District dumps plan to reform middle schools

By Megan (Hess) Collier
Review Staff Writer
Lake Orion Board of Education put a stop to the district’s middle school overhaul.
Administrators were rushing to restructure all three middle schools and the high school through late spring and early summer in an effort to save the district money.
But school board members voted for the pause in action at their Sept. 9 regular meeting.
The vote will effectively keep middle schools operating as they currently do for another year.
Now, only high school changes will move forward as the school board examines the possibility of focus middle schools instead of current restructuring plans.
‘The plan is to put middle school restructuring on hold for another year while cus schools are] feasible, practical or wanted,? said Superintendent Ken Gutman.
Changes ? and associated financial savings ? would have taken place with the 2010-2011 school year.
Assistant Superintendent Jillynn Keppler noted that estimated savings could have been $600,000.
School Board Treasurer Jim Weidman initiated conversations about focus middle schools.
He suggested the district take money from fund balance (or ‘rainy day? funds) to sustain middle schools? current arrangement.
‘They (the board) were willing to use fund balance to support that $600,000 to make a decision that may be better for the students in the community,? said Keppler, adding ‘but it needs time to be studied.?
Currently the district has three focus elementary schools: Carpenter Year-Round Elementary, Stadium Drive Elementary School of the Arts and Orion Oaks Multiage Elementary. The remaining four are traditional neighborhood schools.
The combination of focus and neighborhood schools allows for staff maximization, according to the superintendent, which saves the district money.
‘If all three middle schools were focus schools you wouldn’t have the maximization of staff,? Gutman said.
Budgetary effects will be an obvious concern for board members as they examine focus middle schools? feasibility.
‘It’s a concept that we need to make sure that does not burden our budget,? Gutman said.
The board and administrators have many additional factors to consider before making a decision, according to the superintendent. Discussion items will include community input, potential focus concepts for each school, transportation, changing all, some or none of the middle schools, and staffing needs.
A letter sent by Assistant Superintendent Heidi Kast stated that potential focus school concepts could be science and technology, performing arts, international baccalaureate and year-round.