Grouping students improves efficiency

Not too many years from now -- possibly as soon as 2004-05 or 2005-06 -- pupils in the same grade in McCook could stay together in school groupings from the time they enter kindergarten until they graduate from high school.

The changes are already in progress.

Starting with the beginning of the school term in August, the pupils in McCook's kindergarten, first, second and third grades will attend public school classes at the East Ward and North Ward elementary buildings. Fourth and fifth graders will attend Central Elementary; sixth, seventh and eighth grade students will be in classes at McCook Junior High School; and freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors will be at McCook High School.

That's different from the past. In recent years, kindergarten through fourth grade pupils were at the Ward schools -- East, West and North -- while fifth and sixth graders were at Central Elementary and seventh, eighth and ninth graders were at the junior high. The three upper grades -- 10th, 11th and 12th -- were at the high school.

Over the years, there have been major changes in the class alignments in McCook schools, starting all the way back in 1882 when students in all grades were together in temporary classes at the First Congregational Church. As time passed, new schools were built, and, for a number of years, the students attended kindergarten through sixth grade ward schools, and a combined junior-senior high school.

Then -- with the building of the high school, junior high and Central Elementary -- further class adjustments were made.

So what's the reason for the latest changes, and why do school officials think they will be in the students', and district's, best interests? Dr. Don Marchant, the superintendent, and Jack Clark, a member of the McCook Board of Education program committee, said the major reason is that, through grade groupings at the same location, the school district believes it can be more effective and efficient in meeting the educational needs of students.

There is a recommendation on the table to take one more step. The curriculum coordinating committee, made up of teachers and administrators, is proposing that all pre-school, kindergarten and first grade pupils attend one of the two ward schools, and that second and third graders attend the other.

The reason -- for the proposed change and the class shifts made this year -- is that pupils in the same grade could move together, from school to school, throughout their school years. The educators contend that would be a better use of the school's resources, as all teachers and resources for grades could be grouped at the same building, contributing to teamwork and sharing of materials and resources. One other big advantage -- as demonstrated at other schools which have tried grade groupings -- is that there is less bullying, because older students are at different schools than the younger pupils.

Faced with cuts in state aid to K-12 education and increasing federal programs -- including the responsibility for pre-school programs -- local school districts must be shrewd to get the most they can out of tax dollars. In the process, it's a great added bonus if they can better serve the needs of the students through innovative approaches -- such as groupings which keep students in the same grade together throughout their school years.