ARCHIVE

  • Last modified 5531 days ago (Feb. 4, 2009)

MORE

Structure works in Hillsboro: Possible move upsets some parents

As of now, Marion-Florence USD 408 sixth graders are part of Marion Elementary School.

In fact, it could remain that way despite talk of moving them to the middle school building.

During a regularly scheduled January board of education meeting, the possibility of moving sixth grade students to the middle school for a transition year was discussed.

USD 408 Superintendent Lee Leiker said the discussion to possibly move the sixth grade class had nothing to do with space issues or a financial gain for the district. He wanted to stress that so far, the process is nothing more than a discussion.

“We are concerned that the transition from the elementary school to the middle school is too abrupt, and is contributing to seventh grade students experiencing greater academic difficulties,” Leiker said.

One example cited at the January meeting was the fact middle school students have athletic practice during the two weeks leading up to school.

Before they have even cracked a book, their focus is athletics.

The transition year would not allow the sixth graders to participate in sports or other extracurricular activities, but it would show them what to expect when they are seventh graders.

Leiker said this is one option that may close the gap between expectations of sixth graders, and that of seventh graders.

Before anyone makes a decision however, Leiker wants opinions from those involved.

“We would like to know what past, current, and future sixth grade parents believe would benefit their children regarding the transition from elementary school to middle school,” Leiker said. “Do you believe that a year in the middle school without being involved in the extracurricular activities would better prepare children for the responsibility of excelling in their academics, while being actively involved in the activities as seventh graders?”

Marion resident Sherri Hess, whose daughter Erika is a fifth grader at MES, is opposed to the move.

“I don’t know a whole lot about it right now, but if I had a vote, it would be ‘no’,” she said. “They grow up too fast. They are always going to be around the older kids. I’m just not for that.”

Sub

Durham-Hillsboro-Lehigh USD 410 is no stranger to sixth graders in the middle school.

For the past 22 years, Hillsboro Middle School has operated as a sixth through eighth grade school in a wing located in the same building as the high school.

However, the sixth graders do not participate in extracurricular activities until seventh grade.

HMS principal Greg Brown said even the band and choir groups are broken down between grades at the middle school level.

He also stressed every staff and faculty member does his or her best to keep the interaction between middle and high schoolers at a minimum.

According to Brown, no incidents have stemmed between high school and middle school students.

“I’ve been here three years and I haven’t heard of that ever,” Brown said. “Our counselor is pretty connected with parents, and I don’t think that has ever been an issue.”

Evan Yoder is the principal at Hillsboro Elementary School, and was a teacher at the middle school when the change was made.

After a 1979 decision put fifth through eighth graders in one school, space issues in 1981 moved the fifth graders back to the elementary school.

He said at the time, it worked out well.

“We felt having sixth grade (at the middle school) was a nice transition time,” Yoder said. “We pretty much kept the sixth graders separate from the seventh and eighth graders.”

Brown said it is still that way today, however paths do cross at times, but Yoder feels it has helped the sixth graders “gain responsibility.”

Yoder also said not everyone adjusts perfectly. When he was at the middle school, some students needed help with the transition.

“We really had to support them if they struggled,” Yoder said. “I always felt like I had a staff that could do that, and they still do.”

The next step

The plan at Marion is for the sixth graders to remain in the middle school wing, while high school teachers JoAnn Good and Kelly Robson, who currently teach on the middle school side, would move their classes to the high school wing.

Aside from that, there have not been many set-in-stone plans. In fact, no decision will be made at USD 408’s board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday. Instead, more discussion will take place.

“I’ve told parents, and anyone involved, to come to the meeting,” Leiker said.

It could be a while before a decision is made, but Leiker said if it were to happen, it would take place during the 2009-10 school year.

Last modified Feb. 4, 2009

 

X

BACK TO TOP