News Summary
The Shaler Area School District is set to hold a community forum to discuss its proposed plan, ‘Building for Tomorrow,’ which includes closing the Shaler Area Elementary School. The plan aims to realign grades for enhanced learning by shifting fourth and fifth grades to existing primary schools and moving sixth grade to the middle school. Community engagement is encouraged as the district navigates these changes, ensuring minimal disruption for students and families.
Shaler, PA – The Shaler Area School District will host a community forum on Monday, September 29, at 6 p.m. in the auditorium at Shaler Area High School to discuss the proposed plan titled “Building for Tomorrow.” This plan includes the closure of Shaler Area Elementary School located on Scott Avenue, which currently serves students in fourth through sixth grades. The district intends to sell the property for redevelopment.
The realignment plan proposes several key changes to the current grade structure. Fourth and fifth grades will be shifted to the district’s four primary schools: Burchfield, Marzolf, Reserve, and Scott, which currently house kindergarten through third grade. Sixth grade will move to Shaler Area Middle School, where seventh and eighth grades are located. This restructuring aims to allow students to remain in one school from kindergarten through fifth grade, minimizing transitions and enhancing both learning and social development while maintaining a neighborhood identity in the primary schools.
These changes come amid community discussions regarding the closure of Shaler Area Elementary and Reserve Primary School, with some residents expressing opposition to the closure of Reserve. However, the Shaler Area School District remains committed to preserving Burchfield, Marzolf, Reserve, and Scott as K-5 neighborhood elementary schools. Importantly, no students will be transferred to the elementary school for the 2026-27 school year, ensuring that rising fourth graders can continue at their neighborhood schools.
The timeline for the transitions will also be phased to ensure that families experience stability. Starting in June 2027, rising sixth and seventh-grade students will shift directly to the middle school, allowing the district ample time to prepare for necessary instructional programming and staffing adjustments.
An additional consideration within the plan is the future of the swimming pool at Shaler Area Elementary School. A decision regarding the pool will need to be made in the next two years, with options including evaluating costs and benefits, considering future locations for a district pool, and exploring rental opportunities for student-athletes. The swimming pool will remain open until the end of 2027.
Residents who have questions about the proposed plan or the upcoming community forum are encouraged to call 412-429-1200, ext. 2801. For those unable to attend the forum, a recording will be made available on the district’s website following the event.
This discourse is essential as it reflects the district’s broader efforts to enhance educational experiences for students in the Shaler Area while also considering the need for community engagement in making decisions that affect local schools.
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Additional Resources
- TribLive: Shaler Area Plan Calls for Closing Elementary School
- Wikipedia: Shaler Area School District
- TribLive: Board Hopefuls Vying for Seats in Shaler Area School District
- Google Search: Shaler Area School District
- TribLive Community: Monroeville Times Express
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Pennsylvania
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