At our first parent forum, community members were asked to list the pros and cons of keeping our 7th and 8th grade students at CAS. They also listed any questions they may have. Below are the results:
Fiscally responsible? Cost – effective?
Property value increase.
Consistency to quality education – eliminate need to “Choice” out for middle school.
Property value will rise.
Money saved by not sending to Dover school district.
My children want to stay! (and we as parents too!)
Canfield has excellent academic success!!
Strong friendships. Students continue with group they have played sports with since kindergarten.
Property values go up.
Saving money for Mine Hill district by adding 7th and 8th.
Excellent teachers and staff and curriculum at Mine Hill.
Keeping strong friendships they have developed since Pre-K.
My children want to remain at Canfield.
My daughter wants to stay!! She enjoys her experience at Canfield.
Smaller classes and feel safe within the school.
Not leaving the district.
K-8 Middle School Model. Kids already used to the school and staff.
Kids comfortable with teachers and staff.
No transition.
In favor of keeping 7th and 7th grade at CAS.
Keeping 7 & 8 will provide support for younger kid.
Better for the kids to stay with the same group of kids they started with.
Keep siblings together for drop-offs/pick-ups.
Better quality of ed @ CAS
Kids will maintain relationships with one another giving them support through transition (middle school)
Parent friendships will remain – we won’t have to fight over 6 seats.
Minimizes bullying during a difficult age.
Ultimately saving money for the district.
Socialization in small community.
Continue with excellent teachers and administration.
Maintains strong friendships during middle school years.
Families in community longer, community wins.
Likely smaller class size.
The teaching started at CAS would continue for 2 more shaping years.
Same teaching continues without transition to another school.
Emotional stability vs. upheaval.
Small class size allows more rigor activities and programs.
My kids still feel at home here at CAS. Easy pick-up for 2 siblings.
Small community
Move canfield kids out.
Less transition – less moves for children.
No more CK daytime.
Familiarity.
K-8 Model
Algebra and excelled classes may not be offered.
Differentiated instruction for varying ability groups.
More clubs needed for 7th – 8th.
Scheduling – will classes be staggered? Concern with parking, lines from pickup and drop off.
Amenities to middle school students (band, extracurricular, etc.) gym lockers.
Scheduling – what time would they start?
Academies knowledge, will we lose out on this?
Still experimental stage to introduce new class – less spaces.
Concern about middle school offerings cannot be duplicated here because of smaller classes.
After school activities and sports programs what can be offered?
Will Canfield kids be moved for space?
Class sizes will undoubtedly grow due to physical space needs.
Sports, buses, coaches.
Programs?
Same kids all the time.
The money you save will be spent on salaries. $300-$700K is not a lot of money.
Class choice ability.
Drastic transition from smaller class size to larger class sizes.
If no extra gym/cafeteria doesn’t seem fair. Exercise is important.
Facilities – space concerns – separation between “small children vs. older kids”
High School credits – transitions into honors program.
Lack of extensive music and arts programs.
Rec sports are not run well now. If continue in rec, would need to expand staff.
Canfield Kids staying.
No room for elective type courses…home economics, etc.
Middle Certified Teachers?
Lack of sports programs?
Discipline.
Gifted and Talented program/staff already dedicated in Dover.
Not enough lunch/recess time.
Sheltered
Do choice students have to re-apply for middle school program?
Will there still be same class sizes, 3 rooms per grade?
Scheduling – different levels of math? i.e.: Algebra, Pre-Algebra, etc.
Will there be enough money in the budget for after school activities/sports?
The next 2 years the class sizes are small but the current 4th grade year is almost 60 students. How would that be handled? Especially as a choice school?
How will the school address capacity from a facility stand point?
How much money comes from out of district students?
Will our High School then be Morris Hills?
What will happen to Canfield Kids? (We love CK)
Will we need more lockers?
How will bringing 7th & 8th to CAS affect programs? (Library, Art, etc.)
Will 7th and 8th graders be having lunch with younger students?
Do we continue to be a Choice District for 7th & 8th grade?
How will K-8 model effect school testing for grants, etc.?
Can this be done soon enough for the 5th graders to stay here?
Do you plan to add the gifted and talented program?
Do we need additional janitorial + facilities staff?
Different levels of subjects? i.e. Algebra
Are we adding onto our school?
A.P. classes - will they count for high school credits?
How would a change in superintendents (Dover) affect options?
When will this be finalized so we know when to fill out choice forms?
Is it optional, what if they want to go to Dover?
What has prevented 7 & 8 grade to stay here?
How many years from now?
Foreign Language instruction – will it be treated as a core subject?
How much money is generated from Canfield Kids?
Will CK be discontinued?
Will specials be on carts and moved out of rooms?
What does race have to do with leaving 7-8 grades in CAS?
Foreign language instruction – will it be treated as a core subject?
Will the test scores/ranking go down when choice kids leave?
How does this decision become final?
Is it true there is over crowing in Dover?
Does this affect our Pre-K program? Will it be continued or sourced out?
Will our taxes increase?
Will the go to high school be Morris Hills?
Teachers must be certified in each subject in middle school? Budget does not seem large enough to allow for new staff?
Will we need more teachers?
What about 9-12 grades? Can we align with one school for 7-12 other than Dover?
What after school programs? Track, cross country, debate club…
Languages for 7-8? Every day?
How long will lunch recess be for 7th & 8th graders?
Library for 5-6, 7-8?
What is the actual cost savings? There is a cost to keep the students in Mine Hill what is the cost differential?
Will gifted and talented be planned?
Make a deal with another school for High School as well. Will result in more kids moving together, Dover is pulling the community apart.
Will lower classes be combined to make space?
Can the library handle 7th and 8th grade?
Do you plan to add more sports like example, cross country?
Electives – Art, Music, STEM, others?
G&T Program?
Will there still be a 6th grade graduation?
How will you make education comparable to what students would receive at a larger established middle school?
How will this affect class size of lower grades?
What after school programs will there be? What opportunities are there?
Are there enough bathrooms for the additional children?
Will teachers work with High schools, Dover, Morris Hills, Roxbury, etc.? What is the plan?
Is there current research? Looks like the research shows it’s from 1998.
If the first year of a transition is a lost year, wont students be losing 9th grade when grades actually count?
How much will it cost to keep here?
What time would school start and end for the 7th and 8th graders?
Sports and activities; will the programs expand?
Will canfield kids still be here if the school extends to 8th grade?
How many choice student seats available for next year’s 7th grade?
Will the sending receiving relationship with Dover still exist?
Will we have extra activities? i.e. National honor society?
Offsite Officer – Where/Cost?
How will students transition to a large high school from such a small school?
How will you teach math? Different levels? Algebra? Honors/Accelerated?
Will the academic levels be diverse to allow challenge?
Curriculum – How will you teach Language Arts? 2 separate subjects? Combined? Block scheduling? Honors?
Has another school district been approached to see if our 7th and 8th grades can attend there?
K-8 model – How will the transition impact the current 6th grade? Social/emotional development.
Will there be an honors program?
Will 7th and 8th move from subject class to class with the same homeroom children or will they follow more of a high school schedule?
Will this change our high school options?
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