GWINN, Mich. (WZMQ) – Elementary school students in Gwinn will change where they go to school next year.
Monday night the Gwinn Area Community Schools voted unanimously to adopt a center school model. The idea has been 8 years in the making for the school district which is trying to address declining enrollment.
The new system will move kindergarten through 2nd grade students at K-I Sawyer Elementary and 3rd through 5th grade students at Gilbert Elementary.
Superintendent Dr. Sara Croney says consolidating grades to the same building will allow students to receive better instruction and prevent merging of grades to the same classroom. According to Croney the change is the best temporary solution for the school district.
“What I love about the center schools is through attrition, we have some retirements, we are able to right size, so at the thirds, fourth, and fifth grade we only need three teachers, we do not need four,” remarked Croney.
Croney says the school district is still pursuing a central campus initiative which failed to secure a bond in November. Croney says a survey will be sent to Gwinn residents in the coming months so the district can best determine what residents want.
