I wasn't able to post directly to the Olson's thread, but that was my intention.
I don't understand the objections that Community Ed/ECFE programs raise to having their preschool programs in elementary schools. My understanding is that if these programs did move, it would be as space was available in elementary buildings, so that students currently attending the elementary buildings would not have to be displaced to make room for the ECFE programs. As far as the appropriateness of an elementary building as a site for preschool, I can only say that my family was fortunate enough that two of our children did attend preschool programs that were located in the same elementary building as the one their older siblings attended. Not only were the programs excellent (as are ECFE programs), but the added convenience of having all my children at one site was a tremendous boon to me as the mother of young children. In addition, there were partnerings between the preschool and elementary classes, and one school even had a senior center on site, which allowed for wonderful volunteer opportunities for seniors and extra hands for the preschool.
There may be legitimate objections to moving the ECFE program, but I have not heard them. Many of the community ed programs are located at the middle school or in other buildings, depending upon site suitability and availability. If there is a real need to keep all of the programs together at one site, could they not fit nicely into the middle school (if the fifth grade was moved back to elementaries)? My thinking is that there is more than adequate parking, the space is open and flexible in design, to allow excellent program delivery for early childhood and other programs, the building is handicap accessible, there certainly would be room for a small outdoor play yard for when the weather permits.
Should the school board decide that it would not be appropriate to move fifth graders back to the elementaries, I would like to see a more complete program for fifth graders than is currently offered at the middle school. Unless I am mistaken, fifth graders did not gain in terms of programs/courses offered. They do not have access to foreign language, extracurriculars or other opportunities. For some of the fifth graders, these were opportunities that were available in the elementary school they attended. Moving to the middle school resulted in increased transportation time and loss of programming for these students.
As it stands now, according the the district's own website, the fifth graders were moved to the middle school in order to better utilize the middle school. While I agree that buildings should be put to good use, I believe that the overridding principle should be that buildings be made to serve students, not the other way around. In otherwords, students should be located in buildings that are appropriate to their education, not to maximize a building's efficiency.
Terri Hyle
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