

Clarification: Members of the Planning Board did not notify the Board of Education that attendance was required prior to the March 30 meeting.