AMHERST — The Amherst School Committee has approved a sixth-grade program at the Amherst Regional Middle School to begin in fall 2023, with two core subject teachers and a special education teacher for each team.

But even with the committee’s Dec. 13 unanimous approval of a three-page executive summary that outlines aspects of the new program, including its location within the school building, the bus drop-off times and world languages option, a question about whether bathrooms will be exclusive to sixth graders, or will be accessible for older students, remains.

Superintendent Michael Morris said there will be some mixing in the building based on having three grade levels in it, but it’s possible that seventh and eighth graders will have to use the bathrooms on their side of the building, or on the ground level.

“I think there are legitimate concerns on both sides,” Morris said of the worries some parents and guardians have expressed. He said the topic should be a future agenda item for the committee and is worthy of a stand-alone discussion and possible vote.

Committee member Jennifer Shiao said her understanding is that bathrooms can be trouble spots at the schools. “That’s where students are more likely not to follow the rules,” Shiao said.

Committee member Peter Demling said it is important for parents and guardians, as well as students and current middle schoolers, to be heard on the matter. He also would like input from teachers and staff.

The plan has the current fifth graders at Amherst’s three elementary schools transition to the middle school. About 140 sixth graders are expected in the inaugural school year, with most teachers and other staff coming from the current schools, Wildwood, Fort River and Crocker Farm.

Morris said the move is both educationally necessary and to accommodate the future school project at the Fort River site.

Though the new program has been referred to as the 6th Grade Academy, and will have its own administrator, the formal name that will be decided by the students themselves.

Suggestions about names for the new school are being gathered from a community survey. A few of the those ideas could be put to a vote by the current Amherst 5th grade students.

“Our focus right now is on making sure kids feel welcomed, honored and connected when they get into the building,” Morris said.

The executive summary calls for a three-team structure, with two core subject teachers, focused on math and science or English and social studies, and one special education teacher, on each team. An English language learners teacher will also be assigned to work with students. Core class sizes will be about 23 students.

Other aspects of the executive summary approved include having the sixth graders on both a different bell schedule and a different lunch period than the seventh and eighth graders.

“This will help foster a sense of community among sixth graders and reduce hallway and bathroom congestion during passing periods,” the summary notes.

The summary also puts forward the opportunity for student movement during an electives block, and a short refresh time being built into the early afternoon.

Having just two core teachers allows better coordination of the school day, Morris said

“To me it was one of the big advantages of the model we ended up going with,” Morris said. “It really allows teachers much more flexibility for those movement pieces and unstructured time that we all know pre-adolescents needs to thrive.”

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.