Last month Middletown schools Superintendent Marlon Styles Jr. saw his plans to expand Central Academy and move a grade to Highview 6th Grade Center rejected by unanimous vote by board members, some of whom complained they were surprised with details and the scope of the $10 million plan.
In response, Styles delayed any proposed projects and told the board his district administrative team would launch a reach-out program to gauge school parents’ and residents’ opinions as to how the district should handle overcrowding at its elementary schools.
School staffers at each of the district’s seven elementary schools are also invited to share their opinions at the public meetings, school officials said.
“The district has identified addressing enrollment and space concerns in our elementary buildings as a priority,” said Middletown schools spokesperson Elizabeth Beadle.
“We have an ongoing commitment to find a solution that will ensure we bring the appropriate amount of space relief at each of our elementary schools.
Beadle said meeting participants are not restricted to attending meetings only involving their neighborhood school. A report of the accumulated community input will be shared with the school board, she said.
All the meetings start at 6:30 p.m. and meetings at Amanda and Rosa Parks schools have already been held.
The remaining meetings are: Feb. 28 at Mayfield Elementary; March 7 at Wildwood Elementary; March 12 at Central Academy; March 13 at Miller Ridge Elementary and March 14 at Creekview Elementary.
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