Decatur schools open Aug. 18

August 13, 2014 at 5:00 a.m.

by Mike Eckels [email protected]

Image from Google Map The new drop-off/pick-up route for Decatur Middle School is indicated by the red line. Traffic going eastbound on Roller Ave. will turn at the first driveway on the north end of the middle school (as indicated by the arrow). The drop point will be along the covered walkway (as indicated by the star). Traffic will exit onto Roller Ave. at the next driveway (indicated by the arrow).
Image from Google Map The new drop-off/pick-up route for Decatur Middle School is indicated by the red line. Traffic going eastbound on Roller Ave. will turn at the first driveway on the north end of the middle school (as indicated by the arrow). The drop point will be along the covered walkway (as indicated by the star). Traffic will exit onto Roller Ave. at the next driveway (indicated by the arrow).

DECATUR -- "It can't be time for school again," whines a sixth-grader as he struggles to get out of bed.

"I'm afraid so," answers his mother as she hastily assembles a sack lunch.

For the Decatur School District (as well as Gentry and Gravette districts), the first day of class begins Aug. 18.

Buses will start routes at 7 a.m. with classes in session from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at the Decatur High and Middle schools. For Northside Elementary, classes will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be several major changes in the school system this year with the reopening of Decatur Middle School.

Last March, the school board decided to reopen the school after research showed Northside Elementary was nearing capacity on classrooms, with only two available should they be needed for the 2014-15 school year. Additionally, the board, after reviewing a study conducted by then superintendant Larry Ben, concluded that while the seventh and eighth grade classes were incorporated into the high school system, these students felt out of place with the older students.

With the opening of Decatur Middle School, students in grades 6-8 would have their own identity and Northside would have three more open classrooms to have available to meet the steadily increasing enrollment.

Students in pre-K through fifth grade will continue attending Northside Elementary, while sixth-graders will move to the middle school and join with seventh and eighth graders from the high school. Grades nine through 12 will continue at Decatur High.

The only classrooms that will be shared between the two facilities will be band, music, art and Peterson gym.

The drop-off and pick-up point will be different than in years past for the Middle School. Parents will need to use the first entrance driveway just before the curve on Roller Ave., coming eastbound out of Decatur -- the last drive just after the curve if heading westbound into Decatur on Roller (Highway 102). Students can be dropped off at the covered walkway on the east side of the building.

The driveway across from the drop point is an exit only for the middle school. Details of this change will be available during the open house Aug. 14.

There are many exciting things happening in the Decatur School District this coming year. With the opening of the middle school, coupled with continued growth, the district can finally enjoy a healthy and bright future, something that has taken five years to achieve.

For more information, visit the Decatur School District website at decatursd.com.

General News on 08/13/2014