The Howell K-8 School District administration has introduced a tentative plan to the Board of Education and public that describes a reconfiguration of the district’s schools.
Officials have said they are pursuing reconfiguration as a way to balance enrollment in the district’s schools.
Currently, Howell’s elementary schools are K-5 buildings and the district’s three middle schools educate pupils in grades six through eight.
At the board’s March 11 meeting, Superintendent of Schools Joseph Isola discussed changes that may be on the horizon.
“We have successfully transitioned a number of times, and we believe what we are doing will be in the best interest of students and their academic achievements,” he said.
The tentative plan administrators are exploring is a 5-5-2 model that would consist of five primary schools for pupils in kindergarten through second grade; five elementary schools for pupils in grades three through five; and two middle schools for pupils in grades six through eight.
No decision has been made as to what grades a school will house.
According to the administration, the plan divides the district into a north portion and a south portion.
The north portion would have three primary schools and three elementary schools. Pupils who graduate fifth grade will then attend Howell Middle School North.
The south portion would have at least two primary schools and two elementary schools. Howell Memorial Middle School would become a primary school or an elementary school. Pupils who graduate fifth grade will then attend Howell Middle School South. “The model we are currently looking at can ensure long-term sustainability and ageappropriate levels of support for all students. We will not be breaking neighborhoods apart with this model and it will minimize disruptions with peer relationships,” Isola said.
The reconfiguration model officials are exploring would bring about several community and school needs, according to Isola. Details such as school start and end times and bus transportation have not been determined, but will be discussed as the plan moves forward.
“We are exploring a start time that keeps the kids together and picks up all the K-5 students and drops off all the kids at their appropriate buildings. We are trying to make this as stress-free as possible,” Isola said.
Other issues that need to be considered as reconfiguration moves forward include before-school and after-school care, sports and after-school programs, programs for pupils who have special needs, programs for students who are gifted and talented, programs for children learning English as a second language and child study team services, among other items.
Isola said a public hearing will be scheduled so parents can be made aware of what is taking place in the district. Administrators are hoping to implement the plan by September.
“This is radical, this is drastic and this is change, and it will be for the long-term,” the superintendent said.
During public comment, resident Meredith Patterson said the reconfiguration plan that is under consideration may not divide a neighborhood, but could send children from the same family to different schools.
“I do not understand the rush to get this done so quickly and I think it is irresponsible. Research shows this has no academic advantage on our kids and the public deserves a study to see the impact this would have on the community,” Patterson said.
Resident Annmarie Scottson said, “We need more of a parent voice in this process. Instead of looking at this methodically, we are moving too fast.”
Resident Jennifer Schneider said, “I did an analysis of grade banding and its effects on student achievement, behavior and psychological needs, and found it did not have very much of a big improvement on students.”
Administrators said a formal reconfiguration plan could be presented to the board in April.
Contact Taylor M. Lier at [email protected].