As Superintendent, I have the privilege of overseeing the continuous improvement and development of our schools, ensuring that we provide the best possible environment for our students to learn, grow, and thrive. Today, I want to talk about the exciting transformation in store for Lawrence Intermediate School.
Over the past few months, we have gathered feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders, including staff, community members, parents, and our students. Their insights have been invaluable, and a clear consensus has emerged: it’s time for Lawrence Intermediate School to evolve into a true upper elementary school model, not only when it begins housing grades 3-5, but right away.
This is not just about enhancing the educational framework, but also about giving the school a much-needed facelift to create a more vibrant and conducive learning environment. Our plan includes a series of improvements designed to reflect the aspirations and needs of our community. We will be painting the walls with brighter, more engaging colors to create a welcoming atmosphere that inspires creativity and learning. We’ll be adding better access to our elementary garden area and outdoor spaces for young learning and exploring. Classrooms and common areas will be redesigned to better accommodate the needs of upper elementary students, fostering both academic excellence and social development. Elementary-friendly “flexible seating,” such as standing desks, desks on wheels, and other seating that allows for movement will be added to classrooms, providing our students with classroom environments that enhance participation and learning.
We’ve heard families say they hope “upper elementary” means more parental involvement and family engagement activities, much like they are used to from their neighborhood elementary schools. As Superintendent, I believe that Lawrence is a family and my goal is that all members of this family feel that they belong and matter and are safely welcomed into our schools.
Our current configuration at LIS is grades 4-6. Our LIS “hybrid” model of elementary (grades 4 and 5) and middle school (grade 6) has us running two schedules in one building to meet the needs of all learners. While the eventual transition of 6th grade to the middle school will allow us to focus specifically on the developmental and academic needs of our 3rd through 5th grade students–and move us away from the hybrid model of running an elementary schedule alongside a middle school schedule – I want to emphasize that this initiative is not part of our upcoming referendum to expand the Middle School. We recognize the positive impact these changes will have on our students, and we believe it is essential to begin this transformation sooner rather than later. Our commitment is to start this summer, leveraging available resources and community support to bring this vision to life.
This project exemplifies the power of collaboration and the importance of listening to our community. We are committed to making Lawrence Intermediate School a place where every student feels valued, supported, and inspired. As we move forward with these changes, we will continue to seek feedback and involve our community in the process, ensuring that the transformation truly reflects our collective vision.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our schools. Together, we are creating a brighter future for our children and our community. I look forward to sharing more updates as we progress with this exciting redesign.
The next Lawrence Township Board of Education meeting is scheduled for July 10 at 7 p.m. in the Lawrence High School Media Center (2525 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648).
At this meeting we will share the results of our Community Survey where many Lawrence Township residents shared their thoughts and ideas about the Upper Elementary model. All of the feedback from this survey will be taken into consideration as we plan for the future of our district.
Dr. Robyn Klim is superintendent of the Lawrence Township Public Schools.
Dr. Robyn Klim, superintendent of Lawrence Township Public Schools ,
