In determining whether to reconfigure its elementary grade structure, City Schools Decatur held a community meeting last week where 219 showed up to weigh in on two options.
Option 1 splits the system into five K-2 schools, and three 3-5 Academies, including a new one on Talley Street. Option 2 keeps the current split, with six K-3 schools (including a renovated College Heights) and a new 4/5 Academy on Talley added to he current 4/5 Academy at Fifth Avenue.
CSD is not considering a return to the pre-2004 model of K-5 elementary schools.
The school system’s posted a follow-up survey soliciting additional feedback at http://bit.ly/EngageCSD2017. A 30-person steering committee will present information from the survey and meeting to the board at its April 11 meeting. The survey closes at 11:59 p.m. March 26.
Superintendent David Dude admits he likes the K-2/3-5 model.
“I think it’s a more natural split,” he said. “You have a balance where students spend three years at each elementary school. And there are natural curriculum changes where, for instance, in K-2 you learn to read, and starting in the third you read to learn.”
Dude hopes construction starts on the Talley Street school this fall, with a projected opening of May 2019.
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