Students, parents and educators urge board to preserve Templeton Elementary multi-age program

Public comment at the July 28 Monroe County Community School Corporation board meeting was dominated by advocates for Templeton Elementary's multi-age classrooms, who described the program as a low-cost strategy that boosts mentorship, social skills and access to advanced academics.

"Multi age has brought me so much in my education and in my social skills," student Nomura Cloud said, describing how older students helped younger classmates learn hallway expectations and model behavior. Multiple students and parents gave brief, personal testimony: "When I was with the older kids, it not only helped me do higher level math," Therian, a Templeton fifth-grader, told the board. Parent Alan Pemberton called the program "the best kept secret" and urged the district to make it more visible and accessible.

Retired principal Debbie Fish framed multi-age as a researched instructional approach rather than a mere split classroom, saying a school she led won national recognition after adopting multi-age practices. Parent Frank Cloud told trustees the program helps students access advanced math that otherwise can be blocked by typical grade-level structures and that it can address inequities in opportunity.

Speakers asked the board to provide administrative support for multi-age in the coming year. "My hope is that Multi Age will not be a secret anymore," Alan Pemberton said, urging continued investment in the program to preserve continuity across elementary grades. The public comment segment concluded before the board moved on to the consent agenda; trustees did not take an immediate action to alter Templeton's program during the meeting.