By Carol Britton Meyer

Discussion of the potential consolidation of Hull’s school system continued this week, with the elementary and high school building principals offering ideas for how to transition middle school students into a two-building setup, with grades preK-7 at the Jacobs School and grades 8-12 at the high school.

Superintendent of Schools Judith Kuehn presented “thoughts, plans, ideas, and possibilities” for the potential reconfiguration, following the school committee’s earlier decision to accept the recommendation of the Best Educational Use of School Facilities Ad Hoc Committee.

The school committee may discuss and vote at its next meeting on whether to move forward with this plan, and the timing for implementation.

The concept would leave the Memorial Middle School building open to municipal and other educational uses. Whatever the outcome, the school committee would maintain control of the building. One of the key goals of the consolidation plan is “ensuring the safety of students,” Kuehn said.

Jacobs Elementary Principal Kyle Shaw talked about the possible reconfiguration in that building, while realignment at Hull High School was presented by Principal Michael Knybel.

The guiding principle behind all decisions continues to be “What is in the best interests of our students?” Kuehn said. “This plan is a work in progress.”

The committee’s discussions are in keeping with the purpose of the Best Educational Use of School Facilities report by the MARS Group, which was charged with evaluating the educational adequacy of Hull’s three school buildings.

As part of a two-phase plan, Kuehn explained the proposed one-year location of grades: Current grade 5 students who would normally go on to the middle school would remain at Jacobs for that year, meaning that grades PreK through 6 would be at Jacobs, grades 7 and 8 at Memorial, and grades 9 through 12 at the high school, with advance notice provided to grade 5 students and families and preparation of Grade 5 students for remaining at Jacobs for an additional year.

During this transition year, detailed plans would be crafted for the reconfiguration, input sought from all educators, school leadership would foster relationships with grade 7 and 8 educators and professional development would be provided. HHS administrators and guidance counselors would prepare seventh- and eighth-graders to help them transition to the high school.

Under a potential reconfiguration, “Lower School” preK-3 students would utilize the first floor of Jacobs under the guidance of a principal and assistant principal. The “Upper School” would consist of grades 4-7 in a middle school/upper elementary configuration, under the guidance of an assistant principal. The start and end times would be moved back, and the curriculum alignment strengthened, with increased collaboration and continuity with student support services.

This would mean one fewer transition and a shift in staffing, with additional course offerings such as engineering and band for grades 4 and 5 and foreign language for grades 6 and 7, as possibilities.

Also at Jacobs, a student mentoring program would be offered, along with increased staffing and expanded extracurricular offerings and continuing traditions such as Nature’s Classroom, the rowing program, assemblies, read-a-thons, student government, the Turkey Trot, dances, concerts, and band performances.

Hull High School would have a principal and an assistant principal, with four core classrooms. Under the plan, there would be no reason for grade 8 to use the second floor.

The students would benefit from a strengthened curriculum, increased academic enrichment and remediation, project-based learning, the ability for eighth-graders to participate in the woodshop program, and a moving back of the start and end times for grade 8-12 students, administrators said.

All past transitional experiences will remain to celebrate the students, with additional new activities and celebrations.

Kuehn explained that the final reconfiguration plan, if the school committee decides to implement it, “will be remarkable” because the school district “has creative educators and leaders, can imagine and plan for possibilities, is resourceful, has committed families, demonstrates willingness to invest their time, and always puts students first.”