No decision was made regarding the possible reconfiguration of three schools in east Dublin at Tuesday evening's board meeting, but the debate continued.

More than 50 parents packed the meeting to show their disapproval of the recommendation that fifth-graders be sent to Fallon Middle School next year. Many held signs that read, "Let kids be kids" and "Protect our 5th graders," with a giant "No" against reconfiguration. Since a town hall meeting on Sept. 20, parents have gathered more than 400 signatures on a petition against the initial suggestion.

At issue is the recommendation made at a recent school board meeting regarding grade changes at three schools. A Dublin Unified School District Boundary Committee, made up of staff and parents, was convened to balance enrollment at several schools.  The district guideline for elementary enrollment is up to 650 students. Projections suggest that the number at Green Elementary will pass that. The committee determined that changing the school boundaries was the least desirable option and instead focused on changing grade-level configurations at Green  and Fallon, and Kolb Elementary, which will open for the 2011 – 2012 school year.

The committee's recommendation was as follows: Green, which is at capacity, and Kolb should become K-4 schools and Fallon would be converted from a K-8 to a 5-8 school.

Fallon's principal, Aileen Parsons, made a presentation regarding the possible reconfiguration and what fifth-graders at Fallon could look forward to. She suggested programs could include a larger music program, enrichment programs such as art and chess and the possibility of fifth-graders running their own ASB program. She also noted that the fifth-graders would begin the school day and have lunch at a different time than the older students. However, the fifth-graders would be released just one minute after the middle-school students.

Following the presentation, more than 15 parents and two students expressed their concerns and asked questions. 

Parent Vijji Suryadevara said she can't imagine putting her daughter in a situation in which she would grow up faster than necessary. "This is not about Fallon, this is about whether it is the right decision to put fifth-graders in middle school," she said.

Lisa Doherty, a mother of three, addressed the board as a parent and a school counselor. "My gut intuition as a mother, which should never be underestimated, is to not send our fifth-graders to middle school too soon."

Michael Bahu, a fourth-grader at Green, nervously awaited his turn at the podium. Reaching up to the microphone, Michael said, "I am here to tell you how sad I am that you want to move my fifth-grade class. I want to stay at John Green and not be fifth-graders by ourselves at a big school." 

To help everyone visualize the difference in ages, Regina Pangelinan asked two students, an eighth-grader and a fourth-grader, to approach the front of the room. The fourth-grader later commented to the board, "Compared to an eighth-grader, there is a very big difference between the two of us."

Superintendent Stephen Hanke assured parents that there is "no one solution that will meet everyone's wishes, but that the goal is always to meet the needs of our students."

The board stated that it will continue to examine data and take into consideration other options, including adding portables to the Green campus, capping enrollment and changing boundaries. Sending a survey to parents and adding members to the existing boundary committee also was discussed.

Hanke said that a decision must be made by the Nov. 16 DUSD board meeting to allow enough time to prepare for the next school year.

DUSD has posted questions and answers from the community meeting at Green Elementary last week. Click here to read them.