Holden will merge 2 schools next fall
May 13, 2008, 08:30
By Emily Jarrett
HOLDEN, Mo. -- Beginning next fall, Holden Elementary and Holden Intermediate will consolidate into one school, Holden Elementary, under Principal Mark Hedger.
Hedger has been the principal at Holden Intermediate for the past two years. Before getting his specialized degree in elementary administration, he taught first and second grade in Knob Noster and was superintendent-principal at Shawnee R-III and Gasconade C-IV.
Hedger said the administration had been considering a consolidation for the past few years, after the intermediate school building was built adjacent to the elementary school building in 2004. They are connected by a hallway and share a gym, library, computer lab, art room and music room.
“Since we already share so much, it’s a natural change to consolidate the two schools,” Hedger said. “And with Mrs. Sisk retiring, the school board thought it was a good time to go ahead and do that.”
Hedger said a restructuring committee has discussed the logistics of the consolidation.
“There are no major changes happening,” he said. “None of the teachers are changing classrooms. The biggest change will be how we handle arrivals and dismissal.”
“The biggest change for me will be all the students and parents coming in one entrance,” said Brenda Dalbrup, Holden Intermediate secretary. “Right now, with two entrances, parents can be in the building and we wouldn’t know. It’ll be safer next year.”
“I’m all for the consolidation,” said fifth grade teacher Kathy Kilgore. “Having all the faculty together and a consistent curriculum will be a positive thing for the students.”
Hedger said the school has had “excellent support of the parents. Several said it makes the most sense to streamline things.”
“Right now, if you have a child in first grade and another in fourth grade, you have to call two different offices, write two different notes, and pick them up from two different buildings,” Kilgore said. “After the consolidation, it will be much easier.”
“It will be a positive thing to have one staff and continuity of our educational programs,” Hedger said. “We always think about the kids when we make decisions like this, and really, this consolidation is going to be the best thing for them."
