Mt. Pleasant schools consider moving small Salem kindergarten class to Harlan

MT. PLEASANT — A possible shift of Salem Elementary’s incoming kindergarten class to Harlan Elementary has sparked concern among residents, following committee updates shared during the June 9 Mt. Pleasant Community School District Board meeting.

“Right now, we have nine registered for kindergarten at Salem Elementary,” Superintendent John Henriksen said, citing data presented at the June 6 Finance Committee meeting. In comparison, 100 students are enrolled for kindergarten at Harlan Elementary.

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“The current number of 100 students at Harlan Elementary equates to 16/17 students per section with 6 sections,” Henriksen said. “Adding 9 students and a 7th section at Harlan Elementary would put section sizes at 15/16.”

Finance Committee members questioned whether keeping a section of just nine students at Salem was sustainable or equitable.

“Some Committee members expressed that serving all students in seven sections at Harlan Elementary is the most equitable solution for students and teachers,” Henriksen shared in notes from the committee meeting.

The board plans to revisit the issue during a June 30 work session, with a vote likely at the July 14 meeting.

For some in the Salem community, the discussion signals more than a logistic shift — it’s a potential step toward long-term consolidation.

“Then the next year we won't have first grade because all of our kindergartners went to town the first year and then first grade — it'll be a trickling effect,” Salem resident Nadine Meierotto said.

Following the June 9 meeting, Meierotta urged local families to register at Salem Elementary if they intend to enroll there.

“They are thinking about taking the Salem kindergarten to town this year because only nine children are signed up,” Meierotta said in a social media post reaching out to the Salem community. “If they do this, it probably will be a trickling effect into closing Salem Elementary. So please please please if you have not signed up for school and you plan on attending Salem Elementary, please do so.”

Henriksen said the kindergarten discussion emerged following kindergarten roundup in early May.

“We took a look at the kindergarten registration numbers … and just want to have some discussion about that,” he told board members.

According to Henriksen, the district’s Site Committee is continuing to work with the Donovan Group to develop a 12-month communications plan aimed at helping the community better understand facility needs.

“We want to better educate our community on our facility needs,” he said.

A videographer will visit June 11 to begin capturing footage of current buildings and recent upgrades.

The site committee also discussed relocating the district’s Central Office and Home School Assistance Program to Central Campus, with further review expected at the June 30 work session.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com