PEORIA, IL -- When activist Terry Knapp stood to comment at the Jan. 28 Peoria School District 150 meeting, at first all he could say was "Oh, wow!"
That's because school administrators had just revealed a plan to restructure south Peoria schools, to make Harrison a K-4 school. Trewyn a middle school with grades 5-8, and Manual High School a high school with grades 9 - 12. It now includes grades 7-8 and is called an 'academy.'
That hasn't worked well, administrators said, and students need a 'middle school experience.' The 7th and 8th grades at Manual are "struggling." In addition, resources can be better directed to academics in the schools, such as requiring all children to read at grade levels, they said.
Board member Dan Walther noted that no teachers or parents have been consulted on the changes. Their input is needed, he said, a point echoed by teacher Kim Thomas who also commented during the public comment period.
"Teachers know what's best for kids," she said, adding she "had no idea" the changes were being proposed. The school district has "no transparency," she added.
Knapp generally favored the changes, but he said Manual needs more students to have viable sports and music programs, while Peoria High School is overcrowded. Manual might turn into a "ghost town," he said.
Previous (school) boards made bad decisions," Knapp said. That resulted in teacher turnover at Manual, so that experienced teachers left, and first and second year teachers now are in the majority at the school, he said.
I watched the board meeting via streaming on the board website, and it worked.
-- Elaine Hopkins
Here's the Journal Star's story on the school changes.
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