Reconfiguring Springfield’s Elementary School Buildings
As a former English teacher, it isn’t uncommon to find me employing the use of formal word definitions when introducing a topic. So, it’s no surprise that to begin this article, I sought the assistance of my tried and true Merriam-Webster to define the noun: reconfiguration. I found the following:
re·con·fig·u·ra·tion | \ (ˌ)rē-kən-ˌfi-gyə-ˈrā-shən \
Definition of reconfiguration: a new or different relative arrangement of parts or elements: the rearrangement of a previous configuration.
The district announced its initial plans in May, 2021 after a comprehensive five-year study of data, trends and educational research studies. Rather than the need for a new school building to educate a growing number of students, the greater need in Springfield Local Schools was to examine options to take greater advantage of existing facilities, the talents of its educators and all available resources. The data and research led to the conclusion that to truly serve students, Springfield should refine grade-level instructional targets and reconfigure the existing four elementary school buildings. For the past two years, efforts have been undertaken to make that happen. Following the completion of the 2021-22 school year, Springfield will:
•Create three school buildings to house grades kindergarten through grade three.
•Expand the district’s early childhood center (currently providing preschool services at Dorr Elementary) by placing pre-school classrooms in each of the three reconfigured elementary buildings.
•Create one school building to house students in grades four and five.
The rationale and the projected timeline for the reconfiguration of the schools have been frequent topics since they were pub-licly announced in 2021. Articles in the local newspaper, features in monthly newsletters and of course during my reports to the board of education. A page was even created when the district’s website was relaunched in January, 2022 dedicated solely to the reconfiguration. On the page, guests will find an interactive map with the boundaries for Crissey, Dorr and Holloway school attendance areas, as well as blueprints/floor plans, and additional details to assist families throughout the process.
The excitement really got started when families of currently enrolled students in kindergarten through second grades received an email from the district confirming which school their students will attend beginning in fall, 2022. Then, the tentative school start times were announced. Those are:
•Crissey, Dorr, Holloway: kindergarten through third grade students will attend school between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
•Holland and Springfield Middle School: students will attend school between 7:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
•Springfield High School: students will attend school between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Another exciting aspect for the start of the next school year were the plans for Springfield’s Elementary Jumpstart Days. Those can be found at https://drive.google .com/file/d/1wGLz1gi5lRQ ttoA13dODgvT-ekbdleBd/ view?usp=sharing.
Coming up in the spring, 2022, building principals and I will conduct informational meetings at each of the existing school buildings to provide further details and clarification as well as any address concerns; pre-kindergarten morning and afternoon schedules also are slated for announcement in the late spring. Planned for April/May are announcements of current faculty building assignments and by the end of the school year, current faculty grade assignments will be shared. Of course, student class lists will not be available until the usual time–in August right before the start of the school year.
Other than adjusting the start/end times at the high school, there have been no announced plans that will impact Springfield’s middle or high school students. That doesn’t mean the district won’t continue to study research and methods to meet the varying needs, interests and talents of its intermediate and secondary learners. Trust us, this is a constant focus– just look at the work Springfield completed during their two-year “Portrait of a Graduate” project. This exciting work deserves a feature story of its own–and readers can plan to see that soon.
Make no mistake, I am not overlooking all that is still needed to support students and staff as they complete the 2021-22 school year. There is much for the community to celebrate.
What all this means for area residents, especially those families with children ages three and above, is access to a dynamic public school district that is large enough to provide a rigorous, comprehensive curriculum that addresses the academic needs of all learners; competitive athletic programs that allow students to achieve their highest goals; opportunities for musicians and artists to perform thanks to creative and state-recognized performing arts programs, and nationally recognized leadership and service initiatives while staying true to its mission to offer an exceptional education for today’s learners and tomorrow’s leaders.
