A distinct disconnect emerged regarding Option 6 (Three large K–6 schools). While leaders acknowledged it creates the "greatest cost savings" and is "ultimately the most sustainable model" financially, they deemed it less sustainable for human leadership , ranking it lower than Option 5. ● Principal Capacity: Leaders argued that Option 6 is "not a sustainable model" for administration. They cited "barriers to a principal getting into classrooms" and feared that managing ~900 students plus multiple Special Education programs would limit a principal's ability to be an "instructional leader," forcing them to become merely a manager. ● Organizational Breakdown: There was concern that such a large structure would lead to "organizational breakdown," creating a scale of school structure so "inconsistent with community expectations" that it would be too much to manage effectively.
4.3. Structural Shifts vs. Short-Term Trims (Options 3 & 4)
Respondents viewed Options 3 and 4 as temporary fixes rather than systemic solutions. While they admitted these options are "simplest" and "least disruptive operationally" in Year 1 because they are "familiar," they were criticized for failing to solve the underlying issues. ● Lack of Flexibility: Leaders noted that maintaining the status quo (minus one school) "sets us up to have the same lack of flexibility in the future," potentially requiring the district to "do this work again" later. ● Mere Cuts: One leader summarized the sentiment by stating that Options 3 and 4 "just make trims in funding and aren't really a financial shift," whereas Option 5 offers a true opportunity to look at "efficiencies differently.”
4.4. Option 5, v2 as a Strategic Bridge
Option 5, v2 was described by some as the "sweet spot" or a necessary transition model.
● Twin School Efficiency: Because the grade-banded schools would occupy "twin buildings" (Boardwalk and PDB), leaders noted that students stay in the same physical environment K–6, which adds to operational efficiency (busing, scheduling) without the massive scale of a single K–6 entity. ● Future Proofing: One respondent suggested that Option 5, v2 is the prudent choice now, but could actually serve as a "transition model" to Option 6 several years down the road if finances necessitate further consolidation. It allows the district to "shift our culture" while keeping school sizes manageable for now.
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