Marblehead charter school eyes additions to third grade

MARBLEHEAD – The 230-student, Grade 4-8 Marblehead Community Charter Public School has plans to add two Grade 3 sections to its enrollment, boosting the enrollment by an estimated 45 students.However, school officials are quick to point out that a lot of work remains to be done before that change, which could cost sending communities a total of $232,000 in state aid, can happen.A Blue Ribbon Expansion Task Force recommended in May that the school expand into an additional 7,100 square feet of available space and add two third grade sections, upgraded laboratory space and possibly a small library.The MCCPS board endorsed the recommendation and plans to ask state permission to add Grade 3 classes to the school charter after the school’s present charter renewal process is complete.The school currently uses 24,000 square feet of space at 17 Lime St. The school’s landlord, the Soundown Corp., approached the school board earlier this year about changing its lease to include the rest of the building, another 7,100 square feet – adding a little less than a third more space to the area the school currently uses.Soundown uses that space as a warehouse for yacht soundproofing equipment, however, and renovations will be needed to convert the area to hallway, classroom and bathroom space so that it can be used for school purposes."This really can’t be ready in 12 months," Albert Argenziano, the school’s managing director, said Wednesday. "The landlord is planning to vacate the premises Dec. 31, 2010 and right now we’re planning to open the new area in September 2011."