July 7, 2006

Moreland middle schools to merge

Rogers and Castro will become Moreland Middle School due to declining enrollment

By Eliza Chon and
Lena Wakayama
Special to the Times

The two middle schools in the Moreland School District, Rogers Middle and Castro Middle, are slated to merge and create one large middle school in the fall, Moreland Middle School.

Elivra Castro Middle School and Samuel Curtis Rogers Middle School are the only two middle schools in the Moreland School District, along with six elementary schools. The District has announced that next year there will only be one middle school and five elementary schools.

The Moreland School District was founded by Samuel Moreland in 1850 and is the second oldest district in California. But despite that fact, Tom Kennedy, the principal of Castro Middle School, commented that, “Due to declining enrollment in the Moreland District over the last few years, the district was forced to close one elementary school and consolidate two middle schools into one middle school” and the superintendent, Leslie Adelson, confirmed that in a letter he wrote to parents of Moreland students.

It read in part, “throughout Santa Clara County, a significant number of school districts have experienced a decline of student enrollment due to changes in demographics, housing cost increases, and a slowing of birth rates.”

As there are fewer enrollments of students, the district will be losing about “$650.00 in income per student who does not attend Moreland next year,” according to the Moreland School District Web site.

In another cost-cutting measure, the district will close Latimer Elementary School and lease the property.

The Rogers Middle School property is going to be occupied by Easterbrook Discovery School (EDS) and EDS’s piece of land has been sold to a charter school. EDS used to be Easterbrook Elementary School until about two years ago when Discovery and Easterbrook were merged to create EDS.

Many students that attend the two nearby high schools in the Campbell Union High School District, Prospect High and Westmont High, have attended these two middle schools.

Chris Amstutz, a Castro Middle School alumni and a current Prospect High School student, however feels that “the change is necessary. I feel bad for all the students that have to go through the change, though.” When asked about the relationship between the two schools, Amstutz replied, “the relationship between the teachers and students wouldn’t be all that different or bad, but there is going to some tension in the beginning of the year with all the students.”

When Victoria Weinbender, a Rogers Middle School alumni and a current Prospect High student was asked about how she felt about the merge, she responded, “I kind of feel like it's unfair for everyone. A lot of teachers are going to lose their jobs and now classes are going to be bigger. I suppose the socialization part will be better but I think learning will be impaired. With bigger classes it's harder to reach out to the individual and that's what kids need during middle school to keep them on a good track!”

But Kennedy has made it clear that the district is working to make sure the academic integrity of the school will not be compromised. Eighteen portables will be placed on campus to “accommodate the increase in enrollment,” honors math classes will be offered for every grade, and more electives will be available to the students.

Prospect Vice Principal and former Rogers Middle School teacher, Joelle Gluck also assures students “most teachers from Rogers Middle School are going to transfer over to Castro and be a part of the Moreland Middle School staff.” She also states that the two current principals will be co-presidents next year as well.

Norma Ready, principal at Rogers Middle School, feels that the merging of the two schools will “create greater opportunities for the kids to learn.” She has already prepared the 6th and 7th graders by holding a field trip to Castro Middle School and giving them a school tour.

Rogers Middle School also had held two parent meetings where parents came and asked questions about the merger to find out what it would mean to them and their kids.

“I think that the seventh graders will have a harder time adjusting to the new school. They identify themselves as the Rogers Rhinos, and now they are moving into new territory, new people, new everything,” responds Ready when asked about how her students would handle the merger. She believes, however, that her sixth graders will “have an easier time adjusting to the change.”

Despite the concern among some parents regarding the size of enrollment as well as the transition for the Rogers students to the new school, Kennedy is “confident that with the help of parents, teachers, and the students, we'll make it work and be very successful.”

Eliza Chon and Lena Wakayama are journalism students at Prospect High School.