PATA History Pages

Reconfiguration Committee"Keep Grade Levels the Same"

From the Columbus Dispatch

PICKERINGTON SCHOOLS
Keep grade levels as they are now, panel advises
Monday, March 08, 2004
Kathy Lynn Gray
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Pickerington’s fifth- and sixth-graders should stay in middle schools and not be moved back to elementary schools, a community committee has concluded.

Superintendent Bob Thiede will make that recommendation to the school board at 7 tonight at Heritage Elementary, 100 East St.

The committee of about 60 teachers, administrators, parents and community members studied how to arrange district schools to reduce overcrowding caused by growth.

Diley and Harmon middle schools, which house fifth- and sixth-graders, reached capacity last year. Kids from Heritage Elementary School entering fifth grade this year were forced to stay at that school.

Last summer, state auditors concluded that Pickerington could postpone construction until 2007 or 2008 if its schools were reconfigured into kindergarten through sixth grades; seventh and eighth grades; and ninth through 12 th grades. Schools currently are kindergarten through fourth; fifth and sixth; seventh and eighth; and ninth through 12 th.

The group considered busing costs, staffing changes, remodeling costs, curriculum and computer needs, said Jim Brink, a school-board member on the committee.

The group concluded that by keeping the current grade levels, with some changes, the district could postpone new construction until 2008. Among the changes would be redistricting, using portable classrooms, and moving preschool or kindergarten classes.

If the board decides to keep the current grade levels, Thiede will recommend how to make room for students.

Mark Jones, principal at Diley, said, "I’d hate to see us abandon what seems to have been working well for our schools over the last decade."

He supports the current arrangement, and so do his teachers, he said.

Fifth- and sixth-graders "are not quite ready for the juniorhigh scene," Jones said. "This gives our kids one more year to be kids."

The school board will hold a town-hall meeting at 7 p.m. March 22 at Fairfield Elementary School, 13000 Coventry Avenue N.W., to answer questions about the report.

Informational meetings are set for 1 p.m. March 16 at the Pickerington Public Library, 201 Opportunity Way, and at 4 p.m. March 18 at the Violet Township fire station, 8700 Refugee Rd. N.W.

The board could vote on changes as early as April, Thiede said.


kgray@dispatch.com

Reconfiguration Committee Report

The Columbus Dispatch