Richmond Community Schools is considering reconfiguring grade levels and building use for 2025-2026 or beyond.
Administrator Assistance, the firm RCS contracted to study the issue, said strong consideration should be given to moving fifth grade back to elementary schools. That decision would drive all other recommendations.
Long-range planning and declining student enrollment prompted the evaluation. Other reasons to revisit the district’s “why” include transportation, transitions between schools, standardized testing, community concerns, age appropriateness and alignment, the report said.
Similar reasoning was used to suggest reconfiguring Test Intermediate and Dennis Middle School into two middle schools. That was the case until a few years ago, when enrollments weren’t balanced between the eastside and westside schools. Test adapted to serve all students in grades 5-6, and Dennis houses grades 7-8.
To make it possible for fifth graders to return to their elementary schools, consultants recommended returning to a half-day preschool program in 2025-26, citing factors such as space limitations and savings.
Their fourth recommendation is building a 600-student facility on the Hibberd Program Building site for an early learning center, STEAM, LOGOS gifted and talented, and applied skills. They say Hibberd’s 1929 building is not suitable long term because of significant maintenance costs, and the community supports these programs.
Because construction would require relocation of programs, consultants suggested that by the start of 2026-27, career/technical education would move to Ivy Tech, STEAM goes to RHS, and LOGOS and applied skills go to their home schools until the building is complete. Temporary modular classrooms might be needed at elementaries.
Consultants said there’s little political will for a referendum.
Bond projects
The board also reviewed potential buildings, grounds and infrastructure projects for which to spend the remaining $14.3 million available through 2024 bond proceeds.
Recommended projects include about $9 million in HVAC work at Baxter (Community Youth Services) and Dennis, and about $2.1 million for Test’s roof.
That would make $5,608,268 potentially available for an upgrade of Richmond High School’s Lyboult Field Athletic Complex was outlined.
However, if all desired improvements were included, the athletics upgrade would cost $10,650,000.
Illustrated concepts included $4.5 million for welcoming entrances, concession and entertainment/activity areas that could accommodate food trucks, along with aesthetically pleasing fencing; relocating tennis courts to reduce water issues and allow for sectional/regional hosting ($1,250,000); increasing parking and safety with a designated bus lane for student drop off/pickup ($1,975,000); and updating field events for state compliance ($175,000).
Adding an eighth track lane would cost $2,750,000.
Separate from the $14.3 million wish list, the $2 million in projects funded through bond proceeds already in the works include RHS’ new lockers and roof for the library/art wing, and Fairview Elementary’s tower and structural repairs.
Next meetings
As of press time, no action has been taken on the academic or facility recommendations.
The board will conduct work sessions at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 14 and 28, followed by board meetings at 6:30 p.m. on those Wednesday nights. All of those discussions are in RCS’ administration building, 300 Hub Etchison Parkway, and are open to the public.
A version of this article appeared in the August 14 2024 print edition of the Western Wayne News.