Elementary Reconfigruation

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are we shifting to 3 elementary schools?
The enrollment and utilization report from RSP clearly shows a decline in enrollment and under-utilization of our buildings. With fewer students enrolling, the district is facing a major funding gap, and this step helps address that challenge while keeping resources focused where students need them most. A shift to 3 elementaries will allow us to more effectively support students by increasing access to shared resources and staff and also ensure equity in class sizes across the district.

Why is Eisenhower the Elementary School that is being repurposed?
The Board thoroughly evaluated all of the buildings to determine which path to take. Ultimately, Eisenhower was named because the combination of LES, RES, and WES provides enough space to transition to 3 elementary schools for SY2026/27 and also allows the Eisenhower site to be repurposed into the Middle School, which is what the Board named as their long-range plan.

What school will my student go to next year?
We are working with our demographer partner, RSP Associates, to update our district boundaries to reflect a 3 Elementary school system and will share that information as soon as possible. Because this process will be district-wide, students may be assigned to a different elementary school than the one they currently attend. Boundary updates take time, and we want to make sure the changes are thoughtful and accurate. Once proposed boundaries are ready, we will share them with families along with more information about the transition process.

Will the same services, programs, and support be provided?
Yes, our driving motivation behind this change is to ensure that all students continue to have access to the amazing programs like art, music, and physical education they have today. This adjustment will allow us to better align support staff, like paraeducators, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists, to most effectively support students.

All existing Individualized Education Programs, 504 plans, medical plans, and other accommodations will transfer with students to their new home schools and staff will work to ensure a smooth transition.

What is happening with the staff?
There are no plans, beyond natural attrition, to downsize our workforce at this time. Realignment and reorganization will be district-wide, which means we will conduct data-gathering to determine grade level or subject area preferences from all elementary staff and then work to build the 3 best teams possible. The priority and goal will be to ensure we have staff where students most need them, and the reconfiguration should help us better align our special education support positions to meet students' IEP needs and create efficiencies that benefit all students.

I have specific concerns about my student’s needs. How can I make sure they are being addressed?
We understand that each student has unique needs and many families will have specific concerns. We encourage you to use the form linked below to share those with us. 

https://forms.gle/7DR9zY8euTAq6ScP7

The form is designed to give families a simple way to let us know about specific concerns related to your student’s learning, services, safety, or overall school experience. By collecting this information, our team can make sure your questions are directed to the right staff members and addressed in a timely, consistent way.

Please note:

• Submit one form per student.
  This helps us make sure the correct school team receives the right information.

• You may submit more than one form if you have multiple concerns or concerns across different categories.

• We ask for your patience. We may not have all the answers immediately, but submitting your concerns here helps us keep track and ensures that a staff member will follow up with you.

Our goal is to support your child and partner with you. Your feedback is important, and we appreciate you taking the time to share it. Let us know how we can help.

What will class sizes be?
The configuration will have the ability to have 6 or 7 sections across each grade level. The “extra” 7th sections will be assigned for bigger cohorts. For instance, next year’s 1st grade has 140 students, so having 7 sections would mean 20/class, whereas 2nd grade will have 112, so 6 sections would mean 18-19/class.

Why is this being planned before the bond election? Why can't this wait until the plan is definite?
The long-range plan for McPherson Public Schools is definite. The Board took action to transition to 3 elementary schools, beginning next year. This action is needed due to declining enrollment and the corresponding decrease the district has seen. That change is independent of a bond. The Board also approved a long-range facility plan that identifies the Eisenhower site as the home for the Middle School in the future, which means it's the logical choice to transition away from as an elementary school at this juncture.