Almaden Resident

Education

Allen at Steinbeck OK'd for conversion to K-8

By Emilie Crofton

San Jose Unified School District board members approved a proposal to establish a K-8 school at Allen at Steinbeck Elementary in San Jose on Dec. 13.

The K-8 school, located at 820 Steinbeck Drive, would provide an alternative for the traditional middle school for parents and students in the San Jose Unified School District.

The middle school program will start in fall 2008, with the addition of two sixth-grade classes of 31 students per class. After reviewing how the transition occurs, the board will add two seventh-grade classes in 2009, followed by two eighth-grade classes in 2010.

In 2005 the board closed Randol Elementary and Steinbeck Middle schools to help balance financial shortfalls. After the closure, the district relocated students from Randol and Allen elementary schools to the Steinbeck Middle School campus.

The school closures were due to declining enrollment in the district, which led to a decrease in state funding.

The approval to establish a K-8 school at Allen at Steinbeck came despite protests from several community members and parents who saw the need to spend more time connecting Randol and Allen communities together before creating a K-8 school.

Board member Leslie Reynolds was the sole member to deny the Dec. 13 approval, and she said it was a difficult position for her to be in.

"I appreciate and admire all the hard work and effort the district, site teachers, site principal and Allen parents put into this project," Reynolds said, "but I am obligated to listen to my constituents, many of whom did not wish to see this K-8 configuration come to their school just yet."

The board's decision came after months of research. The members chartered an 18-person broad-based committee to study and research K-8 schools and create a proposal in response to the protests.

Mary Ann Rokovich, director of professional development and special projects with the district who facilitated the group, said the K-8 conversion would be beneficial to students.

"Small middle-grade programs work great for some and not for others," Rokovich said. "I think it's important for families to have the option of a smaller school."

The new middle school program would offer the SJUSD core curriculum in addition to service learning activities and structured learning while offering an easy transition from elementary to middle grades, Rokovich said.

"It's a good option for the district to have and to try new things that can move us up one step further.

Although the Steinbeck campus includes all the necessary facilities to accommodate a standard middle school, the enrollment will remain smaller than most. The projection for the entire school is just under 1,000 students, Rokovich said.

Fifth-graders already attending Allen at Steinbeck will have the first priority to continue on into the sixth grade. The second priority will go to new sixth-graders living in the Allen at Steinbeck attendance area. The board's decision will not affect students wanting to attend Castillero Middle School, Reynolds said.

The next step is for the design committee to focus on different specifics including curriculum, after-school programs, and how they will fit into the existing K-5 program.

For more information on Allen at Steinbeck, call 408.535.6205 or visit www.sjusd.org/school/allen.