This Week News

 1/31/2008

DAVID J. CROSS
ThisWeek Staff Writer

Grade realignment and a potential operating levy were the main issues discussed at the first of four town hall meetings held by the Columbus City Schools earlier this week.

During the two-hour meeting Monday (Jan. 28), Superintendent Gene Harris and other district officials discussed the current state of the district before moving into a question and answer session that was dominated by concerns about grade realignment.

In late December, Harris presented a plan that, if successful, would move seventh- and eighth-grade students onto high school campuses. She said this would effectively leave students with only one transition — going from the primary grades to a high school campus.

The program is expected to be piloted in the East Linden area over a three-year period before a decision is made that would affect the entire district.

Some residents voiced concerns about the change and how it could affect their children.

Laura Beardsley, who is the parent of a sixth-grade student, questioned whether the realignment would hamper students’ academic performance.

“My understanding has always been that research shows that … the middle-school-age kids are better off being … coddled and held with elementary school students, not with high school students,” Beardsley said. “I don’t understand the justification of putting seventh- and eighth-grade students with high school students when they can’t make it on their own in middle school.”

Harris said to the best of her recollection, she had not read anything that showed middle school students performed better in elementary settings.

“What’s better isn’t the reconfiguration itself, it’s what actually happens in the configuration,” Harris said, adding the district will give students the same level of support they would have had in an elementary school.

“With the seventh-twelfth configuration that we are piloting in Linden, we are going to have the best of both worlds, and we can take care of those seventh- and eighth-graders as we need to and meet their social-emotional needs,” Harris said.

Harris said the district is constrained somewhat because of staff and the change would help alleviate the problem.

When asked about a time frame for the reconfiguration, Harris said nothing is definite.

“The Linden pilot is just that — a pilot,” Harris said. “It’s going to be a while.”

Mike Wiles, who ran a failed attempt for the Columbus Board of Education in November, raised concerns over what would happen to schools that are under construction.

“We would not abandon those schools, they are great places,” Harris said. “Every one of those new buildings would be used.”

Prior to the reconfiguration discussion, Michael Kinneer, the district’s treasurer, gave a forecast on the district’s finances. This year the district’s budget was for about $650-million, with the majority of that going toward salaries and benefits.

Kinneer’s projections showed that next school year, the district’s expenses will exceed its revenues, a trend he mapped out until 2013 where the district would have a $385-million shortfall.

Board of education members said they are considering asking voters for an operating levy this year, though there has been no official announcement.

While discussing academics, Harris touched on what the funds from the operating levy could go toward.

Harris said part of her job is to present the board of education with things that could be included with the levy. Her comments received an ovation from the crowd.

“One of our plans … obviously is bringing back the school day,” Harris said, referring to how the district cut a period because of budget constraints. “We know that we need the school day back.”

The next meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. at the following dates and locations:

• Feb. 4: Champion Middle School, 284 N. 22nd Ave.
• Feb. 11: Wedgewood Middle School, 3800 Briggs Road.
• Feb. 13: Marion-Franklin HS, 1265 Koebel Road.