Third referendum video available for viewing

A new video is now available for anyone interested in learning more about moving fifth-graders to the middle schools.

The video addresses points that were brought up by parents during the five engagement sessions that were held in May for community members to learn more about a potential November referendum and the needs of the school district.

The video includes interviews with five staff members: Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services George Mavroulis, Kromrey Middle School Principal Steve Soeteber, Northside Principal Roz Craney, former Kromrey guidance counselor Kathy Nieber-Lathrop and Sunset Ridge fifth-grade teacher Kevin Fisher.

The video is the third one that the district has produced this spring.

A video was released last week that looks at the growing enrollment issues at the elementary level in the school district. That one includes interviews with six staff members: Elm Lawn fourth-grade teacher Chris Conohan; Elm Lawn special education teacher Sue Hunteburg; Sunset Ridge first-grade teacher Wendy Judd; Sunset Ridge second-grade teacher Cheryl Callin; Park head custodian Rodney Esser and Park kindergarten teacher Amy Callies.

The Board of Education is considering placing a referendum question on the November general election ballot. The option the Board is considering would rebuild Kromrey and expand Glacier Creek. It would also move fifth-graders to both middle schools, helping to alleviate the overcrowding at our six elementary schools.

All three videos were produced by the Community Relations department. They were edited by Perry Hibner and MHS media production coordinator Dea Kruger.

Earlier this spring, a video was released detailing the facility issues with Kromrey.

"These are just the first in a number of videos we will be producing,'' Hibner said. "We decided to make multiple, shorter videos rather than one or two all-encompassing videos that went on for quite some time.''

To learn more about the district's facility needs, please visit our Future Facility Plans page. An updated frequently asked questions document about the 5th-8th grade configuration is now available. Another new item is the PowerPoint presentation that was given to anyone who attended one of the five engagement sessions the district held throughout May.