Come and take a look: Restructuring works

I am tired of the East Valley restructuring bashing (Arthur Tupper, Vocal Point, Dec. 18).

Rather than opposing the idea of kindergarten through eighth grade, come see it in action. Continuous Curriculum School has been a choice school within East Valley School District for more than 12 years now. We have received a Small Schools Grant from the Gates Foundation, and an Award for Excellence from the state!

True, when we first moved into the east side of Skyview Elementary, staff was leery of “those big kids” and all the problems they would bring. Now when we have profile meetings twice a year to look at creative ways to get help for certain students, everyone looks to those middle school students as mentors. The middle school students buddy read, tutor in math, partner during large writing projects, act as playground helpers, big sisters and big brothers, and are just there to help whenever asked.

There is nothing like teaching a skill to another student to test whether you truly have internalized that knowledge yourself. The “physical, social and mental development of students” seems to merge as all grades work together to make us a better school. What better training for leadership and character development than living it every day where younger students look up to you.

We have no trouble with the hallways, bathrooms and site size even though no money was spent to accommodate the older students. The hallways are not big enough for lockers, but it eliminates the problem of locker searches and forgetting your locker combination. Parents are most active in the school setting when their students are younger. As a middle school teacher I found it difficult to get parental help in the classroom or even on field trips. When teaching in a kindergarten through eighth-grade school, parents volunteer. They are comfortable in the school setting, know their way around, and are made welcome throughout the grades.

I am not sure what Arthur Tupper is saying in three of his arguments because his reasoning actually supports K–8 restructuring. Parents will have their students in one school rather than being split between elementary and middle school. They can attend one set of conference times, one PTSA, and one set of activities.

Younger children will have the support of their older siblings or students while riding the bus or walking to school because they are all going to the same location. The actual bus stops and delivery times could be cut by one-third since the district would scale back to two starting times and two levels of students: K–8 schools and high school.

Tupper writes, “The early American school system was based upon local schools as community education centers.” We have changed the concept from a one-room school to a larger building where the older students still help and mentor the younger students.

Rather than signing up for “Patrons Against Restructuring District Schools” please come observe CCS at 16924 E. Wellesley. You are more than welcome to observe any or all classrooms as we teach kindergarten through eighth grade.

Talk to the Skyview Elementary staff who are on the west end of the building, and see how they think the K-8 option is doing. We like it, and they like it. Feel free to talk to our parents, our staff and our students after first checking in with the office. Come to our PTSA meeting in January and ask your questions about how it works before you start slamming the idea.

East Valley School District’s physical buildings are deteriorating. The number of students is decreasing to the point where we cannot afford to have all of the schools open. Because the administration building sits on prime land, selling it and moving to one of the underused buildings makes sound financial sense.

Rather than opposing the restructuring the district has come up with, think of another option if you don’t like theirs. Putting down their idea simply leaves us “doing the same old thing the same old way,” which is not financially viable in these times.