SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — The Slippery Rock Area School District board heard public comments on a proposed grade reconfiguration plan at its Monday night, May 8, operations committee meeting.

The plan, introduced at a special meeting April 20, proposed limiting the district’s elementary schools, Moraine and Slippery Rock, to kindergarten through fourth grade. Fifth-grade would be moved to the middle school, and eighth grade would be moved to the high school.

Alex Franco Tuten, who has a son in the district and is a member of Slippery Rock Borough Council, addressed several concerns that have been brought to her from parents and members of the community.

She said they wanted to know if the board reviewed a letter opposing the plan that was signed by a number of elementary, middle, and high school teachers, as well as how the reconfiguration would impact taxpayers and students’ day-to-day activities.

Chief among the concerns were fifth-graders being exposed to older students on the buses and what they might see on cellphones.

“These kids do not stay children for long. I believe what you're proposing would further jeopardize the innocence of our children, which is so fleeting in this fast age of electronics and technology,” Tuten said.

Board member Mark Taylor said he would add Tuten’s concerns to those already brought to the board’s attention and reiterated that there is no set plan to make the reconfiguration happen. The board is not planning on scheduling a vote until it gathers more data.

“We don’t have all the answers yet,” board member Heather Scott said.

Board member Greg Schiller encouraged anyone with concerns to reach out and ask questions through each member’s district emails.