Emily Peckham is the principal of Vernor E. Greer Elementary in Galt. Greer is one of the schools that is changing because of the reconfiguration in Galt Joint Union Elementary School District. (Brian Feulner/News-Sentinel)

Galt elementary district alters school lineup

City gears up for districtwide change

A little more than a month from now, many Galt Elementary parents will be taking their children to different schools.

Instead of continuing at Fairsite Elementary, many students will be dropped off at Greer Elementary School, formerly Greer Middle School.

And instead of going to Greer Middle School, all junior highers will meet at McCaffrey Middle on their first day of school.

The change is part of Galt Joint Union Elementary School District's decision to restructure schools in response to declining enrollment, a revenue decrease and a mass exodus of students from under-performing schools.

However, Superintendent Karen Schauer said, the changes go far beyond dropping students off at another location. Schauer said the district is working to make students' time in the classroom relevant to their lives.

District officials are banking on the idea that by integrating state-determined standards into projects that are relevant to students' lives, not only will student achievement go up, but schools will produce more well-rounded, engaged students.

"We think youth development is central to student learning," Schauer said.

To do that, the district plans to continue its work with service learning. Service learning involves students taking up a cause of their own choosing either at their school or in their community. Teachers take the student-picked task and incorporate lessons that cover state standards. In the process, students learn more about both service and traditional school subjects by taking ownership of the project.

For instance, students can learn the basics of plant science through planting a new flower bed at their school.

When students are invested in the project and have something outside the classroom to relate their lessons to, they're more likely to retain them, said the superintendent.

Schauer said she's seen classrooms where this strategy has worked.

"The recess bell has rung, and the children and the teacher don't hear it," she said.

The district will also further its character education program, where teachers work teaching good character traits into their everyday lessons.

Fairsite School staff, which will serve pre-school-through-first-grade students, will focus on early education to get students up to speed quickly so they start second grade with the knowledge they need.

"It's much easier to close the achievement gap and get them at grade-level early on," Schauer said.

Emily Peckham, new principal at Greer Elementary, said she just can't wait to see the students' smiling faces at the end of August.

"(We're) providing students with some really exciting learning opportunities," Peckham said in her new office on Wednesday afternoon.

Two resources that Peckham is most excited about are the piano instruction room and the art room, left over from Greer's middle school days.

She's also looking forward to the specialized staff who will have offices at her school, including a data analyst and a Gifted and Talented Education specialist.

"We're providing students with some really exciting learning opportunities," Peckham said.

Contact reporter Amanda Dyer at amandad@lodinews.com.