St. James Students May Face Further Changes to Middle School Feeder Pattern

Despite being only midway through the school year, St. James parents are surprised to learn a compromise on the district's elementary-to-middle school feeder pattern may have been pulled off the table. 

Some Mills Pond Elementary School parents received a letter from Smithtown school officials, Fios1 reports, stating St. James students entering 6th grade next fall will be sent to Great Hollow Middle School in Nesconset for the 2014-15 school year.

Smithtown's Interim Superintendent Judith Elias could not immediately be reached for comment or additional information. 

The school feeder pattern change will affect roughly 25-30 students, according to Fios 1. 

For years, students graduating from Mills Pond Elementary moved up to Nesaquake Middle School in St. James. However, after the district closed Nesconset Elementary School in June 2012 the feeder patterns began to change.

In March 2013, more than 600 St. James parents signed a petition aimed at keeping their children together, stepping up from Mills Pond to Nesquake Middle School, instead of being sent to Great Hollow Middle School. A compromise was eventually struck to allow affected parents a choice of where to send their student.  

The next Smithtown Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at the New York Avenue building. 

Is your family or child going to be affected by a possible change in the district's feeder patterns? If so, how do you feel about the change?