Merit for Library Renovations Called Into Question Amidst Large Class Sizes

By Miranda Lassar and Winson Ye

The Newton South library underwent a series of renovation this summer,

revealing several new attractions including new carpet, new lighting, new bookshelves, and a new technology counter that stretches across the back of the library around the windows.

“I think that it has provided a much more friendly, welcoming, and cheerful environment, just by the fact that it is bright and you can see across the whole [library],” librarian Jennifer Dimmick said.

$23,000 of the $40,000 dollars needed for the the library renovations were raised through a fundraising campaign conducted by Success at South, a committee run by the PTSO.

Senior Salong Jamir, however, does not think the renovations were worthwhile and believes that they do not enhance the library in any way.

“It does not make a difference; it is still a library.” Jamir said.

Despite criticism from some students, librarian Ethel Downey believes that the renovations were an essential addition to the library.

“The look, the feel, everything is so much better. It’s bright, it’s light, it’s clean,” she said.

The library, however, is not the only change that Newton South underwent. Another development at South this year is the increase in class sizes. According to an official report regarding the 2013-2014 school year from the Superintendent to the PTSO, 30% of classes at South last year have between 25-29 students, a 3% increase from the previous school year, and South’s enrollment is expected to rise as the years progress.

Although PTSO funds cannot be used to hire teachers, some have wondered whether the focus should be on renovating the library or helping teachers compensate for the growing class sizes.

When asked about whether there should have been a fundraising campaign for classrooms instead of for the library renovations this year, Vice Principal Candice Beermann asserted that the funds were well spent on the library.

“What’s great about having done [raising funds for] the library is that it is something that every student accesses. The problem was that everyone was using the library to study, and there was not enough space for everyone,” Beermann said.

While the new library renovations did not include expanding the size of the library, the renovations did include adding new chairs and reorganizing the library in order to add space.

Whether or not the library renovation funds should have been allocated towards efforts to help teachers manage larger class sizes, Beermann finds it important to note that the Newton Public Schools and the PTSO base their decisions on the premise that they want to fund projects that will ultimately benefit everyone at South.

“They [the PTSO and the Newton Public Schools] try to have the most impact on the most students possible,” Beermann said.

Beermann added that the Newton Public Schools have been doing well, given their funding, in regards to adequately staffing South with full time teachers this year.

“From my experience…South actually has more FTEs, or full time equivalents, this year than we did last year. In that sense, the PTSO is going in the right direction,” Beermann said.

Editor’s Note:

10/07/14: The name Along Jamir has been corrected to Salong Jamir. In addition, the library renovations regarding the sizing of the library have been clarified. The clarification of how the PTSO budget can be spent has also been added. We apologize for any confusion.