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The Hamburg school board voted 3-2 Monday night to unite their academic experience with Farragut.
Hilary Christensen, Jim Nahkunst and Bill Green voted in favor of the agreement and Greg Warden and Charles Dovel cast dissenting votes.
The agreement is contained in a nine-page document with an expiration date of June 2015.
Highlights include a middle school for fifth through eighth grade at Hamburg and a high school for grades nine through 12 at Farragut.
Pre-school, kindergarten and grades one through four will be held at each town independently.
Hamburg parent Karen Perry said she was surprised the whole grade sharing proposal passed because of issues like transporation and public outcry about losing an in-town high school.
"There were so many concerns from people that I thought they would delay it another year," Perry said.
Dovel said he also hoped to wait a year to see if there would be improvements in the district's finances following the board's proposed cuts and tax raises.
He said the board was prepared to cut some academic positions, such as art, and continue sharing band and chorus with Farragut. He said taxes were increased to make up for a budget shortfall of $200,000.
Christensen, who became board president two years ago when tallks over program sharing began, said she was releived the vote was over.
"I'm excited to move forward and have the best middle school we can have and really focus on education," she said.
She said public input into the issue of whole grade sharing shows the passion Hamburg's people have for their school.
"They care about their community and are very concerned about education and very torn," she said. "Our community rallies behind their kids and helps support them 100 percent."
Seventh grader Jared Williamson said Monday's vote provides an opportunity to expand the successes already experienced in sports and other classes.
"Sports was a success and I shared a math class in junior high and I liked it, so I expect it will be better," he said of the whole grade sharing plan.
Under the agreement, the middle and high schools will have a coordinated curriculum. The two school districts will have until April to tell the state how they will staff and pay for extracurricular activities. Lutt said Monday the schools will have one athletic director.
The Hamburg school board voted 3-2 Monday night to unite their academic experience with Farragut.
Hilary Christensen, Jim Nahkunst and Bill Green voted in favor of the agreement and Greg Warden and Charles Dovel cast dissenting votes.
The agreement is contained in a nine-page document with an expiration date of June 2015.
Highlights include a middle school for fifth through eighth grade at Hamburg and a high school for grades nine through 12 at Farragut.
Pre-school, kindergarten and grades one through four will be held at each town independently.
Hamburg parent Karen Perry said she was surprised the whole grade sharing proposal passed because of issues like transporation and public outcry about losing an in-town high school.
"There were so many concerns from people that I thought they would delay it another year," Perry said.
Dovel said he also hoped to wait a year to see if there would be improvements in the district's finances following the board's proposed cuts and tax raises.
He said the board was prepared to cut some academic positions, such as art, and continue sharing band and chorus with Farragut. He said taxes were increased to make up for a budget shortfall of $200,000.
Christensen, who became board president two years ago when tallks over program sharing began, said she was releived the vote was over.
"I'm excited to move forward and have the best middle school we can have and really focus on education," she said.
She said public input into the issue of whole grade sharing shows the passion Hamburg's people have for their school.
"They care about their community and are very concerned about education and very torn," she said. "Our community rallies behind their kids and helps support them 100 percent."
Seventh grader Jared Williamson said Monday's vote provides an opportunity to expand the successes already experienced in sports and other classes.
"Sports was a success and I shared a math class in junior high and I liked it, so I expect it will be better," he said of the whole grade sharing plan.
Under the agreement, the middle and high schools will have a coordinated curriculum. The two school districts will have until April to tell the state how they will staff and pay for extracurricular activities. Lutt said Monday the schools will have one athletic director.
The agreement provides for one graduation ceremony for students, but students will receive a diploma from their home district.
Hamburg is responsible for transporting its shared students to Farragut, which is located about 17 miles away, and Farragut will transport its shared students to Hamburg.
There will be joint board meetings at least twice a year and the school boards will form a joint committee to study transition issues.
Jay Lutt, who is superintendent of both districts, said both districts will remain independent.
Each district is responsible for staffing at its school buildings. Hamburg, with a student census of 239, has a total tax valuation of $169 million. Farragut has 169 students and a valuation of $140 million.
Christensen said factors leading to Monday's vote include declining enrollment and a trend toward cuts in revenue from the state.
Without the whole grade sharing agreement, she said, the board would have to consider elminating eight teaching positions.
"It would put a dent in our teaching staff and it would start putting a dent in our core classes," she said.
