We object to the proposal to relocate the Hollywood School office to the current location of the fourth grade classroom.  Moving the 4th grade classroom to the current location of the nurse's office and conference room is not in the best interests of students. This space is one of the least pleasant spaces in the school. The view from the windows is of the blacktop and the dumpsters. The fourth grade would be moved from a very pleasant room with large windows, lots of natural light, and a pleasant view to a room that will probably be smaller, have less natural light, be awkwardly configured, have a view of the blacktop, and will be quite loud and distracting for students when other classes have recess. This relocation is certainly not in the best interest of Hollywood students nor is it conducive to a pleasant learning environment.  

While incidents like the shooting in Newtown, Conneticut are rare, we understand the need on the part of District 96 to consider such a possibility. We believe that the current proposal actually make Hollywood less safe as it isolates the office from the majority of classrooms and assumes that an assailant would enter the school through the office. The main doors adjacent to the gym and the rear door by the library are the weakest access points at Hollywood School due to the extensive amount of glass to the left of these doors. Relocating the office to the far southwest corner of the building would leave the main doors adjacent to the gym visible to only to people in the gym or passing by in the corridor and secured by only the locks on the doors. This relocation would also eliminate views of the blacktop from the office.

We would like the office to remain at the center of the school. Flipping the office with the current teachers' lounge would provide the school secretary with a direct sight line to the main doors adjacent to the gym. In addition, we would like these doors be reconfigured to include a vestibule, similar to the vestibule at Hauser. We would also like to see a reduction in the amount of glass around the doors adjacent to the gym and the the rear door by the library. This configuration would also maintain views of the blacktop from the office, as well as keep the office close to all classrooms. If the current proposal relocating the office to the fourth grade classroom is approved by the board, we request that the proposal be reviewed by a reputable school security company and the results made public before the Request for Proposal is issued.

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