Fourth grade students will join fifth graders at Qulin Middle School next year in the gymnasium to better utilize the building space and teacher’s strengths.
The Twin Rivers R-X Board of Education unanimously approved the move in a 6-0 vote Wednesday during a special meeting with member Donna Sue Ashcraft-Fincher absent.
“We have created a schedule where we could put fourth and fifth grade in the gym building, so it’s like they have their own intermediate pod, and keep sixth through eighth at the middle school,” Qulin Principal Seth McBroom said.
By moving fourth grade to the middle school, McBroom said two teachers would also be moving from the elementary school.
The special classes would also be moved into the main portion of the middle school building with the exception of physical education and music.
This would open four classrooms for the core subjects.
“This allows for expansion in the elementary building or room for growth,” McBroom said. “We are creating an opportunity for students to learn and flourish in a concentrated environment. It will also help with the transition to middle school with lockers and 50-minute class schedules.”
While McBroom recognized change is hard, bringing fourth and fifth grade together was a long-term goal of his that is becoming a reality in just over a year.
Fifth and sixth grade teacher Whitney Stanford said she is excited for the change and believes it will benefit the students and school overall.
“I think it’s going to improve everything from education to discipline to just getting the students where they need to be before they come over in (middle) school,” she said.
Stanford added she is willing to do whatever it takes and go wherever to get the plan moving because she truly believes it will improve all students.
The fourth and fifth grade teachers will have the opportunity to teach speciality subjects to the students and not only benefit the two grades, but also as they get older, she added.
For the 2019-20 school year, McBroom reported fourth and fifth grade would rotate classes in the morning and one hour after lunch, leaving two hours for MAP enrichment and language art/reading enrichment.
This allows sixth through eighth grades to become a traditional middle school and make schedules like seventh and eighth grade always has to prepare for high school.
The new curriculum, McBroom added, looks at testing kindergarten through third together and fourth through sixth together.
“Teachers can share ideas,” he said. “It’s a win, win.”
By readjusting tables, 96 students can fit in the cafeteria. McBroom reported 94 will be in the cafeteria during lunch for sixth through eighth grades.
“It’s not ideal, but we can make some adjustments to get some in and out quickly,” he said.
Updates will have to be completed in the seating and bathrooms in the gymnasium building to be wheelchair accessible. A few of the classrooms will also need energy efficient windows.
According to Superintendent Jeremy Siebert, the updates will be included with the list of budgeted summer projects.
“We may have to put off something else, but it will be fine,” he said.
The biggest negative, Board President Billy Watson said, he heard about the proposed plan was putting the fourth grade in the gymnasium building alone.
With the addition of the fifth grade, Watson said he has seen some bright faces that felt different before.
“I love putting fourth and fifth grade together and making a pod,” member Lee Wright said. “You mentioned academics will come up and I was worried about fourth grade being by their self, but I like bringing fifth grade with them.”