Families and educators from both Monroe and La Cumbre crowded the school board meeting Wednesday night. But many others came to defend La Cumbre's sixth-grade program, pointing out that students are offered a supportive, but also a more stimulating and diverse, learning environment. They're offered so many extras. Zac Estrada Rosales is one Monroe fifth-grader who is looking forward to the more intense academic environment at the middle school level. Teachers have expertise in the areas they're teaching.
School trustees say they hope to find a way to make both sides happy.
They also want to examine what impact keeping at least some sixth-graders at Monroe would have on La Cumbre's program. And if we do this at Monroe, there is no question we must do it at the other elementary schools as well. One concern is whether Monroe has enough space to add even one more classroom. Monroe Principal Stan Zaletel hopes some type of compromise can be made.