With poll: Sixth-graders to move to middle school under new building configuration for Saline Area Schools

“This is not one building against another,” Trustee Lisa Slawson said. “It’s simply about economic survival. I hate this.”

The district faces a budget deficit of $4.2 million, forcing it to close Houghton Elementary School, which currently houses the district’s pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs.

Houghton Elementary School is closing.

Photo courtesy of Saline schools 

The plan approved Tuesday was one of three considered by the district’s Reconfiguration Committee.

Currently, Harvest, Pleasant Ridge and Woodland Meadows elementary schools house grades one through four, while Heritage School contains the district’s fifth and sixth grades. Saline Middle School holds seventh and eighth grades, and Saline High School has grades nine through 12.

Under the new configuration, Harvest, Pleasant Ridge and Woodland Meadows will hold kindergarteners through third-graders, and pre-kindergarten programs will be distributed throughout them.

Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Steve Laatsch said the Reconfiguration Committee recommended this option because it provided the most flexibility for the schools. It also saves the district an additional $200,000 beyond the $600,000 in savings all three plans provided, he said.

A second option included adding kindergarten to Harvest, Pleasant Ridge and Woodland Meadows and leaving the other schools the same. Option three moved the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs to Harvest, while changing Woodland Meadows, Pleasant Ridge and Heritage schools to house grades one through five and moving sixth graders to the middle school.

“We feel like this is a very solid plan,” Laatsch said. “We feel like we’re going to have a great school moving forward.”

Option one will also put fifth-graders - currently on the later, secondary school time schedule - on the earlier elementary school schedule. Laatsch said that balances out the student bus distribution, which will save $90,000.

Laatsch said consolidating all fourth grade classes into one building will also reduce the number of sections, which is expected to save $75,000.

Though some parents expressed concern about moving sixth-graders into the middle school, Laatsch said the plan will keep sixth-grade classrooms self-contained and will include a recess period. He said the district will use money from its sinking fund to create an age-appropriate recess space with a paved court and fields for sixth-graders to play on.

In addition to reconfiguring the buildings, the school board voted to implement an activity fee for all extra-curricular school activities. Starting next year, high school students will have to pay one $40 flat rate to participate in any or all activities - such as the drama club, German club or student council. Middle school students would pay $20 to participate. Co-curricular activities such as DECA and VICA are exempt.

Slawson was the only board member to vote against the measure.

“I don’t think we should be solving our budget problems on the backs of our students and parents,” she said.

Board of Education President David Friese said scholarships would be available for families that struggled to pay the fee.

Many parents and teachers shied away from commenting after the meeting, but seemed disappointed by the board’s decisions.

John Mason, who coordinates the district’s music program, said he was concerned about the fate of the fifth-grade instrumental program, but is now optimistic.

“I think it was a fair decision,” he said. “All plans have pros and cons, but I think we can make this work for the music program.”

Parent Christine Eberts was let down by the changes.

“I’m disappointed to get rid of a fifth and sixth-grade program that’s proven to work so well,” she said. “It’s just a lot of changes.”

Erica Hobbs is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reacher her at 734-623-2537 or via e-mail at ericahobbs@annarbor.com.