District charts consolidation transition

Millington Elementary Principal Kris Hemstetter appeared before the Board of Education Monday with Title I Supervisor Lloyd Taylor to discuss transition activities.

Hemstetter said transition efforts are currently underway, including each school’s usual end-of-year celebrations, such as picnics, spring flings and movie nights.

“So it’s nice for that community to kind of create that closure with the PTA as we are moving into these countywide and school transition events,” Hemstetter said.

A transition committee was established including Hemstetter and Taylor, along with the other four elementary school principals, the PTA presidents of each elementary school, the organizers of the Support Our Schools group and Gina Jachimowicz, the district’s supervisor of elementary education.

Hemstetter spoke about efforts past and planned to keep parents abreast of the changes in the elementary schools. She said issues are being addressed ranging from what to do with the playground equipment at the schools being closed to transitioning special education students to new schools.

According to Hemstetter’s presentation, there will be opportunities for in-person and virtual tours of the elementary schools over the summer. She said a Back to School Fair is slated for Aug. 7, offering a wide range of information for families and the opportunities for them to engage with staff.

“So we’re very excited about that. That’s something new,” Hemstetter said of the fair, crediting Garnet Principal Brenda Rose for coming up with the idea.

Hemstetter was part of a meet-and-greet bus tour district staff participated in when the middle schools were consolidated about seven years ago. She said there are plans to do that tour again this fall, giving staff a chance to get out and talk with people in the community.

Taylor spoke about how consolidation is opening new doors for Galena Elementary as it will become a Title I school. That means it will receive federal support to aid qualifying students in reading and math assistance.

Hemstetter said Title I provides for learning enrichment services as well as student interventions.

With the addition of Galena Elementary, which is still in the works but expected to be approved by August, all of the district’s elementary schools and Kent County Middle School will be Title I.

“That means every child in Kent County who is in need of extra reading or math assistance from one of our tutors, academic coaches or interventionists will receive that help,” Taylor said, adding that Kent County will be the only district in the state able to offer Title I services to every elementary and middle school student.

Board President Trish McGee said it was good to hear that all students will be eligible for the same programs and services now.

Board members also praised the Support Our Schools organizers for their efforts during the consolidation process.

Organizer Rebecca Heriz-Smith spoke at the meeting to promote the group’s Random Acts of Kindness campaign, which aims to raise $5,000 by the end of the month. The money will be used to help schools that have paid out of pocket for meals and field trips for students who could not otherwise afford them.

Heriz-Smith is confident they will reach their goal. She said Monday night that they already raised $843.

“That’s money that our schools didn’t have a week and a day ago,” Heriz-Smith said. “They’ll get it at the end of the month.”

Donation cans are being placed around the county. Information about making an online donation can be found on the group’s website, kcpssos.com.

“I know I’ll contribute and I hope everyone will,” said board member Wendy Costa.

McGee spoke about how the Support Our Schools organizers began as opponents of consolidation. She said the group “is one of the best things that came out of the consolidation angst of the last two years.”

“We needed people to make us think and articulate and explain why we were doing the things we did. And you guys held us accountable, which I think is great,” McGee said.

She praised the Random Acts of Kindness campaign. She recognized that the group and the board will not always be on the same side, but said they can work together to do what is best for the district.