North Bergen High School will soon have a pilot swimming program, a first for the school district, which traditionally only has a recreation swimming program during the summer months.
At the North Bergen Board of Education meeting, Mayor and Assistant Superintendent Nicholas Sacco said that the district was working on composing a pilot varsity swimming program.
“We had students in High Tech [High School who] live in North Bergen, [but] have lost their ability to be on the swim team when their letter programs closed down [last school year],” said Sacco.
He said that other students in the district who have been swimming in their recreation summer program have asked the township to consider instituting a year-long swim program.
The township, which does not have a indoor pool, is considering renting St. Joseph’s of the Palisades’ pool, located in the West New York school that closed last year. They would split the cost of using the pool with West New York at $13,000 per town.
Sacco said the program was being instituted to help students that might have traditionally received an in-school suspension.
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When combined with the cost of busing swimmers, the total program should be around $26,000, said Business Administrator Steven Somick.
Superintendent Robert Dandorph expected the pilot to be up and running within the next three months.
Opening learning center
The board passed a resolution that will allow 10 of their teachers to work in the new North Bergen High School Learning Center.
Sacco said the program was being instituted to help students that might have traditionally received an in-school suspension for violations like cutting class. Now they will be placed in a structured learning environment with teachers and a guidance counselor.
Dandorph said that the program will cost around $30,000, will help around 50 students, and will take up two classrooms. Students’ needs will determine how many class periods they spend in the program.
He said that having guidance involved is necessary in solving problems that might range from anger management to a student who can’t keep up with their studies because they are working. Sometimes when the school can step in and help them change their hours, the problem can be solved, he said.
The district also hopes to start a program called “Saturday Morning,” which will be a two and a half hour project-based learning program held on Saturdays for students who need additional help.
Upcoming main office/guidance extension opening
According to Somick, the district hopes that the high school’s main office, guidance, and nursing station extension will be completed by Nov. 15.
The project was expected to be completed by October, but there were a few snags in construction, including delays from the window manufacturer. The district also decided to go with a “matted” roof design, because the delays would have meant that the originally-planned tar roof would have been built during the school year and officials were afraid of the fumes getting into classrooms.
The project cost $1.25 million, with the state giving the district a $725,000 grant for the work.
Sacco said that the guidance office had to be updated because it was “unfriendly” due to its design, which was based on a time that was very different. He said that the high school was built for 1,600 students, but the current 2,600 made it necessary for them to expand this part of the building.
Students will now have 10 computers where they can look up and fill out college applications. Guidance will also have more conferencing space.
The nurse’s office will have a wellness and sick area to separate patients, as well as a direct entrance to the front of the school.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.