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Mother and father at a Memphis elementary faculty are involved about pupil security in a proposed Ok-8 merger subsequent yr that comes as half of a bigger district faculty closure plan.
In September, interim Memphis-Shelby County Faculties Superintendent Roderick Richmond really useful the switch of the Lucy Elementary constructing to neighboring Millington Municipal College District on the finish of this faculty yr, in an effort to adjust to a 2023 state regulation and handle continual underenrollment. Richmond additionally really useful closing 4 MSCS faculties, a proposal that board members are anticipated to vote on in February.
However kids presently attending Lucy would possible not be capable to switch to Millington, as a result of they’re nonetheless zoned for MSCS. District leaders say merging college students with Woodstock Center College would fill empty classroom seats and provide new facilities, like a renovated health club.
Proper now, solely round 30% of seats at Lucy Elementary and Woodstock Center College are in use. Combining the 2 faculties would increase that determine to over 70%.
“We now have 12 Ok-8 grade buildings, so we perceive precisely what we have to do to ensure we get it proper to your infants,” mentioned MSCS Regional Superintendent Debra Fox-Stanford at a Wednesday listening to.
However some dad and mom aren’t offered on that concept. Jeffery Porter has a daughter in second grade. He mentioned final yr, an older pupil gave her a THC-infused gummy sweet whereas on the bus journey dwelling.
“She needed to go to the hospital; it was dangerous,” Porter instructed Chalkbeat Tennessee. “And now, she may very well be using the bus with eighth graders. That’s larger children, they’re near being grown. We’re actually frightened about that.”
Porter mentioned he’ll possible attempt to ship his daughter to a special elementary faculty by way of the district’s open enrollment course of. However MSCS leaders mentioned Wednesday that the method opens for purposes on Jan. 27, earlier than the varsity board is ready to vote on Lucy Elementary’s switch. Gives are given on a first-come, first-serve foundation.
Lucy Elementary wants $2.5 million in upkeep upgrades within the subsequent two years, based on an unbiased report launched this spring. Stanford-Fox mentioned transferring the constructing to Millington earlier than the 2027 deadline set by state lawmakers will permit MSCS to funnel that cash extra on to Memphis college students.
“The proposal to switch the varsity to Millington early will maintain the district from investing any extra funds right into a constructing that they are going to not function,” she mentioned. “We are able to proceed to make Woodstock Center College even higher.”
MSCS leaders mentioned Wednesday that they don’t know but if Woodstock would be capable to provide prekindergarten courses, which Lucy Elementary presently does. As for the seven employees affected by Lucy’s switch, which folks raised considerations about within the district’s first closure listening to, there will probably be a “particular switch interval” to use to work at Woodstock.
Audrey Williams, director of transportation for MSCS, mentioned bus screens could be assigned if points come up from college students from totally different grade spans mixing. However Porter mentioned he’s not satisfied that can remedy all the things, particularly as a result of those self same issues of safety include cafeterias and hallways.
“I perceive if [merging the schools] is the very best they’ll do for now,” he mentioned. “However I simply don’t suppose it’s a good suggestion to have that younger of youngsters round that massive of youngsters. Bullying’s a giant difficulty, and that’s similar to setting it up.”
MSCS will host one other group assembly concerning the proposed switch of Lucy Elementary Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Woodstock Center College.
Bri Hatch covers Memphis-Shelby County Faculties for Chalkbeat Tennessee. Attain Bri at bhatch@chalkbeat.org.
