With both Franklin Academy and Fairview Elementary closed, Columbus Municipal schools shift entirely to grade-span learning this school year, separating students by grades in the remaining three elementary schools.
While he acknowledged there will be challenges with the transition, Superintendent Craig Chapman expects the change to build stronger collaboration among teachers and better allow the district to target resources to meet grade-specific needs.
Previously, five magnet elementary schools all hosted pre-k-5 students.
“For so long, I think we have been working somewhat in isolation with the different schools, but this is going to bring those grade … levels together, those teachers together, where they can collaborate and learn from one another,” he said. “This is really going to help (build) our capacity (for) teachers being able to plan (together), but not only that, to support students of the same age with any type of social-emotional learning that’s necessary for them.”
Under fully implemented grade-span learning this year, all pre-K through first-grade students will attend Stokes-Beard Elementary, second- and third-graders will attend Cook Elementary and fourth-graders will attend Sale Elementary.
Chapman said district administration has spent the summer on logistics, including settling teachers into new buildings, preparing classrooms and working out transportation details before students return.
“Currently, we’re just working on trying to make sure that our teachers are in place and comfortable and have all their resources in place,” he said.
Chapman said bus routes for the new school year are still being finalized, along with notifications for families about which bus will serve their neighborhood and which school it will drop students at.
Chapman figures those logistics – getting to students to school on time in particular – will require some adjusting as school starts back.
“We know (parents) will have students in different buildings, different locations, but we have worked tirelessly trying to make sure that we give them ample time to get their students to school when needed,” he said.
To ensure no instructional time is lost to late students, Chapman said the student intake window will begin earlier at Sale and Cook elementaries this year. Stokes-Beard will open at 7 a.m., and Cook will open at 7:15.
For parents preparing to send their student to a different building than in years past, Chapman suggested keeping up to date with the district’s website and social media pages. Additionally, Timothy Bourne, assistant superintendent of curriculum and support services for the district, will be available to field questions about the transition, Chapman said.
“He will be the liaison for any questions or concerns that parents may have with the transition,” Chapman said “… Reach out to the principals, reach out to the schools because they have worked hard to ensure it’s a smooth transition for students and for their parents.”
This story first appeared in the Back to School special section.
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 40 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
