Dear Methow Valley Students, Parents, and Community Members,
Will the MVSD be moving forward with the development of a middle school model in grades 6, 7 and 8? I don’t see the new facility. What can you tell us about the status of the new 6th grade facilities? These are a couple of the commonly asked questions.
In response:
- Yes, the MVSD is moving forward with the development of a “middle school model”. Consistent with the research acknowledging the critical period of a learner’s development, coupled with the strong feedback received from a variety of stakeholders during the Dream Big event, endorsing the creation of a middle school model, inclusive of our 6th grade students, we plan to move forward with the middle school model.
- Unfortunately, the new facility will not be ready prior to the beginning of the school year. As a result of the recent fires, we’ve experienced a series of delays. Prioritizing the safety of our community and preservation of homes, the MVSD has been serving as a Base Camp for upwards of 1,000 – 1,200 wildland fire crew and will continue to do so leading up to the start of the school year, making the site preparation impossible.
- Regardless of the delays associated with the installation of the new facility in advance of the start of the new school year, we plan to move forward with a middle school model, inclusive of our 6th graders.
- As previously planned, 6th grade students will spend the majority of their day with their homeroom teachers, participate in middle school elective courses at LBHS, and eat lunch with their middle school peers at LBHS. However, their homeroom will be at MVE until the facility is move-in ready.
- While the delays associated with the installation of the new facility is not ideal, as MVSD board member Gary Marchbank would say, “Focus on the big picture”.
With this in mind, we remain excited to share more information about the middle school model and the anticipated timeline involving the completion of the new facility with students, parents, and community members as we move closer to the school year.
Sincerely,
Tom Venable
Superintendent, Methow Valley School District