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Over 100 parents, teachers, students and staff showed up at Monday's Board of Education (BOE) meeting to tell the board they were not happy with the proposed move of the 5th grade from Lansing Middle School to the Elementary School.  Before the meeting started, however, the decision had been made to put the move on hold, possibly permanently.  

School Superintendent Mark Lewis had continued to explore what would have to happen to make the move, including meeting with the 5th grade team that day.  "They were very candid," he said.  "They outlined all of the different changes and plans and strategies and tasks and action plans that would have to be developed by June 30 in order for this to be achieved.  Even then it wasn't sure that it would work."


Lewis concluded that the move is more complicated than initially thought, and that the Middle School team planning already in progress should be given a chance to be completed and evaluated before implementing a change.  Many of those attending had come with prepared statements, including many of the teachers.  He also noted that the upcoming sewer referendum will affect school space usage.  Town officials have indicated to me that if the sewer line comes down all bets are off with respect to the infrastructure of schools," he said.  "We'll probably be looking at an emergence of developments and an influx of families into the community that we'd have to be prepared for."

Art teacher Robin Rogers read a statement and submitted a report from the art and music teachers showing issues that would have to be addressed to maintain the high quality of the art and music programs, and how moving the 5th grade would mean cuts to the programs.   Fifth grade teacher Lisa Waldrop addressed the issue of where 5th graders belong, offering evidence that they should be in the middle school age group.  She spoke of the loss of guidance counselor and CPR services if the 5th grade moved.  6th Grade teacher Brenda Meade read a prepared statement from her team that explained that the Middle School team has been working on a plan, and that they need time to refine it before implementing it.  6th grade science teacher Gwen Beck read a statement on the impact the move would have on the science program.

6th Grade English teacher Stacie Kropp spoke of supporting equipment and facilities that would be needed if the , 5th grade moved, including lockers, 22-33 laptops, PCs, books to accommodate the 5th grade research project and science equipment.  She said the costs might be close to that of walls and heating for a new office.  She offered the teacher lounge and rooms near it as an alternative location for the District office.  MS Library Media Specialist Kathy McHugh spoke to the impact on the library.  Middle School art teacher Lee Iannone expressed her concern that enough time be spent to create a program.

Why move the District Offices?  Click Here for our accompanying story.

The discussion came down to two issues.  First, the decision was made too quickly and did not encompass all the elements that would affect a move.  

Second, parents and teachers were unhappy with the decision making process.  Lewis told those assembled, "To make a long story short, it was too abrupt a decision to make given the short period of time.  More research is needed."    President of the Faculty Association Sue Henne said this decision was disruptive.  "When we work with our children, that's where we want to focus our energy.  That's not happening right now."  She asked that a decision making process be defined for the future.  Lewis noted that there was no formal decision making process in place, and that later this week the district would begin to implement the Prism decision making process, which he described at the last Board meeting.

Board Member Christine Iacobucci chastised Lewis and her fellow board members, saying Lewis should only make decisions after consulting the whole board to make sure all constituencies in Lansing are represented.  She challenged Lewis and the rest of the board to run the district with integrity, honesty and transparency.

The idea of moving the 5th grade came partly in response to community input, partly as a solution to kids needs and partly as a practical solution to relocating  the District offices.   BOE President Bonita Lindberg explained, "We heard from the Ad Hoc Committee on Facilities that on the expansion of buildings that we had not explored all the options.  Many people came to us and said, 'why is the 5th grade still in the Middle School?  Look at that.'"

"The thinking was, what is the best possible use of this classroom space?" Lewis said.  With a mandate to move out of the current cramped, unhealthy District office before the next school year,  and a concern about the 5th grade schedule and aligning students with age groups that have more in common developmentally, swapping the current 5th grade classrooms for Elementary School rooms slated to become administrative space seemed at first to be  perfect solution.

It soon became clear that it was not.  Lewis will continue to meet with Director of Curriculum Deborah Pichette and the Middle School teams to come up with a plan that addresses students' needs by November 15.  That date was chosen because it will allow any changes that need to be made to be considered when the 2006-2007 budget is formulated.

People felt the hour and a half was well spent.  Many, including Henne, said that many good suggestions had been made.  Lewis agreed, saying "They're good people and they shared good ideas."

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