MANSFIELD - Controversial modular classrooms quietly entered town last week on the backs of tractor-trailers, and school officials are hopeful they will be operational by the beginning of September.

The shells of four temporary classrooms, which will help ease overcrowding at Mansfield High School, were built in Indiana and shipped to Mansfield.

The classrooms will be lifted by crane onto cement blocks in front of the school, where the classrooms will rest.

Workers then will put a brick facade on the outer walls, as well as begin construction inside of the rooms. Work on a covered walkway linking the school's main building to the new classrooms has already begun.

"They'll have air-conditioning, their own heating systems, and SMART boards (interactive white boards that can work with computers)," high school Principal Joseph Maruszczak said of the rooms. School officials say they are not sure if the classrooms will be ready when the school opens Sept. 3, but that they will make do without them if they have to.

"We may have a couple weeks of temporary accommodations for some teachers and students," Maruszczak said.

Superintendent Brenda Hodges said students will be in the classrooms by September 15 at the latest, adding, "But it looks like it could be earlier than that."

Controversy arose when construction of the classrooms began before funding was secured, leading town hall and the school department to point fingers about who was to blame for the miscommunication.

After a temporary override of Proposition 2 1/2 passed last month, the project had its funding and was able to proceed.

"(Passing the override) speaks volumes about this town and its commitment to education," Hodges said.

Officials said the classrooms could hold up to 120 students each class period and will be staffed by rearranging existing personnel.

Matt Kakley covers Mansfield for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at mkakley@thesunchronicle.com or at 508-236-0333.