Board explores splitting middle schools and ending magnet and gifted labels

What happened

The board talked about four early ideas under "Vision 2030": a middle school split (5th-6th grade in one building, 7th-8th in another), ending magnet status and "gifted and talented" programs at Barnard, Webster and Columbus, a therapy center for students with disabilities, and a career and technical program. The board said no decisions have been made and a feasibility study will come later.

Why it matters to families

These ideas could change which school a child attends, how far they travel, and which special programs exist. Parents of Webster's Kaleidoscope program spoke in favor of keeping it.

The evidence

At the September 24 meeting a trustee read the four categories and board members debated them. On October 8 the board said a community survey and FAQ would follow the October 22 presentation.

The source