David City board weighs returning sixth grade to Bellwood amid rising enrollment and staffing concerns

At a special meeting, the David City Public Schools board heard an hourlong discussion about whether to return sixth grade to Bellwood Elementary, with administration laying out five options and community members urging the board to restore the grade locally.

Superintendent Dr. Binkler presented current enrollment figures and five distinct options: leave sixth grade at David City Elementary; hire a sixth-grade teacher at Bellwood; convert the district’s intervention teacher into a sixth-grade classroom teacher; split intervention duties so the intervention teacher covers some sixth-grade instruction; or keep intervention and add an additional full-time sixth-grade teacher at Bellwood. Dr. Binkler said these options are not presented in priority order and highlighted trade-offs in class size, special education services and available classroom space.

“My concern is that when we get above 24 in our elementary classes I don’t think kids get the one-on-one attention they deserve,” Dr. Binkler said, summarizing the classroom-size risks the district weighed. He emphasized the urgency of hiring decisions in a tight labor market and said the district aims to advertise for new positions by the end of the calendar year to have the best chance of securing a teacher under contract.

Resident Jared McDonald told the board Bellwood has an appropriate building and staff and urged a return of sixth grade: “We have the room. We have an excellent building here and an excellent staff. All we are missing is a teacher,” he said.

Board members and community speakers traded views about student transitions, athletic participation and social opportunities. Several speakers said moving sixth graders earlier to David City helped students adjust to larger classes, buses and cafeterias, while others said smaller Bellwood classes supported better learning and peer relationships.

Board members repeatedly rejected the option that would remove the intervention teacher, saying that would harm students who need small-group support. Multiple board members said their current lean is toward hiring a sixth-grade teacher — either at Bellwood or at David City Elementary — but they want more input from classroom teachers, special-education staff and students before deciding.

No formal action on sixth-grade placement was taken at the special meeting. Dr. Binkler told the board he would place the item on the November board agenda as an action item to allow 30 days for community feedback and for the administration to gather additional information.

The superintendent noted the district has budget authority for a teacher position but that using depreciation/building funds or levying for the position would be required depending on the board’s choice. “With the shortage we have in the state of Nebraska … if you offer a teacher a one-year position, I’m not sure they’ll sign up unless they’re desperate,” he said, arguing for a multi-year commitment to recruit stronger candidates.

What’s next: the board will accept email and written feedback from parents, teachers and community members before the regular November board meeting, when members expect to vote on a specific option.