08/24/2026
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As you know, Pickett Elementary School and Reynolds Lane Elementary School will officially merge at the end of this school year. To support a smooth transition and begin building one unified school community, we will start merging classes and instructional teams now while also providing opportunities for students, staff, and families to participate in joint school events and activities.
Both schools have been impacted by enrollment based on current student numbers and the district's Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) allocation process. To ensure we do not lose any teaching positions, we will begin leveraging class size in accordance with district guidance to balance classes between both schools. As a result, students will be distributed equitably among classrooms, and we will operate as one school, Pickett/Reynolds Lane Elementary School.
We are required to balance classes by Friday, August 28, and any new class assignments will take effect on August 31. Parents will be notified of all classroom changes and teachers on Tuesday, August 25, 2026.
Our class sizes will average:
• Kindergarten through 3rd Grade: 16-18 students
• 4th and 5th Grade: 20-22 students
To strengthen instruction, we will have one 3rd Grade Team, one 4th Grade Team, and one 5th Grade Team, with three teachers on each team. Teachers will provide targeted instruction in ELA, Mathematics, and Science, allowing students to benefit from teacher expertise in each content area.
All Kindergarten through 2nd Grade teachers will remain self-contained, except for Ms. Bork and Mr. Gyasi, whose assignments will support the academic needs of our students.
Teachers and staff from both schools will work together as one team to ensure high-quality instruction and support for all students. Most importantly, I want to assure you that your child's academic success remains our top priority. If your child's class assignment changes, the decision was made based on enrollment dates and class-size requirements to ensure an equitable distribution of students across classrooms.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we move forward together as one school community.
Sincerely,
Charlene T. James
Principal
Pickett/Reynolds Lane Elementary School
"Every Child. Every Day. Whatever It Takes."
