Lexington school board votes to realign grades at 3 elementary buildings
LEXINGTON — The Lexington Local Schools Board of Education voted Thursday on grade realignments and a site for preschool.
Despite opposition from several people who addressed the board, members voted 5-0 to have preschool at the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center and to make the following grade realignments for the next school year:
House K-1 at Western Elementary School.
House grades 2-3 at Central Elementary School.
House grades 4-6 at Eastern Elementary School.
Currently, Western houses K-3, and Central has grades K-4. Students in grades 4-6 attend Eastern.
Superintendent Jeremy Secrist recommended the board approve both measures. At last month's meeting, the board voted to introduce all-day kindergarten for the 2023-24 school year.
"COVID made it far more obvious to us that our youngest learners have to have more instruction and more time with their teachers," Secrist previously told the News Journal.
Joy Bowman, K-6 curriculum director at Lexington, previously said all-day kindergarten would help students throughout their school years.
"That strong foundation is incredible," she told the News Journal. "It doesn't end with that grade. It extrapolates out to later grades."
Grade realignment aims for equitable education
Secrist said he recommended the grade realignment because it would provide a fair and equitable education for students, as well as allowing staff to share resources.
About 40 people attended Thursday's meeting in the Robert Whitney Performing Arts Center. Several addressed the board and questioned the changes.
"I do not feel that this is a good, positive move," said Cindy Shasky, an aide at the Western Elementary library. "Some students could be in four buildings by the time they're in fourth grade."
Nikki Ruhl agreed that students would be dealing with a lot of transitions.
"I'm not opposed to it, but I'm opposed to how fast we want to achieve it," she said. "I don't understand what the rush is."
In an email to the News Journal, Secrist offered further explanation.
"The district has examined this possibility for many years; in fact, it has been discussed for nearly two decades," he said. "The situation has finally presented itself to make this work, and we couldn't be more excited to offer a more equitable, aligned and consistent instructional program for our students."
Secrist planned to send a letter to district parents on Friday, offering more details about the changes.
Parents question having preschool at Mansfield location
Some in attendance opposed having preschool at MOESC in Mansfield, instead of Lexington.
Lauri Bazley, who has been a secretary at Western Elementary for 31 years, said one of her grandchildren will be taken off the Lexington preschool list because of the Mansfield location.
Others questioned busing issues at a time when many school districts are having trouble finding enough drivers.
Amber Crain said she will have kids in preschool, kindergarten and second grade.
"I'll have kids in three different buildings and three different start times," Crain said.
Secrist said the transportation supervisor has assured him that busing will not be a problem.
He later pointed out that MOESC has served Lexington's students in previous years.
"We have a wonderful partnership with Mid-Ohio. The preschool space is a beautiful facility that is specifically designed to be a preschool," Secrist said. "After discussions about options for where we could house our preschool, it became apparent that returning to MOESC was the best option for our students."
While Lexington opened a 7-12 school this year, it is still waiting to receive money for a second school that would consolidate the other grades. There is no timetable for when that money will be available, and board members did not want to wait.
"Our hopes were we would be in two buildings by now," board Vice President Keith Stoner said. "The state of Ohio has thrown a wrench into it."
Board promised voters there would be all-day kindergarten
Stoner said the board promised residents who approved a bond issue in 2018 that all-day kindergarten would become a reality.
"That was a commitment that we made," Stoner said.
In referencing her lengthy stint at Western Elementary School, Bazley said staff and students share a special bond.
"You'll be tearing families apart," the secretary said.
"Or building new families," Secrist responded.
After the vote, as those in attendance filed out because of a pending executive session, one woman sat alone, visibly crying.
Prior to the vote, Secrist said the changes would be harder for adults than for the students.
"There's fear with changes, and change is hard," he said. "(But) we're in the education business. We're here for kids."
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Lexington school board votes to realign grades at elementary schools
