Parkside Discussion: Development of Recommendation

Parkside Discussion:

How was the recommendation developed?

This document is intended to answer questions that have arisen as we have begun a conversation about repurposing Parkside Elementary to an Early Childhood Center.

How was this recommendation developed?

The recommendation was developed by the Executive Cabinet:

• Dr. Steve Matthews
• Dr. Korie Wilson-Crawford
• Mike Ramm
• Allison Clements
• Lisa Jacobs

The recommendation began to be developed in November 2024 as plans began to be made for the 2025-2026 school year. The following concerns about Parkside elementary were noted: 

• Parkside had one section in the following grades:
  1. Kindergarten
  2. 4^th grade
  3. 5^th grade
• Moving students up into the 2025-2026 school year it appeared that Parkside would have one section in the following grades:
  1. 1st grade
  2. 2nd grade
  3. 3rd grade
  4. 5^th grade
• One section grade levels limited the collaborative experience for teachers and students.

Recognizing the potential for 2025-2026, the Executive Cabinet discussed the following options:

• .Preschool/childcare in every building.
  1. Defeats the collaborative process for improvement
     • If we create a program in a Parkside Early Childhood Center, teachers and students would have collaborative opportunities.
  2. Developmentally they would not be with peers in the buildings.
  3. Logistical concerns:
     • How do preschool and DK fit within a building?
     • We cannot promise that each building can have preschool
  4. Intentional design for preschool/childcare
• Slow phase out:
  1. Not bring in kindergarten class next year, no k or 1st grade next year
     • Not viewed as optimal for the teachers or students
• Make River Valley Academy childcare.
  1. RVA students need a separate space.
• Outdoor learning magnet.
  1. The site is not as conducive as other locations.
• Immersion school
  1. That would change the nature of the school.
  2. Not the way to do immersion.
• Further redistricting.
  1. But other schools are right sized
  2. Not the easy fix it appears. Redistricting would create potential undersized buildings throughout the district.
• Considered community needs.
  1. RAMS XII survey identified childcare as a need.

Serious conversations began in November as we looked ahead to the 2025-2026 school year. 

Why did we not convene the Parkside community for a discussion on this issue?

A recommendation to make such a significant change to a building would generate considerable discussion. I made the decision to present this to the Board at the February meeting and then take the next month to review and/or refine the recommendation for the March meeting.

This is consistent with board policy 5120 which states “the Board directs the assignment of students to schools within the district” and board policy 1230 which states the Superintendent’s duty is to “strive to increase the efficient use of District resources in the daily operations of the schools.”