While a kindergarten- through eighth-grade realignment of Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District has appeared to have gotten overwhelming support from both parents and teachers, the actual logistics of what the realignment would look like are still being outlined.
COCSD board members met to iron out details on K-8 realignment during a study session on Tuesday, Feb. 20. The Governing Board voted unanimously on Feb. 6 to move forward with the K-8 realignment, restructuring three of the district’s schools into two K-8 schools.
In the current district model, Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary School is pre-kindergarten through second grade, Cottonwood Elementary School is third through fifth grades and Cottonwood Middle School is sixth through eighth grades. In the proposed realignment plan, Cottonwood Elementary School would be closed and repurposed with the two other schools following a K-8 model.
Communication Breakdown
COCSD Superintendent Steve King has spearheaded realignment talks, but some board members said they would like to see better communication from him. Board member Jason Finger said he would like to see more regular communication on the progression of the process.
He added that in the past a lot has happened that the board wasn’t aware of. “We don’t need all the minor details,” Finger said. “But we also haven’t been getting enough.” Board member Janice Rollins noted said she has “been clueless for 12 years” about how a superintendent decides what to tell the board and what to leave out.
King said he wants to make sure communication expectations are kept clear. He suggested including a realignment section on the weekly email update he sends to the board. “My intention is to keep you in the loop and keep positive relations,” he said.
School’s Out
With plans for CES to be closed and repurposed, the board discussed costs involved in moving, which would be funded by bond funds. According to COCSD Director of Business Services David Snyder, there is about $317,000 left over from the last bond. $8,000 will be spent to redo the gym floor at Cottonwood Middle School.
The board discussed the costs involved in renaming and rebranding schools. They all hope to keep the lettering of “CMS” but haven’t decided what the “M” will stand for. There is also a proposal to relocate early childhood education students to CES in the 700 building.
“It was built for early childhood education,” King said. “The idea is to expand that program.”
Teachers’ Pockets
Finger said one thing he is concerned about is the administrative structure proposed at the two new schools. In the current proposal, there would be two co-principals at DDB, which is slated to have 625 students.
CMS, which is projected to have the same amount of students, would have one principal and one assistant principal. It is important to note that Mountain View Preparatory has around 500 students with one principal leading. Finger said he would like to see more money for teachers and believes a principal should be demoted to a teaching position.
“There should be dollar savings on closing a campus,” he said. “I’m not seeing that. Those dollars, I want to put in teacher’s pockets. They deserve it.” Finger added that the district has had to crunch before because of state funding, though that’s not what they’re faced with currently.
King argued that with the transition, staff will need as much support as possible.
Rollins suggested offering a one-year contract for one co-principal at each school, to help with the transition. Another study session is planned to be scheduled before the next regular board meeting.
Kelcie Grega can be reached at 634-8551, or email kgrega@larsonnewspapers.com
