The budget has passed and the school board is the same, but change is still coming to the Poughkeepsie City School District. As the school year winds down, work will begin at Morse and Smith magnet schools in preparation for both schools to become K-5 this September.
In an instructional plan for improving the district’s schools, distributed by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Laval Wilson at a January Board of Education meeting, Wilson expressed his plans to realign the Morse and Smith schools to K-5 by September 2009, but with sixth-graders moving from Smith School back to Poughkeepsie Middle School this fall, Wilson chose to expedite the plans.
“It is my belief that a more consistent organizational structure in our elementary schools will serve as a better instructional base for our middle school program. Likewise, a consistent grade structured middle school program will be a better foundation for our high school initiatives,” wrote Wilson.
The restructuring of the district’s elementary schools coincides with a number of long-term initiatives designed to improve the district while ultimately increasing graduation rates. The middle school was the first component of the district to begin the enhancement process with the September 2006 implementation of the America’s Choice Whole School Reform Model – an educational program which concentrates on core curriculum. The high school, the second component of the district to undertake restructuring, began the implementation of small learning communities in September of 2007, and this coming school year all sixth-graders will receive their education at the 6-8 middle school.
The district’s six elementary schools are currently organized in several configurations, including one K-3 school, one 4-6 school, one K-6 school, and three K-5 schools, but sixth-graders in both Smith and Krieger will be heading to the middle school this fall, creating more continuity in the district.
According to Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Karen Markeloff, a number of changes need to take place before September. At Smith School, changes will be made to restrooms to make them more accessible for younger students, a playground will be installed, and adjustments will be made to furniture. At Morse, restrooms will be renovated, making them more accessible for older kids. Additionally, textbooks will need to be swapped and ordered for grade-appropriate levels, and the schools’ libraries will be merged and re-divided so each has appropriate books.
“A number of changes will be made along these lines, and the changes will begin as soon as school ends,” said Markeloff.
Magnet school planning began in the Poughkeepsie City School District in the fall of 1978; as the district experienced a decade-long decline in elementary enrollment, the district chose to close two of its elementary schools – the Franklin School on Delafield Street and the W.W. Smith School. Afterward, the Franklin School was sold.
When enrollment began increasing in the 1980s, the district decided to reopen the Smith school as the Smith Humanities Magnet School, drawing enrollment from Morse, as well as surrounding schools in the district.
The biggest challenge the districts will face this summer is evening out the enrollment of the two schools, and plans are under way to encourage willing parents to have their children switch schools.
In a press release, Markeloff stated, “Generally speaking, there are waiting lists each year to get into Morse and Smith. We expect that they will become even more popular now that they will have the full K-5 grade range.”
The school district held a lottery drawing to determine student placement in the Morse and Smith Magnet School programs this week, after the Beat’s deadline.