GRADE CONFIGURATION TASK FORCE
STAFF/COMMUNITY INFORMATIONAL MEETING
OCTOBER 13, 2005 6:00
Kelli Moulton – Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction opened the meeting with a Power Point Presentation (see Hereford Task Force Meeting 10-13-05)
Attendees presented concerns and opinions:
- Who goes to which campus (students)?** Will friends be separated?
- After-school care concerns: Latchkey and transportation to Latchkey; K-3 may be allowed to go home with 4-5 siblings creating a risky situation at home; will there by 5 Latchkey programs?
- Space for science labs for 4th and 5th grade at smaller schools?
- Interaction between Kinder and 5th grade students could be inappropriate.**
- Students in Special Education who often are retained for developmental reasons could end up with the same teacher 7+ years.
- Some students need the change.
- Transition depends on the child.
- Do enough library and text books, and equipment exist for 5 schools?
- With time, transition (change) will work itself out.
- Will teachers have options to change grades, campuses, assignments?**
- Who decides who will move or stay? Will seniority make a difference?
- Districting and boundaries concerns; What are the legal issues?
- What will be the demographics of the school?
- Are the rooms of adequate size to handle older, bigger students?
- Where will PK fit?** What about a return to AM/PM as in the past?
- Life Skills classes with the range of K-5 will have many more students in that special education setting. **
- The traditional alignment across the state/country is K-5.
- There is a fear of the unknown.
- Teachers forced to change grade levels or campuses may not put forth as much effort.
- Transition (change) is both scary and exciting.
- Teaching certificates will need to be matched for the various grade levels.
- Happy teachers will get us where we want to be.
- The pluses override the minuses for what is best for students: continuity, long-term relationships.
- There are benefits to having the older students mentor the younger students.
- Is there an impact on grades 6,7,8 by going to K-5
- By having a transition between primary and intermediate, students are better prepared to transition to junior high.
- Will there be an opportunity to “grandfather” or choose campuses?
- Will grade level planning be sacrificed?
- Will there be an overwhelming disruption to teachers and students?
- Class size is a concern.
- Is there a cost factor associated with the proposed change?
- The fluctuation of class size from one grade to the next is a concern.
- A bigger concern for grade span configuration is the 6th grade at the junior high.**
- Will people actually have input on the final decision or will it be like the Shirley closing?
- Content Master Lab – Will one teacher be responsible for the K-5 range of knowledge?
- Will the decision makers please look at the whole system, rather than just K-5 this year and something else (hopefully 6-8) later?
- Please keep the community informed so that the issue of boundaries can be discussed before a decision in made.
Mrs. Moulton reminded the group that there are no answers at this time. The meeting was called to gather information so that a recommendation for the instructional viability could be made before going ahead with the project. The informational meeting was called to a close.