Dear SGI School Community,
As Superintendent of Schools, one of my most vital responsibilities is looking over the horizon. Long-term planning isn't just about managing the district we have today; it’s about ensuring our schools remain strong, equitable, and vibrant for the next decade and beyond.
Over the last ten years, our district—like many rural communities—has seen an overall enrollment decline of approximately 150 students. As a leadership team, we are continuously working to "right-size" our organization to ensure we are using our resources responsibly. However, a closer look at our elementary schools reveals a unique and interesting trend: we aren't just shrinking; our student population is shifting geographically.
The Challenge of the "Ebb and Flow"
While overall district numbers are down, more families have settled in the northern part of our district. In 2016, Colden Elementary was facing a low enrollment of about 130 students. Today, in 2026, Colden has grown to approximately 215 students.
Across the entire district, we average between 110 and 120 students per grade level. Our long-term target is to balance this population into a reliable six-section model district-wide at each grade level (ideally, two sections at Colden and four at Springville). This would lead to approximately 20 students per class which is both fiscally efficient and pedagogically sound. It is important to note, however, that there will always be some variance in the classes with class enrollments likely fluctuating between 15 and 25 students. Springville Elementary has historically run five sections per grade, but as smaller class sizes move through the system, we need to transition Springville toward four sections per grade. In fact, we are already seeing this reality next year, where Springville will have four classes at both the 1st and 3rd-grade levels.
The real challenge lies in how unpredictable the student distribution between our two buildings can be from year to year. For example, if we have a grade level with 120 students district-wide, but 30 live in the Colden zone and 90 live in the Springville zone, we face a dilemma. Thirty students is too large for a single classroom, so Colden splits into two smaller classes of 15. Meanwhile, Springville’s 90 students would be divided into four classes of 22-23 students. This natural imbalance can sometimes lead to perceived inequities between our two buildings.
Looking Forward: Potential Paths for Our District
To build a sustainable, equitable future where we can maintain a steady, balanced enrollment across grades K–5, we are exploring several pathways. The goal is to determine whether change is necessary and, if so, what change will best serve students. We want to share these concepts with you early in the thinking process, while fully recognizing that each path will come with both benefits and drawbacks:
Path 1: Maintain the Status Quo - This approach accepts the natural "ebbs and flows" of a two-building rural district, recognizing there are always trade-offs. For instance, in the upcoming school year, Colden Elementary will have a 2nd grade of 43 students (divided into two sections of 22 and 21) and a larger 4th-grade class of 26 students, while also experiencing smaller fifth-grade classes of 14. In the two grade-levels reduced to four sections at SES, class sizes in first and third grade will average 15.5 and 18.25, respectively.
Path 2: Adjust Attendance Boundaries - We could shift the line dividing the Colden and Springville attendance zones further south to approximately Genesee Road. The last time our district adjusted this boundary was in 1999. To minimize disruption, any boundary change would likely be "grandfathered" in, with the goal of gradually rebalancing enrollment over time to create a more natural, equitable distribution of students. The downside to this approach is that students who reside in the southern part of the proposed Colden attendance zone would be traveling to a school farther away from where they live.
Path 3: Grade-Level Configuration (Primary & Intermediate Centers) - Another option is to transition Colden Elementary into a primary building (housing UPK to Grade 1) and Springville Elementary into an intermediate building (housing Grades 2 to 5). This would completely eliminate class-size inequities because every single student in a specific grade would attend the same building. The significant challenge here is geography; in a district spanning 141 square miles, this could mean longer bus rides for both our youngest and oldest elementary students, depending on where they reside.
Looking at All Perspectives
Ten years ago, when Colden’s enrollment dipped to 130, there was a vocal call from members of the community to consider closing Colden Elementary. While a fiscal and operational analysis is part of any responsible long-term planning process, Colden’s growth to 215 students today, combined with the logistical challenges of housing all district elementary students at Springville Elementary, makes closure an impractical and unlikely path forward. Our focus remains on how to best utilize both of our two buildings to serve our families equitably.
Next Steps
Proposed changes can sometimes cause unease, so please know that none of the reconfigurations mentioned above or otherwise will be happening for the coming 2026-2027 school year. Furthermore, none of these possible paths will be chosen in a vacuum. Right-sizing our elementary program requires collaboration, empathy, and local expertise. This article merely serves as a status update and an opportunity to put some ideas out there in order to “plant seeds” for future conversations.
Over the next few months, we will be assembling a Community Stakeholder Committee comprising representation from across the district. The committee will be intentionally balanced to include representatives from both elementary communities including parents, teachers, support staff, administrators, and Board of Education representatives. This committee will deeply analyze our options, look at data, weigh the pros and cons, and help guide the district toward the best possible solution for our kids.
We are incredibly fortunate to live in a district where our communities support our schools so fiercely. Thank you for your partnership as we map out a balanced, equitable, and successful future for all of our elementary students.
Sincerely
James Bialasik
Superintendent