A plan is currently in the works at Smith-Green Community Schools to uproot the entire sixth grade and transplant it into the elementary, thus creating a kindergarten through sixth grade elementary school and a junior-senior high school. But is the plan really going to solve the issues it is aimed at?
After corresponding with the superintendent via email and attending the second parent meeting regarding the reconfiguration plan at Smith-Green I have to say that I do not think the plan adds up. While I believe the intentions are right, I think other options need to be considered.
What was gathered to be the administration’s main point during the meeting was that approximately 20 percent of students leave the sixth grade failing. However, it was then stated that this 20 percent typically enters the sixth grade failing. This makes it appear that the structure of the middle school has nothing to do with the problem. So my question is – how is this plan really going to resolve the issue?
Additionally, why is this 20 percent not being addressed until it reaches the sixth grade? Moreover, the current system is working for 80 percent of the students; going forward with the proposal means the minority is dictating the direction of the school. I am not suggesting that those struggling students do not matter. If there is anyone that understands and supports the importance of education and equality, it is me. I feel the school does need to reach out to that struggling 20 percent, but I do not think this plan is the way to do it. The simple fact that they enter the grade failing demonstrates the real issue takes place before the sixth grade.
Is the transition from fifth to sixth grade difficult? Yes, of course. However, moving the sixth grade to the elementary only delays the transition one year. Another concern of the administration was the fact that the current setup requires middle school students (including sixth graders) to interact with high school students at times. This proposal would allegedly solve this problem as well. But will it really fix that problem? According to elementary principal, Nicole Singer, what is now being used as the study hall room would be converted into computer labs for elementary students. In order for those elementary students to get to the computer labs they will have to go directly through the high school commons; this will put them in direct contact with high school students at certain times of the day.
The superintendent stated the estimated cost of the project (remodeling the rooms etc.) is $20,000. In reality, this sum would be closer to $100,000 due to the hiring of an assistant principal for the elementary school ( … should the proposal be approved there will be too many students for the principal to handle alone). The cost of an assistant principal is one that will be continuous as it will require an annual salary. Didn’t the school recently terminate the assistant principal positions in order to save money? Furthermore, Smith-Green was, at one time, organized in the junior-senior high school format and it was changed to the current system. I am guessing it was changed for a reason.
There are numerous gaps in the plan as the administration does not want to expend the effort to produce a complete plan unless the school board votes to approve the reconfiguration. While wanting to save time and effort is understandable, wanting the board to vote on a plan without knowing the specifics is not; I firmly believe the school board should not be making decisions without knowing exactly what they are voting for. I believe that is the reason the school has had many issues in the past; the school board made decisions that they did not investigate fully. Each and every board member was elected to their position and it is their duty to know exactly what they are voting for. As a person who interviewed to fill a position on the school board, I can say that I would never vote for a plan if all of the details were not ironed out, especially a plan of such magnitude.
I do applaud the administration’s interest in parent input, and sincerely hope the school board takes the parents’ concerns into consideration. The superintendent stated that the school wants what the parents want. In order for that to be true, the school needs to hear the parents’ opinions.
But time is short – the school board will be voting whether to go forward with the reconfiguration at Monday’s (Dec. 7) school board meeting. I encourage parents to voice their concerns and opinions to the school board members before that meeting – speaking at the meeting will be too late.
Let the school board members hear your voice and while you are at it, let us here at BuscoVoice.com know what you think.
As for me, I remain skeptical and hope the school board rejects the proposal.
By Kayla Crance, Associate Editor, Buscovoice.com
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