The Washington Community School Board held a special meeting at the WHS Auditorium last night to get public input on a proposal to organize the schools into grade-level buildings.
About 100 people were in attendance with a majority of those being Washington teachers.
Washington Superintendent Dr. Dan Roach said the proposal has been discussed for nearly 20 years. Asst. Superintendent Kevin Frank said the proposal would allow for balanced class size throughout the school system with a goal of 20 students per teacher. He said the proposal would also allow the system to better target instruction to meet different levels of student development, increase grade-level teacher collaboration, and provide consistency in instruction. The proposal also looks to stabilize the educational experience for students who frequently move from one area of the school system to another.
The proposal, if accepted by the aboard, would allow Washington Schools to extend STEM curriculum add more project-based learning into the grade schools. Project Lead the Way classes could be initiated in the 5th and 6th grade. The proposal would also allow for the introduction of Band, Chorus, clubs, and expanded athletic opportunities for 5th and 6th grade students in addition to expanded kindergarten programs and after school programs.
Under the proposal, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and First grade would be housed at Griffith, Lena Dunn would the 2nd and 3rd Grade Center, and the 5th and 6th Grade Academy would be at North. Under the current proposal, Veale would continue to exist as a standalone K through 4th grade school.
Frank said the reorganization would have no effect on the tax rate and that funds would be more effectively spent with grade level buildings. The plan also addresses transportation and will eliminate overlapping as well as lessen the number of elementary students riding busses with high school and junior high students.
A vast majority of those at the meeting supported the proposal, but three people voiced concerns about families having students in multiple schools, concerns about transportation plans, and students moving schools every two years. The major public concern about the plan came from several parents from the Veale area who wanted their students included in the grade-level schools.
The plan is still in the proposal stage and the board agreed to take the comments into consideration as planning continues.
