Centre County school district considers shifting fifth graders to elementary buildings
All Philipsburg-Osceola students will be starting their days later next year, but fifth graders could be attending classes at either Osceola Mills or Philipsburg elementary schools.
During Tuesday’s school board meeting, members discussed the possibility of moving the students, who are currently in the middle school, back to the elementary school buildings. If teachers and kids were relocated, the administrative team said the district will be able to create additional space for more teaching and office space.
“Regardless of where fifth grade is placed, teaming practices will be similar for fifth grade teachers in an elementary setting to pose successful transition to the middle school,” Linda Hockey, administrative specialist, said.
Hockey said the district has considered moving fifth grade to the elementary school since the middle school’s construction, adding that the change will not affect class size.
Middle school Principal Susan Harris said the building has been “tight for room” for several years and has to improvise classroom space in order to support specific clubs and programs. Some teachers and aides share classrooms and closets as a result of limited space.
“Collaborative spaces or small group testing are a need for the middle school,” Harris said. “We don’t have a health classroom anymore ... and special education, with the incoming needs, we’ll need an additional room for special education.”
Osceola Mills Principal Brian Pelka and Philipsburg Elementary Principal Jeffrey Baker said fifth grade classrooms will be kept together if they were to move to the elementary buildings.
Osceola Mills has one empty classroom that’s used as a utility room. Philipsburg Elementary school has one classroom that’s shared between a teacher and guidance counselor and a science lab that’s used for classes. If fifth grade were to move buildings, Pelka and Baker said they would still have room to accommodate classes and office space; however, some changes will limit teachers who want to use lab space.
Students in the middle school can participate in chorus, band, reading team and drama, but Harris said those activities will be offered in the elementary school, so students can still join. Student council, yearbook, Bible club and mini Thon are specific to the middle school, she said.
Board member Linda Bush questioned what the district will do if it sees an influx of students, but P-O Superintendent Gregg Paladina said that based on the projected enrollment numbers, the district does not anticipate a dramatic increase.
“I have not been given any academic reasons why. Everything works right now the way it is,” Bush said. “I don’t understand why we’re trying to change something that doesn’t really need changed.”
Bush asked who would help the teachers move their classroom materials to another buildings and how much it would cost; however, those plans have not been finalized.
Board member Nancy Lamb said she is confident the move would benefit students and teachers.
“The fifth grade teachers ... will adjust to whatever place they are in,” Lamb said.
The board will accept public comment and vote on the move at its March 24 meeting.
