The Knox fifth grade class is moving to the middle school this fall. The move was officially approved by the Knox School Board Tuesday. Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart said it will help give students and staff the best learning environment and facilities possible. “We feel that’s critical to this move,” he said, “that when you look at the middle school and that environment, and the facilities that we have there are outstanding, compared to what our fifth graders have here at the elementary.”
He said the move will also maximize the corporation’s tax dollars. “There is no cost in moving fifth grade to KMS, and it saves repair costs for the HVAC units that are failing right now in the old, what I would call, the ‘50s section of our elementary building.”
Reichart added that a recent facilities study found enough extra space at Knox Middle School for another grade level. “We have 640 lockers and we’ll have about 600 kids, approximately, over there, so every student will still have their own lockers,” he explained. “And we will make sure that fifth graders are isolated as much as possible from eighth graders. I know that’s a concern. And finally, if fifth grade students will receive the same education but in a better environment, then let’s do it.”
Reichhart said that when he held an informational meeting for parents, most seemed to be in agreement. “It wasn’t like the board made the decision and now we’re meeting to inform. We were getting their input,” he said. “And if the community says ‘This is not what we want to do,’ then why would we want to do it, if the community says no? But in this case, we have the support of the community, and I think we have the support of most of the parents.”
As for what will happen to the fifth grade’s current space at Knox Elementary School, Reichhart said that will be addressed as the facilities study continues.
