Board approves new school for 6th-graders
Hattiesburg Public School District will have a new school for the year beginning in August — one that is for sixth-graders only.
The Hattiesburg Public School District Board of Trustees approved the STEAM school 4-1 at its meeting Tuesday night. David Garraway was the dissenting vote.
“We are asking you to approve this adjustment — Lillie Burney into a sixth-grade academy with a STEAM approach,” Superintendent James Bacchus asked the board before the vote.
STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math. Sixth-graders from the district’s six elementary schools will be educated at Lillie Burney Elementary, with Lillie Burney’s Pre-K through fifth-grade students going to several nearby elementary schools around the district.
Bacchus proposed the idea of a STEAM school in March after seeing similar examples in Starkville, Columbus and Ocean Springs, said district communication director Jas N Smith. The school takes the idea of a science, technology, engineering and math education and increases student engagement by adding the arts.
Bacchus said teaching Hattiesburg’s students science and technology would improve their chances of getting into college or getting a job when they graduate. Possible career pathways include software engineer, lab technician or high school physics teacher.
At a work session before the board meeting, district administrator Teresa Merwin talked about why the district wants to go forward with the STEAM school.
“We want to maximize academic success, maximize attendance because (students) really like school,” she said. “Give them the tools and the tool belt for coping.”
Merwin said the sixth grade school would ease the transition to N.R. Burger Middle School, which is seventh and eighth grades. She said research showed that transitioning from elementary to middle school was one of the most upsetting life events a sixth-grader could experience.
But Garraway wondered if the timing of the STEAM school — with only the summer for fifth-graders to get used to the idea of it — would be upsetting as well.
“I’m concerned for the emotional state of these kids,” he said. “We have to make sure we are providing the best transitions and not just the educational support, but the emotional support.”
Board member Mary Williams echoed his concerns.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, Thames Elementary fifth-grader Walker Miller asked the board about the feasibility of changing schools twice in two years — going from elementary to STEAM school to middle school.
“We just don’t like the change,” he said. “It seems odd how we’ll be moving from one school and then to another.”
His father, Mark Miller, also addressed the board.
“What we’re concerned about is this is not ready and that it will not be ready for August,” he said. “We hope you’ll consider delaying this for a year, which will allow for some input and some time for adjustment.”
Enrollment changes with STEAM school
• Lillie Burney: Down 23 to 365 as it loses Pre-K through fifth grades but gains sixth-graders
• Rowan: Up 188 to 554 as it gains K-5 students from nearby Lillie Burney
• Thames: Up 45 to 633 as it gains K-5 students from nearby Lillie Burney
• Woodley: Up 96 to 410 as it gains K-5 students from nearby Lillie Burney
• Hawkins:* Loses 54 sixth-graders to Burney but gains no Burney students
• Grace Christian:* Loses 84 sixth-graders to Burney, but gains no Burney students
*Located too far from Burney for students to travel