Last night, the Marion Center School Board heard from some citizens who were against the proposed reconfiguration of the district’s elementary schools.
In a letter posted to the district website in late January, the proposed realignment would bring pre-k to2nd grade to Rayne Elementary School with arrival to begin at 8:40 AM and dismissal at 3:45 PM and make W.A. McCreery elementary a 3rd to 6th grade school with arrival to start at 7:30 AM and dismissal at 2:47 PM. Last night’s meeting was just a work session, so nothing was approved concerning the proposal, but several district residents voiced their concerns. Adriene Smochek represented a group of concerned parents who said that the public was not being included in the process, and that the decision was not properly vetted.
Board president Gregg Sacco said that the issue has been discussed over the past few years.
Cassandra Buente, a former educator in the district, had a mixed reaction to the plan, and while she was in favor of separating the grade levels as proposed, she was not a fan of the split starting times and the proposed busing schedule that would have the McCreery elementary students riding the bus with high schoolers.
A final decision on the proposed reconfiguration will be made at the voting meeting of the school board, which is scheduled for next Monday night at 7:30 in the High School Auditorium.
