Posted Friday, March 12, 2010 --- 8:50 a.m.

From NBC15's News Partner: The Herald-Independent

By Adam Mella
Managing Editor

Citing administrative and staff recommendations, the Monona Grove School Board approved a measure to consolidate all 6th graders at Glacial Drumlin Middle School starting next fall.

The March 10 vote will transfer two sections of 6th graders from Winnequah School to Glacial Drumlin, improving educational opportunities and district efficiency.

The change is also expected to save the district some money during tough budgetary times, although exact numbers will not be known until next year’s master schedule is completed.

The meeting at Winnequah school drew a large crowd on a foggy night in Monona, and many frustrated residents spoke against the plan and another, unrelated proposal, to close Maywood school, which the board is scheduled to vote on at their March 24 meeting, along with other sizable cuts needed to balance the budget.

“I believe educationally, our 6th graders, within the middle school concept, belong in the same building,” said Superintendent Craig Gerlach during the meeting. He reiterated that the current system, which requires shared teachers who travel between schools, is very inefficient. He asked the board for a decision that evening so that district staff could begin working on the new master schedule, which is a very complex process.

Board President Susan Fox agreed with the need to consolidate 6th graders. “One of the reasons I opposed the referendum initially was because it split the 6th graders,” said Fox. “I said, if you’re going to do this, do it right. Put them all in a middle school.”

Glacial Drumlin Principal Renee Tennant testified that she felt consolidating the 6th graders at her school was the right thing to do. “Having 6th graders together will make it a stronger program,” said Tennant, reinforcing the district’s commitment to providing a strong middle school program.

She added that the current system requires administration and staff to “bend over backwards to ensure equitable programming in both communities.”