Building classrooms at Beye School?

With Beye Elementary School reaching near building capacity in terms of enrollment, the school could possibly build additional classrooms on space currently occupied by a large outdoor deck, says the school’s principal.

The northeast Oak Park school has not reached that point yet, but building on the deck could be a viable option, says Principal Jonathan Ellwanger. 

Beye, 230 N. Cuyler, is among Oak Park’s smaller public elementary schools, with enrollment at roughly 410 students, according to 2013-2014 D97 enrollment data. Student capacity tops out at just over 440 kids, which the school is projected to reach by 2017-2018, according to a capacity study commissioned last year by District 97. Those results were released in January. 

Both Beye and Longfellow School are projected to go over their capacities by 2017-18. Longfellow, 715 S. Highland, is the district’s largest elementary school with 690 students as of 2013-14. Its enrollment is projected at just over 700 students in the next four years; its capacity topping out at around 690 kids. 

Schools nearing capacity could reconfigure current space to capture additional classrooms and study/instruction areas, according to the study. 

Ellwanger said Beye could add such space by eliminating some unused locker space in the building. If even more space is needed, building on the deck area is another option. Located in the back of the building, the deck area would be the only available space to add onto the building, Ellwanger said. 

“We’re not at that point yet but we’re watching our numbers and looking at trends, but I’m confident that we have the space currently to do the things we need to do for our kids,” he said.