Mville, Lincolnwood schools look to combine resources
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MORRISONVILLE — In the fall of the 2020-2021 school year the boards of education from the Morrisonville and Panhandle School Districts approved the formation of a joint reorganization committee to explore the potential to work more closely together academically. The school boards directed the commit- tee to research possible reorganization options between Morrisonville and Panhandle School Districts and develop a report and recommendations for the boards in the fall of 2021. Upon review and approval by each board, the question would be presented to the public at an upcoming election.
Since it’s creation, the joint reorganization committee has met multiple times to review possible options and begin to develop information to present to the school boards this coming fall. The committee’s presentation this fall will include information about option of a deactivation within each district to combine resources and improve academic opportunities for all students in both districts.
If approved by voters in each district, a dual deactivation would allow each school district to retain their district boundaries, buildings, Pre-K through fifth grade schools, and their individual school boards of education. Morrisonville would house the middle school students for both school districts, and Lincolnwood would house all high school students for both school districts.
The dual deactivation proposal will provide more academic opportunities that will benefit students in both school districts. The dual deactivation will allow middle school students opportunities to participate in additional electives in the areas of art, computer science, and voca- tional classes. The increased number of sections for core classes in English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies will allow more flexibility within a stu- dent’s schedule to take middle school electives that might interest them. Students at the middle school will also have the opportunity for career exploration before they begin high school at Lincolnwood.
Under dual deactivation, high school students would take classes at Lincolnwood High School in Raymond. Like the middle school in Morrisonville, the high school will have additional class sections for each of the core subjects students are required to take while in high school. The combined increase in student population; both Morrisonville and Panhandle students will be able to take advantage of more electives and career pathway courses which currently may not be available to students in the individual districts.
A combined high school will allow Morrisonville students to take advantage of more than forty additional courses which are currently offered at Lincolnwood. Many of those courses are vocational, dual credit, and/or college courses that are available on campus or offered within the region. Lincolnwood students will be able to take advantage of advanced science courses, computer science, and business courses which have been offered in Morrisonville. A combined high school will provide students with the ability to choose between increased electives, explore career pathways while in high school, and potentially graduate high school having already achieved college credits toward a college degree.
There is still much work to be completed prior to a full presentation to the school boards this fall, but the committee’s desire is to inform the public regarding what a dual deactivation could mean for both school districts and provide details regarding the increased academic possibili- ties for all students in middle and high school if a dual deactivation were to be approved by school boards and the voters of both districts.
