Principal outlines plan to move fifth graders to KMS; parents seek details and supports
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Summary
Principal Morrell presented the district’s plan to transition fifth graders into KMS (5–8 configuration), describing team structures, electives, transportation and supports; parents requested a public one‑page summary, an informational night in January, and clarity on facilities work timelines.
Principal Morrell told the committee the district’s transition team has mapped schedules, staffing and classroom assignments to house fifth grade at KMS. He said the transition team includes fifth‑ and sixth‑grade teachers, a guidance counselor, a special education representative, literacy coordinator and district administrators. Current enrollment projections list about 208 fourth graders across the elementary schools, and Morrell described a plan for approximately five two‑person teaching teams that would yield ten homerooms for incoming fifth graders.
Morrell said the district is planning daily instructional minutes to ensure students receive 55 minutes of math and 55 minutes of ELA and that specials (art, music, band, chorus, and elective options such as STEM) will be integrated into the schedule. He described dedicated first‑floor spaces for fifth and sixth grades, dedicated bathrooms for each grade, and use of existing district furniture and fixtures to limit new costs.
Parents and committee members raised requests and concerns: several asked for a single‑page summary for families detailing work completed and planned at each school, and for a public informational night (targeted mid–late January) to present a final plan and answer questions. Committee members also pressed for detail about support services (OT, PT, school counselors and nurses) for an increased student population. Morrell said support services will be scaled by student need and many teachers who will teach fifth grade are current elementary teachers which he described as a continuity benefit.
The principal noted some elective and scheduling trade‑offs (for example, whether to include recess versus keeping an elective during a particular slot) and said the district is using a parent survey to gauge preferences. He also said KMS art rooms will be completed by December pending cabinet deliveries.
Next steps: staff will post a one‑page project update for parents, schedule an informational night in January, and continue to refine the schedule with teacher input.