San Marcos Unified outlines one-year satellite plan to house Woodland Park sixth-graders at San Marcos Middle

District staff presented a one-year plan to move Woodland Park Middle School’s incoming sixth-grade class to San Marcos Middle School next academic year, saying the relocation is intended to limit instructional disruption while campus work concludes.

"This initiative is relocating our Woodland Park...6th grade students to San Marcos Middle School for 1 year," the presenter stated during the June 25 board meeting, describing three project goals: preserve a positive student experience, support teachers with necessary resources, and maintain transparent communication with families.

Administrators said the district has been planning the transition since January. To accommodate shuttle logistics, the district will adjust release times at San Marcos Middle by about 8–10 minutes on different days and run a free shuttle departing Woodland Park at 7:30 a.m., arriving at San Marcos Middle at about 7:45 a.m. Food services will expand so breakfast is available up to the bell; Woodland Park students boarding the shuttle can grab hot items as early as 7 a.m.

Erin, the operations lead introduced by the presenter, described classroom and facilities preparations: 14 classrooms have been prepared for Woodland Park teachers, each set up to accommodate about 36 students. Special-education supports, speech and psych services will rotate between the two sites and the district will share a sensory room and an extensive-support classroom with direct restroom access. The district is also adding counselors, a mental-health technician and campus supervisors to support the higher student population.

Administrators detailed technology and communications changes to ensure a smooth transition: student information-system access (Synergy) and ParentSquare messaging were reconfigured so staff and families at both campuses receive emergency alerts and routine communications; Frontline access for absence management was updated. Staff and teachers may access assigned classrooms beginning Aug. 10.

Family outreach events include a "Bulldog kickoff" for incoming sixth graders on Aug. 10 and a grade-level orientation on Aug. 12. District staff said drop-off maps and final operational instructions will be distributed in early August.

Board members asked about classroom clustering and supervision. District staff said Woodland Park classrooms will be clustered in a few campus areas so sixth graders remain cohorted; San Marcos Middle student mentors and an earlier campus opening at 7 a.m. will provide supervision for students who arrive early.

The board did not take action on the presentation; staff said the plan is proceeding and families should consult the Woodland Park website tab for ongoing updates.