- Springfield Public Schools
- Springfield Public Schools
Redesigning Schools for a Bright Future
A Roadmap for the future of our schools
- Our Schools – Our Future
- Our Schools – Our Future
UPdated November 2024
Springfield is a dynamic community that is deeply supportive of our schools. Over the last three years, we have collected a wide variety of feedback about the future of our schools. The biggest commonality is a clear desire for an educational system designed for students. Over the last twenty years, our community has seen wonderful changes. Most significantly, new development and a strong real estate market have shifted where our students are living, making our current school alignment and zones challenging.
In March of 2023, we passed a significant referendum to support investment in school infrastructure. In September 2024 we completed the first phase of the realignment and provided more preschool seats. As look toward the second phase, it is clear that we have the opportunity to make critical shifts in how our schools are utilized, with the continued goal of providing more early childhood classrooms, specialized learning spaces, and better class size balance. This website provides an overview of the changes proposed, the timelines, and how we will support families during a phased approach to our work ahead.
Message from your Superintendent
Dr. Rachel Goldberg
Superintendent
Caldwell & Sandmeier will shift to include the following classrooms: 2 PreK, 2 Kinder, 2 Grade 3 with grades 4 & 5 continuing
Phase I: 2024-2025
Our schools
our future
The school realignment process will take place over two years, allowing us to take a measured approach to changing the school configuration. At the end of the process, our students will have fewer transitions in the elementary years and we will be providing a more thoughtful approach to using our school buildings and learning spaces.
Phase II: 2025-2026
Caldwell and Sandmeier will serve grades PreK-4
Walton will serve grades PreK-4, and will provide specialized learning for
English language learners, and PK-4 self-contained students with disabilities
FMG: Grades 5-7, with a separate 5th Grade Academy, and a grade-level
lunches
JDHS: Grades 8-12, with a designated 8th Grade Academy with specific
learning areas, bathrooms, and a separate lunch schedule
Walton will shift to include the following classrooms:
4 Prek (Inclusion), 3 Kinder, 7 Grade 1, 7 Grade 2, 3 Grade 3
Overview of Proposal
No changes at FMG or JDHS
COMPleTE
better utilization of spaces
Providing our students with a consistent PK-4 community will support our students social-emotional growth, and provides famlies with consistency. We are eliminating a significant transition, so that we can better support students throughout their academic career in Springfield Public Schools.
stronger student experiences
Why the Change is Needed
Jonathan Dayton High School was designed as a regional high school, with space for over 1,000 students. De-regionalized over twenty years ago, JDHS supports approximately 650 students annually. Florence M. Gaudineer Middle School served students in grades 5-8 for many years and has space for over 800 students. In both buildings, there is a significant amount of space that is under utilized.
At the same time, our elementary schools are bursting at the seams, and we anticipate having to make ongoing shifts of district lines and staffing shifts to accommodate the anticipated needs. Now is the time to rethink how we use our spaces in a way that will benefit our students for the years ahead.
We have beautiful spaces to support student learning, we need to use them more effectively across the district.
Current Attendance Zones
Caldwell
Sandmeier
Current Student Transitions
PreK4 at Sandmeier
PREK4-Grade 2
Walton
Grades 3-5
Grades 3-5
Caldwell
Sandmeier
Grades 6-8
Gaudineer Middle School
Grades 9-12
Jonathan dayton high school
Students Identified English Language learners
Students With Disabilities in self contained classrooms
Proposed Attendance Zones
PK4-Grade 4
Caldwell
PK4-Grade 4
Sandmeier
PK4-Grade 4
walton
GrADES 5-7
Gaudineer Middle School
GRADES 8-12
Jonathan dayton high school
Students Identified English Language learners
Students With Disabilities in self contained classrooms
Proposed Student Transitions
What to Expect for Your Student
Phase I: 2024-2025
Pre-K
PreK Early Intervention students will attend Walton. PreK4 will be placed in their home school whenever possible and will be provided priority for home school seats, they may be placed in another school if there is a larger cohort. PreK3 students will be placed in their home school when possible but may be placed at another school based on seat availability.
8 Classrooms
10 Classrooms
Kinder
Kindergarten students will be placed in their new home school, based on the revised zones. They will not transition out of their home school through Grade 4.
Based on enrollment
Gr 1
7 Classrooms*
Based on enrollment
Students will remain at Walton, regardless of zone
Students in the Walton zone will remain at Walton, otherwise they will transition in Grade 2 to their new zoned school where they will remain through Grade 4
Gr 2
2024 Entering GRade
7 Classrooms*
Students will transition to FMG for middle school
GR 5
7 Classrooms*
Students will remain in their current school
Students will transition to FMG for middle school through grade 7
Gr 6
Gr 6
Students will remain at FMG and transition in the following year
Gr 7
GR 7
Students will remain at FMG
Students will transition to the 8th Grade Academy at JDHS
Gr 8
Gr 8
Students will remain at FMG
Students will transition to JDHS and become JDHS graduates!
Gr 9-12
GR 3
7 Classrooms*
Based on enrollment
Students will transition to their new zoned school
Students will remain in their new zoned school
Gr 4
Gr 4
7 Classrooms*
Students will remain in their current school
Students will enter into a Grade 5 Academy at FMG and remain through grade 7
Gr 5
Based on enrollment
Gr 2
7 Classrooms*
Based on enrollment
Students will remain at Walton, regardless of zone
Students in the Walton zone will remain at Walton, otherwise, they will transition in Grade 3 to their new zoned school where they will remain through Grade 4
Gr 3
2024 Entering GRade
Eligibility for transport will change for families in all of the zones, with the most significant changes occurring for families in the Sandmeier and Caldwell zones in the 25-26 school year. Students eligible for transportation due to their IEP will not be impacted.
This shift will allow the district to better utilize our busses, resulting in significant cost savings, allowing our funds to go to our classrooms.
Transportation
School start Times
What Other Impacts Can We Expect?
Start times will be adjusted across the district to ensure families and busses have sufficient time to navigate across town. We expect to have this announced before June, based on a review of all transportation needs across the district.
In 2024-2025 Middle School and High School start times will remain the same. We have an opportunity to study start times in secondary grades, however current transportation requirements mean the current times will be in effect in the 24-25 school year.
Before & After Care
We will continue to provide before and after care at our elementary schools. We will review the options and community interest in supporting fifth graders next year.
Join us to learn about this proposal
See the link
See the schedule for the 24-25 School Year
Springfield Residents Only, ID may be required
Online Community Forum
Date Pending
Join the Zoom Meeting!
Research that Informs Change
Resources that frame our intiative
Contact Us For More Information
Check our website and socials to stay up to date or contact us with questions.
973-376-1025
Phone
ourfuture@springfieldschools.com