Ashland City Schools superintendent announces reconfiguration of elementary schools

Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, a reconfiguration of the city's schools will put pre-kindergarten and first graders in one building and second and third graders in another.

Superintendent Steve Paramore outlined the district's plans during the State of the City address on Wednesday.

Among the changes is the reconfiguration of Edison and Reagan elementary schools.

"It is a huge culture push at Ashland City Schools to make sure that not only do we understand that these are all our students," he said. "That you should not be identified by just the school you go to. You are not an Edison kid. You are not a Reagan kid. You are an Ashland Arrow."

Pre-K and first grade will be at Reagan Elementary and Edison will service second and third grades only.

"That is not new to our district, as Taft services fourth and fifth grade," the superintendent said. "But as you can see, our students will be with their peers from kindergarten all the way through graduation."

The configuration will allow Ashland City Schools to increase funding, Paramore said, noting Reagan Elementary is on the verge of not qualifying for federal dollars.

"We now are able to spread those funds out and make the equity pass along to all of our buildings," he said.

While the district has bus transportation available to all students, he noted he and the administration will be working on the logistics to make sure the schools are open early and late enough for parents to drop off and pick up their children efficiently.

Paramore said the school district has about 3,200 students, and "we are tasked with teaching pre-K through 12 student to make sound decisions. Not only in life but educationally. We hope [students] combine a series of good decisions over their time with us to lead the success."

Paramore said Ashland City Schools was awarded a $225,000 safety grant that will be used for lighting on all the district's campuses as well as securing entrances.

Wertman property will have a significant impact on disabled students

Among other changes Ashland City Schools is working on the maturation of the Wertman property. The single dwelling home was given to the district in 2016 by Mary Lou Wertman.

"We have been able to transform that property by the grace of the Homeowners Association at Oakbrook," Paramore said. "We have been able to put a parking lot/bus loop at the Wertman property."

The property has been used for writing and reading camps and outdoor recreation, but now "we are going to do something that I would challenge has not happened yet in the state and that is to create a life skill opportunity for students who are at risk and certainly students with disability."

Paramore said that the district has made the Wertman property functional so students well beyond graduation will have life skills. Among the skills include making a bed, cooking, and managing a house.

"Skills that will give them a realistic chance to live beyond just their current home," Paramore said. "We are so excited about the opportunities that lie in wait at the Wertman property."

District has 25 bus drivers, but there's room for more

Paramore also talked about transportation, saying there are 25 bus drivers within the district who transport more than 1,600 students.

"Not everyone gets along every day," he said. "So they do a tremendous job of keeping students safe."

Paramore said the district is continuously looking for more drivers.

"If you are interest in being an impact on our students in a very important way, we are competitive and we would love to sit down with you if you are interested in driving a school bus," he said.

The administrator, who has been helping to drive students during this school year, added the job is more glamorous than most think.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland City Schools changing elementary school configuration