Escanaba Area Public Schools: Reconfiguration

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about Escanaba’s Reconfiguration Project

General Questions

What IS the reconfiguration project?
By the end of the 2009/2010 school year, Franklin Elementary School will close. Starting in the 2010/2011 school year, students in grades 5-7 will attend school in the current middle school building. Grade 8 students will join grade 9 at the high school facility and become a “school within a school”, essentially separate from students in grades 10-12. The following year, grade 7 will join the “school within a school” (grades 7-9); and grade 4 will be moved up to join grades 5 and 6. The configuration the district is aiming for is:

Soo Hill—Grades K-3
Webster-Grades K-3
Lemmer—Grades K-3
Escanaba Upper Elementary (current middle school)—Grades 4-6
Escanaba School within a School (Jr. High)-Grades 7-9
Escanaba Senior High School (Grades 10-12)

Why are we reconfiguring our schools?
Reconfiguring our schools will reduce our expenses and help address current financial challenges brought on by the state’s funding cuts to school districts. Reconfiguring will help us use our current facilities well, to fill empty classrooms at the high school, and to remove pressure at our elementary buildings. Finally it will give MORE opportunities for students (classes, offerings) and allow for earlier access to rigorous Michigan Merit Curriculum coursework.

What is the plan for the “reconfigured schools” in Escanaba to “look like?”

2009-2010	2010-2011	2011-2012
Lemmer (K-5) Soo Hill (K-5) Webster (K-5) Franklin (K-5) M.S. (6-8) H.S. (9-12)	Lemmer (K-4) Soo Hill (K-4) Webster (K-4) Franklin-closed Ele/M.S. (5-7) Jr. H.S. (8-9) Sr. H.S. (10-12)	Lemmer (K-3) Soo Hill (K-3) Webster (K-3) Franklin-closed Upper Elementary (4-6) Jr. H.S. (7-9) Sr. H.S. (10-12)

Why has Franklin Elementary been chosen to close over the other elementary buildings?
Franklin has the least capacity of all the other buildings. There will be fewer students to reassign by closing Franklin. In the last years, as the district had been monitoring district finances and declining enrollment, it was thought that “if another elementary building would have to close, it would be Franklin”. Franklin’s facility/infrastructure has been maintained less than the other buildings, with the thinking that to put dollars into a building that may close, would not be the best use of district funds.

Will there be enough room for students at the high school?
Yes, the high school was built with capacity for 1500 students, and the current capacity is now approximately 888 students. Even with increased enrollment, at a high of 200 students per 7th and 8th grade class (so for an additional 400 students); there would still be plenty of room. We also expect that with students having increased access to the Michigan Merit Curriculum, and with increased opportunities to accelerate learning/coursework, that we could see an increase of students taking college-level classes early (dual enrollment), which takes pressure off the upper grade levels.

Do we need to pass a bond issue to reconfigure our schools?
No. The reconfiguration will happen absent of passing a bond issue, for the reasons mentioned above. Passing a bond issue to renovate the high school and to address safety/energy issues in our other buildings would compliment the reconfiguration project, but it is not necessary to implement the closing of Franklin, and reconfiguring the rest.

Is this the most cost efficient thing we can do?
Yes. It is a significant savings that helps protect some of the other things we want to keep in Escanaba. Without reconfiguring, other areas are more likely to suffer a big hit.

Why are 8th graders moving to the high school?
Moving 8th graders to the high school will give these students more opportunities to take high school level classes earlier-- in a safe, secure wing of the high school. We have empty classrooms at the high school, and teachers who may not have a full schedule, and so we can use our facilities AND our staff more efficiently. Finally, moving the 8th grade, will allow space for 5th grade in the current middle school. Likewise, moving the 5th grades out of the elementary schools will take students out of those buildings and free up space at that level.

Why not move 7th and 8th grade all at once?
After studying the logistics of either moving both grade levels at once or one at a time, it was decided that if we want to reconfigure WELL, it would be best to first move 8th grade and then 7th. The main reason for this is to ensure a smooth transition into increasing a group of students in both the high school, and the current middle school facility. Staff can ensure schedules can be implemented well, both for curriculum and safety issues. It is an interest to keep the “school within a school” students at the high school as segregated as possible, and this will mean implementing some new procedures, both with staff and students. In addition, shifting teachers and determining how best to utilize them given their credentials and qualifications will be a big task. As stated before, the district wants to do this in the most efficient manner, yet the most appropriate manner for the students.

How is reconfiguring in the “best interest” of our students?
Reconfiguring will allow for the district to provide to students the most resources and opportunities that it can, given the state funding issues that it faces. It will allow for students to be more successful in attaining early high school credits, or regaining credit if they tend to struggle. It will allow for a good grade span focus that attends not only to student academic needs, but socio-emotional needs as well.

Budget Questions

How much money will Escanaba save by reconfiguring?
Very conservatively, in year 1, we are estimating a savings of about $348,562.

How much will reconfiguring cost?
We have not calculated the specific costs yet, but believe that the cost will be minimal, compared to the savings.

Do we need to pass a bond issue to reconfigure?
No. We can reconfigure without a bond issue.

Can’t we have pay-to-play or cut bussing instead of closing Franklin?
It is never easy to close a school that people care about so much. However, by closing Franklin, we can save opportunities for kids and make sure that many students benefit from reconfiguring the schools. We do not like to look at pay-to-play because our community tells us that extra-curricular activities are beneficial for students and it may be a hardship for some families to pay. Along those lines, many of our families depend on bussing in order for their kids to get to school.

Have teachers been approached with pay/benefit reductions, furlough, etc.?
The teachers as well as all of our union groups have contracts that are in place now that specify what they will be paid. They have not been approached, but we continue to share information with them about the financial challenges our district is facing.

Developmental/Safety Questions

Are middle school students ready for the high school environment?
We will see what the needs are of the students before we move them. The environment needs to be “ready” for the middle school students. The environment we will develop in each of our buildings will be customized to meet the needs of the students that will be served. Expectations for student behavior, academic work, extra-curricular activities will be set and the school family will be accountable to making the environment be a positive place to learn and play.

How will the grades 8-9 (and 7, 8 and 9 in 2011-2012) be physically separated from grades 10-12?
The students in the lower grades will have classes and lockers in “A wing” primarily. For classes that mandate a special environment, like physical education class and band, the schedule will be adjusted to maintain segregation as much as possible. These students HAVE ridden the bus together (7-12) during the past years, and so some contact will be expected, however with supervision and an administrative presence, we believe there will be minimal contact. It is also expected that each grade span group will have separate activities from each other.

How will you protect the 8th grade students from being bullied by the upper classmen?
Bullying is not EVER acceptable. Expectations of student behavior will be published in school handbooks, and staff will follow through with corrective measures if ANY student is bullied.

What extra safety measures will be in place for the younger students at the high school campus?
Younger students will occupy primarily “A wing”, and their schedules and traffic patterns will be set to keep them as segregated from the older students as much as possible. A separate closed campus lunch will also be in place. Students will be scheduled into advisory periods where they will deepen relationships with their staff and classmates, and where they will learn skills to help them as they move into the upper grades. An administrator will be assigned especially for the “School within a School”. Feedback from parents, teachers, and students will be gathered and considered as we refine the plans for this initiative.

Will the students in the “school within a school” (grades 8,9 next year; 7-9 in 2011-2012) have to walk to the middle school for gym class?
No. Students in the school within a school will have physical education class in the facility where they take their other classes. They will be scheduled for physical education so that they are separated from the older students.

Will it be a closed campus at the high school next year?
Right now, we are planning on a closed campus next year for the students in 8th and 9th grade. Students in grades 10-12 would still have open campus based on the current plan.

Will eighth (8th) graders be able to leave for lunch?
No. They will have a closed campus which means they need to bring a lunch or have hot lunch.

Will fifth (5th) graders get recess?
Yes. At this time, we are planning on recess for the 5th grade during the time when 6th-7th graders have their “home room” time.

Facilities Questions

What do kindergarten enrollment projections suggest for the next five years? Will our elementary buildings have room?
Our projections for kindergarten are expected to level off (stay about the same) for the next 5 years. We expect to have room for these students, but also will have room if the State requires “all day every day” kindergarten, which would require additional space—a good reason to reconfigure! Without 4th and 5th graders in the elementary buildings, Soo Hill, Webster, and Lemmer will be able to house students in K-3 and promote an “early childhood” concept.

How will the already remodeled middle school facility (auditorium, industrial arts room) be used when younger students occupy that building?
We expect the auditorium to be still utilized for groups that need it. Music programs can be held there for our elementary students and nicely accommodate parents and community members who love to watch students perform. We are still in the planning stages for how to effectively maximize the current middle school facility, but are confident that our parent/employee groups will help to ensure it is used well.

Are you keeping Franklin School as a daycare in order to keep the building open if enrollment goes up and space is needed?
We believe that the three remaining elementary schools when reconfigured (K-3) will have ample space to handle increased enrollment. We are exploring the daycare option, but it is not a sure bet at this time. We are focused on making sure our normal school facilities and reconfiguration activities are set. We still own other “closed” elementary schools, and so if the need warranted opening another one (and really do not foresee this), we would evaluate our options at that time.

Transportation Questions

How will transportation be handled?
Will grades 4-6 ride the bus with 7-12? Currently, we have two bus runs: a secondary run (for grades 6-12) and an elementary run (for grades K-5). We will look to see how the students will be re-distributed in the remaining schools, and develop a transportation plan. It would be desirable alter the bus runs to have the elementary students ride separately from the secondary students, but the transportation plan is not in place yet. When it is complete, we will make sure to communicate the ideas to our parents and community.

What will the start time be for grades 5-7 (2010-2011)/ 4-6 (2011-2012)?
I am concerned about the bussing schedule for young children. We have not set the time for school yet. We will post this information when it becomes available.

How will bus schedules and routes be affected since I would have three children in all different buildings?
We have not set schedules or routes yet, but that work will be done well before the start of school next year in order to help parents plan for the departure and arrival of their children each day.

Extra Curricular/Athletics Questions

Why has there been no consideration for an additional gym?
The reconfiguration project is separate from the renovation project, since renovation is not necessary to reconfigure. In evaluating the number of teaching stations at the current high school, we believe we have sufficient space for students to have physical education classes. For after-school activities, we have space available at the middle school that also may be utilized.

Will the 8th graders be bussed to the middle school for practice?
If students have a practice scheduled right after school at the current middle school facility, it is probable that bussing will be provided—but if a practice has been scheduled for later in the evening, the student would go home as usual, and would find their way to the school where practice is being held—just as they would have done this school year.

If we agree that athletics and fine arts, and other extra-curricular activities are an extension of the classroom, how can six (6) grade levels utilize the current facility?
We will utilize and maximize the facilities that we have as a district, and work with our employee groups and parents to make sure it works well. We have details to work out but are confident that a group of people who are working together on a common goal can come up with great ideas.

How will clubs and fundraising efforts be handled for the different age groups?
As in past years, our school leaders and committees will review what clubs are available or students, as well as review the amount and kinds of fundraisers they are considering. This review is important to make sure that the activities are appropriate and beneficial for the age levels.

Curriculum & Instruction Questions

How will reconfiguring the grade levels change what students are able to take for classes?
Students in 8th grade and eventually 7th grade will be grouped with 9th grade students in a “school within a school” that will have embedded into it—an advisory period where students will learn skills to help them be successful in the latter years of high school. Students will be physically closer to upper-level classes, and so by utilizing the expertise of the core curriculum departments, students will have early exposure to Michigan Merit Curriculum courses when they are “ready”. Vocal music, in addition to instrumental music will be offered for “school within a school” students. It is a goal to not only offer foreign language instruction earlier to students in 7th and 8th grade, but we are also exploring offering this instruction at the elementary level—when students tend to naturally latch on to new languages. Students in grades 5-7 (2010-2011) and eventually 4-6 (2011-2012) will be housed together, and their teachers will be able to collaborate more because they will not be in separate buildings. It is possible then, for teachers to specialize in a few subjects and use “teaming” with another teacher so as to minimize “the master of everything factor”. At the K-3 level, resources, assemblies, and activities can be especially tailored for this age level. At this stage, we are still in the development phase. We have an extremely talented staff and we would like to utilize their talents, along with the ideas and suggestions of parents to ensure that what and how students learn within these grade configurations is designed for the maximum positive impact.

How will extra support through special education and Title I change?
During the school year, our buildings are refining their school improvement plans which explain how they plan to deliver services. Each building-to-be will look at what their data suggests and devise a plan to address the needs of the students who will be attending that building. It is also expected that by combining all grade levels in one building (for grades 5-7, then 4-6), more students will have access to federal funds for Title I. Depending on how the eligibility criteria works out, that the school within a school may qualify for some of these funds. In any event, the schedule and system of support in EACH school is built from the school improvement plan—something that is developed by school/parent teams.

What is the state’s position on all day every day kindergarten?
We have not received any new updates from the State since they put a two-year “hold” on all day every day kindergarten last year. We have no indication that the State intends to back off on this requirement, and so we need to prepare as if it is going to happen.

Logistics Questions

Why do students in grades 6-12 start so early? Why not 9:30 a.m. (an hour after K-5)? Will 4th graders start at the same time as grades 6-8?
School start/end times, along with transportation still have to be factored in for next year. As we look at how we develop the implementation of a reconfigured Escanaba Area Public Schools, we will consider many ideas.

Will the 5th grade be a self-contained classroom next year at the middle school or will kids be switching classes like the middle school currently does?
Fifth graders will spend at least more than 1/2 of the day in a self-contained classroom, but may see another teacher in that teacher’s area of specialty, along with encore curriculum teachers (music, physical education, technology, and art).

How will the current middle school get a playground for younger students?
We are exploring how to make that happen. We are working on this, and also seeking other community partners to assist in this effort.

Will the elementary buildings be K-3, or is their still talk of a kindergarten center?
The elementary buildings will be K-3.

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