Lake Road Elementary School will extend its class offerings to fourth grade students beginning in the 2018-19 school year after a 5-2 vote by the Poplar Bluff R-1 Board of Education during Thursday's monthly meeting.
The decision, which has supporters on both sides of the issue, will allow third grade students to remain at Lake Road during fourth grade instead of moving on to the middle school. The goal for keeping the kids at Lake Road is to increase its enrollment numbers, which have been declining in recent years, and provide continuity for the small group of students.
Lake Road principal Erica Weadon said she is excited about the opportunity to grow her school, which currently has an enrollment of 170 compared to the other elementary buildings, all which have more than 300. Currently, 57 of Lake Road's students are in third grade.
"Our enrollment is inconsistent," Weadon said. "I've racked my brain trying to come up with ideas because we've worked so hard and I don't want to see that go away."
Weadon has been the Lake Road principal for eight years and in that time, has led the elementary school in a positive direction. Attendance has improved from 80 percent to 90 percent in about six years, and, Weadon said, closing achievement gaps is her priority.
Lake Road is also the most impoverished school in the district according to Superintendent of Finance Rod Priest. Providing a stable learning environment for those kids is another benefit, Weadon said, her idea brings to the table.
Board of education president John Scott voted in favor of allowing Lake Road to extend through fourth grade, and supports the potential to open it to fifth and sixth grades down the road.
"I didn't look at it so much as increasing the population of the building, as much as I've looked at it from a standpoint of, potentially, some kids having continuity who needed it," Scott said.
Long-time board member Dr. Cynthia Brown voted against the initiative, she said, because of her previous commitment to the community regarding the fourth, fifth and sixth grade center.
"It was a very tough decision," Brown said. "I really do support (Lake Road Elementary) and I think they do a fabulous job, but I was one of the members on the board who told voters the centers were the best for the district so that all students could be offered the same education and I stand behind that."
Board member Roger Hanner, also, voted no.
Superintendent Scott Dill said despite the concerns he has received from teachers, specifically at the middle school, he thinks expanding Lake Road is what is best for the district.
"This is my recommendation," Dill told board members, explaining that the concerns voiced by middle school staff include the community interpreting the decision as the district "going back" on its promise during the 2014 election, potentially eliminating collaboration efforts among teachers, and disproportionate resource allocation.
"I don't feel that any of these concerns, though they are legitimate, override the fact that we have an underpopulated facility right now and we are not taking full advantage of it," Dill said. "I think there will be obstacles to overcome but by working collaboratively and having calm conversations about these issues, this is something we will be able to (achieve)."
If Lake Road's enrollment does not increase, the potential is there for the facility to shut down. If Lake Road Elementary School were to close, Dill said, to accommodate the students, a new elementary school would have to be constructed in a different area of town, as the three other facilities currently operate at or near capacity. Scott said financially, he thinks allowing Lake Road to expand is the best move for Poplar Bluff, with the expense of a new early childhood center on the horizon.
"Ultimately, some of these positions, and I understand them all, but I rely on what our professionals tell us," Scott said. "As far as our centers, there were a lot of people in the community who didn't like that idea. There were, at the time, a lot of people who expressed their concerns and I'm sure there will be on this issue, as well. But, to me, that doesn't have anything to do with the kids and I think this benefits the district as a whole."