The administration’s recommendation, drafted by Glen Szymoniak, KPBSD assistant superintendent, and approved by Superintendent Donna Peterson outlined four options for the board to consider:
A. Add kindergarten, first- and second-grades to Fireweed Academy and house them at WHES.
B. Provide four classrooms at WHES and increase Fireweed’s enrollment from 62 to 90.
C. Increase the number of rooms utilized at WHES to five classrooms.
D. Add grades nine-12 and house 30 students in two classrooms at Homer Middle School.
“The administration recommends the board approve B above. This will provide four classrooms for 90 third- through seventh-grade Fireweed students at West Homer. The administration does not recommend the board approve A, C or D above. There is not sufficient evidence to indicate Fireweed has a comprehensive plan for expanding into grades K-2 and grades 9-12. Also, it appears that the Homer Middle School site council and the public are not convinced that the proposed changes will be advantageous to all parties involved. The district’s intent is for PTR (pupil:teacher ratio) at Fireweed Academy to closely resemble that at the housing school,” the recommendation reads.
With regard to the PTR, Szymoniak said it is the administration’s intent to not crowd neighborhood schools.
“If there’s room available to be used as a science room, the school should be able to use that as opposed to giving it to a charter school so they can reduce their PTR,” he said. “We’re not going to be freely giving up space so someone else can have lower class sizes when the district can utilize that (space).”
Fireweed Academy’s request will be discussed during the board’s work session Monday afternoon, during which time Szymoniak plans to offer Fireweed, WHES and HMS administrators the opportunity to address the board.
“Then after I have a chance to explain the recommendation, it will allow time for the oversight committee and the board to ask questions,” Szymoniak said.
A decision by the board is scheduled for the evening meeting.
“The board will get to take action however they deem appropriate,” Szymoniak said.
Summarizing the administration’s proposal, Szymoniak said, “Fireweed Academy can grow, have a nice facility to do education and provide another option for parents. The district and school board are trying to make sure all kids have equitable and quality education. This gives everybody a good place to land.”
McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky@homernews.com.
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