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Superintendent of Schools Shirley Alvira plans to appoint a long-range school building committee, with membership from a cross section of the city, to evaluate both current and long-term uses of Westfield public schools.

"We need to put our heads together and better plan the best possible uses of our school buildings," Alvira said Wednesday. She said she expects the new committee to begin the task at its first meeting Feb. 4.

Membership on the committee, according to the superintendent, will include school and city officials, parent representatives from several schools and the Westfield Education Association which represents various school employee groups.

"This committee will appoint its own chairman and take a look at all the variables including the budget, programs, enrollment, capital improvement and planning. I am looking to this group to recommend the best use of each of our school buildings," Alvira said. The city has 13 schools.

The School Department, for the past several months, has been involved in negotiations with Westfield State College for the continued use of Juniper Park Laboratory School located on the college campus.

In November, Alvira announced a possible relocation of grades four and five at Juniper Park, about 130 students, to South Middle School in an effort to reduce School Department space needs at Juniper Park and thereby reduce the cost of a new lease.

A new lease for the college school could be as high as $675,000 this year plus escalator clauses for additional years along with another $25,000 annual for capital improvements needed at Juniper Park. The current lease for the school expired July 1, 2008. The rent payment last year was $485,000 but the School Department paid only about $345,000.

Also in November, Alvira announced an effort aimed at consolidating some of the city's oldest schools into one new elementary school.

A letter of intent was filed with the state's School Building Administration that addresses age issues and maintenance needs at Fort Meadow Early Childhood Center, Abner Gibbs, Franklin Avenue and Moseley elementary schools.

The School Department is awaiting SBA review of the proposal and information on what funding will be available

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