Lenoir County Public Schools could face an overhaul if discussions about the possibility of more K-8 schools come to fruition — and they could come to our county as early as next fall.
Superintendent Stephen Mazingo said discussions began in the spring among members of the School Improvement Task Force, which includes school board members, county commissioners, teachers and administrators.
“It really came out in discussion that parents are very hesitant about their children transitioning from fifth grade to a middle school,” Mazingo said.
Mazingo said converting elementary schools to K-8 is just one of several ideas to improve education. He said other ideas include a “career type” academy.
“We think we can serve our students better and we think the parents will be happy with what we do.” Mazingo said, “That’s what it really comes down to.”
Lenoir County School Board member Merwyn K. Smith said converting K-8 schools are just one of many ideas being floated around, but no action can be taken until the measure is brought before the school board.
C.L. Braxton, another school board member, said while he is not on the committee, he has heard rumblings about more K-8 schools.
He cited Contentnea-Savannah, the only current K-8 school in Lenoir County, as a “model school.”
“I’m sure they will use in their evaluation in making a decision based on the way that school has functioned,” Braxton said.
Reactions among parents were mixed. Some saw the convenience factor, but concerns lay with exposing younger kids to older influences. For instance, with the close proximity of La Grange Elementary and Frink Middle School in relation to each other geographically, combining the schools into a K-8 school wouldn’t be too hard.
Gerald Suggs, a parent in La Grange, sees K-8 as a positive.
“I would be in favor of it,” Suggs said. “It keeps everybody together longer.”
Ben Rouse, 11, a sixth grader a Frink Middle School, said he enjoyed a previous experience with a K-8 school.
“When I was at Bethel Christian Academy, it was K-8,” Rouse said. “It was fine with me.”
Amanda Summerlin, a parent in La Grange, said she would be concerned about elementary age kids being affected by conversations among their middle school counterparts.
“They may be separated as far as their hallways, but if they are riding the buses together they can hear things that the middle school kids talk about,” Summerlin said.
Mazingo said the transition could come as early as next fall, but it will depend on how planning goes.
He said he will make a presentation on ideas to improve education at the next monthly school board meeting on Oct. 7.
Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Noah.Clark@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nclark763.
