WESTPORT — Westport High School student Hudson Stephens feels strongly that the newly merged Westport and Elizabethtown-Lewis central schools should put the elementary grades in one facility.

“I grew up in Westport with the same 15 students and love them all dearly, but I would have loved to have had 15 more,” he said.

Stephens also thinks the high-school grades should be in Westport due to the proximity of Camp Dudley, which provides soccer and track facilities.

Also, he said, Westport needs the high school there more than does Elizabethtown.

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Study recommends

The initial merger study had proposed that each school keep the elementary students, with the junior high situated in Westport and senior high in Elizabethtown.

At the board’s first meeting, it was suggested that perhaps the elementary grades should be consolidated in one building.

That brought lots of feedback during two public comment sessions at the new board’s second meeting.

About 40 members of the public attended.

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Building-use options

Westport Superintendent Josh Meyer presented information on two building-use options and the rationale for each.

¯ Option 1: Westport would hold prekindergarten through grade 6 and all seventh- and eighth-graders. Elizabethtown would house prekindergarten through grade 6 and grades 9 through 12.

¯ Advantages: Follows the merger study recommendation, keeps 4- through 11-year-old students closer to home.

¯ Disadvantages: Regular communication among teachers would be lacking; there would be two principals spending time with both the K through grade 6 and grade 7 through 12 curricula; more time would be spent on accountability.

¯ Option 2: Westport would house all of grade 7 through 12; Elizabethtown would have all prekindergarten through grade-6.

¯ Advantages: Maximizes efficiencies; there would be more collaboration among pre-K through grade 6 teachers; having grade 7 through 12 departments on one campus would create more collaboration and more elective opportunities; there would be minimal travel between campuses; principals would be able to focus on prekindergarten through grade 6 or 7 through 12; there would be immediate integration of students; all students would experience just one transition; there would be more efficient extracurricular activities and athletics; and there would be more options for students.

¯ Disadvantages: Some 4- through 11-year old students would be farther from home than with a split elementary.

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Fewest transition

It was pointed out that the Merger Advisory Study was non-binding and other options could be considered.

In his presentation, Meyer said, “Option 2 is the best way to maximize the potential efficiencies of merging and provide stronger academic programming.

“All students will be with their grade-level counterparts from the beginning, meaning that there will be the fewest possible transitions,” he continued. “There will be more curricular and extracurricular options for all students.

“Faculty will have unprecedented opportunities for collaboration. Minimal faculty will be shared between buildings.

“Administrators can narrow their focus.”

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Explore new facility

Another consideration is student transportation. An evaluation, most likely using 911 house numbers, will be made, the board determined.

Board President Phillip Mero indicated that whatever decisions are made will be in what the board considers the best interests of the students.

“It may be hasty to deviate from the study recommendations, said Jason Welch, a current WCS Board member.

“We should analyze this and look into the potential for building a new facility and explore the financial advantages as well as what’s best for the kids.”

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Look at all options

Amy Welch, a parent and WCS first-grade teacher, felt they should “investigate all the options before merging the elementary.”

Sheera Broderick, mother of two WCS graduates, said she voted for the merger based on the findings in the report.

“There are more important things on the agenda than this,” she said.

She was also concerned about what will happen with, for example, the fact that there will be four English teachers.

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Won’t please all

Ryan Hathaway, a parent and member of the Merger Committee, urged the board, “to focus on what is best for our kids as far as education and finances.”

He said he realizes that whatever is decided will not please everyone.

Sarah Rice, an ELCS language arts teacher and parent, asked the board to consider programs such as job shadowing that currently has students walking to Elizabethtown Community Hospital.

She was also concerned as currently high school students can walk to the county mental health office for counseling appointments.

Rice also pointed out that Families First, which assists students, and the Elizabethtown Social Center are located there.

Other comments centered on what would happen with the youth commission programs of both districts, the impact on parents whose students currently walk to school, and the importance of considering the youngest students who are “most impressionable.”