The Hatfield School Committee voted 4-1 to move sixth graders from Hatfield Elementary School to Smith Academy next school year.
Photo credit: Hatfield Community TV
HATFIELD — The Hatfield School Committee approved the shift of sixth graders from Hatfield Elementary School to Smith Academy next school year during its regular meeting on Oct. 21.
According to Hatfield Public Schools Superintendent and Smith Academy Principal Conor Driscoll, the reason for this shift is to better service sixth graders by providing “a more complete middle-school model.”
The district hopes that the shift will also help curb declining enrollment across the school district.
“We can’t see the future, but we would hope that this would have a net positive impact on enrollment,” said Driscoll, regarding the change, which has been talked about with the district since the winter. “Because we have heard from folks who are leaving the district that they are leaving for a more traditional kind of middle school experience.”
According to a survey presented by Driscoll, out of 35 parents and guardians who responded across the district, around 45.8% said they strongly agreed or agreed on moving the sixth-grade students to Smith Academy while 45.7% disagreed or strongly disagreed.
Once narrowed down to third through eighth grade parents however, the support for the move is much more apparent. Out of the 21 third through fifth grade parents/guardians who responded to the survey, 52.3% agreed or strongly agreed with the move while 33% strongly disagreed or disagreed.
The sixth through eighth grade parents that responded had similar splits, according to Driscoll.
“As we zero in closer to the proximity of the change itself when we have, you know, current third, fourth, fifth grade students as well as sixth, seventh, eighth grade students who would be part of that middle school,” Driscoll said. “We see more support for that change than we do the further away you get from it.”
Driscoll added that when he spoke to 24 of the 26 fifth grade families in the district, 33% were strongly in favor of the move, 33% were not in favor and 33% were neither strongly in favor or strongly opposed.
The parents of the younger elementary school children generally disagreed with the move.
The district also solicited comments from survey respondents regarding the change. According to Driscoll, those in favor of the move felt that it would be more beneficial from a social, developmental and academic level.
Others in favor said the move would provide more social and emotional opportunities, that interactions with peers would be more age appropriate, and that the change would lead to more curriculum and instructional benefits.
With Smith Academy currently accommodating grades 7-12 students, some opposed to the change were concerned about adding sixth graders to a mix of older students. Driscoll responded by saying there will be separate corners whenever there are transitions to different classes throughout the day, and there will also be separate classes and lunches and supervision from teachers.
Speaking on other positives regarding the change, Driscoll mentioned the fact that there will be a larger variety of elective opportunities, more electives like art, band, physical education and health, and the possible creation of beginner band in grades 4 and 5 and an intermediate band in grades 6-8.
According to Driscoll, sixth grade students will also be able to participate in middle school sports separate from high school sports, as well as other activities, like field trips.
“I would envision seeing a middle school field trip and a high school field trip so that they have three years of field trips that might rotate at the middle school and four years at the high school,” Driscoll said. “So that we’re still able to offer those experiences but not have the concern about those widespread groups.”
The School Committee voted 4-1 in favor of this shift for sixth graders with only member Adam Sullivan voting no on the change because he argued that there is still a lack of community understanding about the shift, and because he felt it was not the right moment for it.
“We’ve had a number of behavioral issues at the elementary school and the high school over the last couple of years,” Sullivan said. “We have a plan in place to try to get that under better control, but it’s a multiyear plan’ it’s going to take time.”
The other School Committee members were on board for this change to happen.
Member Rebecca Bench, a parent of a fifth grader, said she understands both the positives and the concerns that come with a change as profound as this one, but she supports the change because she found comfort in how great Smith Academy is.
“I understand that by the time you’re getting into sixth grade, it is middle school, you’re a middle schooler,” Bench said. “And so those different opportunities that Smith Academy is offering I think are wonderful. And I think we have a team that will really be able to support our individual students.”
School Committee Chair Christy Boudreau said she has heard almost universal support for the change talking to elementary school teachers, middle school staff and others at Smith Academy.
As someone who supports this change, Boudreau said she based her decision-making off of where sixth grade students feel they belong.
“I still think this should be a student-centered question, and so when I think about 11 and 12-year-olds and where they fit, here’s what resonated with me,” Boudreau said. “Where do they have peers that are most like them? Particularly when you think about puberty, and you think about all of the interests that they have and all of the opportunities that open up when you move to Smith Academy; I think about sport offerings, activities, X blocks; all of that is a better option for them than a ninth year at [Hatfield Elementary School].”
Now that the change passes, Driscoll said the district will use the next several months to prepare next year’s sixth and seventh grade students by scheduling visits to Smith Academy and shadow days to see what the school is like.
Since both fifth and sixth graders this year will move to Smith next year, the district is making sure that this transition is as seamless as possible by working with staff and students.
“I think we can give every effort that we can to make sure that people feel comfortable, even if they were opposed to the shift, that they feel comfortable with the experience they’re going to have,” Driscoll said. “Just making sure that this isn’t a vote or a change that we’re saying it’s for this group; It’s for everyone.”
