Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools should not move forward with reconfiguring grade levels at this time, but should “commit to a middle level concept,” based on recommendations from a study group. The panel also recommended pursuing the implementation of a feeder system.
That was based on a presentation Tuesday morning at a school board work session.
The Feeder and Reconfiguration Study Committee was created once the Operation Right Time Advisory Committee (ORTAG) finished its work. The committee was made up of 44 members representing 15 school buildings. The group included school administrators from central office and school buildings, teachers, parents and students.
The committee met seven times from February 2nd through May 3rd.
Currently, HSE Schools are configured this way – kindergarten through 4th grade are at the elementary level, grades 5 & 6 are intermediate, 7th and 8th graders are in junior high buildings and high schools are grades 9-12.
The committee studied reconfiguring the grades and buildings, with grades kindergarten through 5th grade in elementary buildings, grades 6-8 in middle schools and grades 9-12 in high schools.
Matt Kegley, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, reviewed with the board the many scenarios studied by the members of the committee, along with the associated cost.
The group concluded that reconfiguration would need time to implement, from a cost and building standpoint, as well as adjusting staff. For example, if fifth-graders are to be in elementary schools, then the current fifth grade teachers would need to move from intermediate schools to the elementary buildings.
That’s why the members of the group suggest committing to a “middle school concept” first.
However, committee members did say the school district should “pursue the implementation of a feeder system.”
According to Kegley, the feeder system means that your path forward through the school system would be controlled by the elementary school the student attends. There would be no need to redistrict above the elementary school level under this structure.
Superintendent Allen Bourff told the board studies have shown that the fewer transitions students must make, the better the educational outcome. That’s why moving to a middle school system in the future has merit, said Bourff.
One other recommendation from the committee calls for the school district to conduct an updated demographic study.
You can view the entire presentation made by Dr. Kegley to the school board at this link.
HSE and its decision-making process is absolutely astounding. Changes in configuration are needed and are what is best for students and the long-term growth of the HSE community. HSE continually makes decisions that go against what the majority want in public surveys and in staff surveys such as the flipped time schedule or these ridiculous block schedules at the secondary level. Their reasoning is always based off reading a couple of books that say this is what is best for students or what best practice is so we are going to make the change even though the majority are against it.
HSE is all about image. If you had any doubt, just read the PowerPoint slides at the end. “Perception of cost is a serious consideration.” Why now? All referendums ever brought to a vote have passed. The community has shown it is willing to support the school if they are asking for money to do what is best for students. Some of the reconfiguration plans are excellent, allow the district to be aligned for the long term and put younger kids back into elementary schools where they belong.
All the effort of this committee and nothing gets done. What a waste of time and effort. A true feeder system will never work in the current alignment. What a shame the committee chose to not get the ball rolling on needed changes that will take time to implement. Without some commitment to fixing these larger structural issues, I would be hesitant to vote for another operating referendum with all the waste and fat of expensive administrative positions at central office that get nothing done. On the other hand, I would vote for a building referendum where I see actual problems get fixed and where my tax dollars would have a long-term positive impact.
These administrators spend less time tweeting about how great HSE is and more time fixing the problems and inequities that currently exist in a system that is not working well and is not what is best for our students.