Primary school buildings in the New Kensington-Arnold School District could look different in two years.
According to Superintendent Christopher Sefcheck, the school board’s Education Committee will meet next week to consider a plan that would place:
• kindergarten and first grade at Martin Elementary
• second and third grades at H.D. Berkey
• make Roy A. Hunt a fourth through sixth grade building.
Currently, Martin is kindergarten only, H.D. Berkey houses first and second graders and Roy A. Hunt has students from third through sixth grades.
The committee will meet at 6 p.m. Jan 21 at the Valley Jr.-Sr. High Board Room, 703 Stevenson Blvd.
If there is consensus, the matter will be placed on a February school board meeting agenda to start the process of realignment, Sefcheck said.
If approved, realignment wouldn’t take place until the 2027-28 school year, he said.
Sefcheck believes the reconfiguration has academic benefits for students.
Students in kindergarten and first grade would be able to share resources like reading and math specialists, Sefcheck said.
“The transition from kindergarten to first grade is instrumental to their educational path,” he said.
Students would also be more familiar with school, Sefcheck said.
“There will be more consistency,” he said.
Sefcheck also anticipates there will be better preparation for state assessment tests among the older elementary students by having second and third grades in the same building.
If the buildings are realigned, six to eight additional classrooms at Martin would have to be built, Sefcheck said. There would be no major renovations to Berkey or Hunt.
Sefcheck does not anticipate any staff hirings or reductions because of the realignment. Staff would be reorganized to meet student needs and enrollment trends where appropriate, he said.
