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School leaders argue moving 8th grade to high school will free elementary space and upgrade CTE access
Summary
School and district presenters told supervisors that relocating 8th grade to the high school would relieve elementary crowding (including expanded pre-K), improve access to high-school-level courses, and permit modern CTE facilities; the board discussed operational and scheduling benefits.
Dr. Seitz told supervisors and the School Board that the proposed MHS project includes a pivotal shift: moving 8th grade into the high school building to address space and instructional issues.
She said the move would free classroom space at the elementary level — originally designed for two pre-K rooms but now supporting six — and allow 5th grade to shift into the middle school to create space for pre-K and specialized services (OT, PT, speech, special education). Dr. Seitz also argued that placing 8th graders at the high school would make it easier for them to take high-school-level courses such as world languages and provide better, centralized Career and Technical Education (CTE) spaces that are currently "shoehorned" into inadequate rooms.
Supporters framed the change as improving alignment for students who already take junior varsity athletics and as simplifying athletic and academic scheduling. The boards did not vote on grade reconfiguration at this session; the change was presented as part of the design rationale for the renovation/rebuild options.
