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<p>DALLAS TWP. &#8212; Kindergarten classes will not be split between Dallas and Wycallis elementary schools for the 2018-19 school year, said Dallas Superintendent Thomas Duffy.</p><p>The decision marks a preliminary step to prepare for the grade reconfiguration that will occur when the Dallas Intermediate School is built and Dallas Elementary is demolished.</p><p>&#8220;All kindergarten students will be assigned to Wycallis Elementary,&#8221; Duffy said. &#8220;We have just enough space to accommodate them.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;Will the class size be affected?&#8221; school board member Christine Swailes asked during a meeting this week.</p><p>Duffy assured the board that class sizes would remain at 18 to 20 students and the current faculty would be relocated to Wycallis.</p><p>First through fifth grades will still be housed in both Wycallis and Dallas Elementary for 2018-19, he noted.</p><p>Last year, the Dallas School Board began the process of designing a new building to replace the 46-year-old, prefabricated Dallas Elementary.</p><p>The project has received approvals from the Dallas Township Planning Commission and township supervisors, Duffy said.</p><p>Construction bids are being accepted until March 20, and they will be opened April 9, according to Duffy.</p><p>Construction will start in late April, weather permitting.</p><p>The proposed 57,371-square-foot building will be on Conyngham Avenue, next to Wycallis Elementary where the Cleary Soccer field is located in Dallas Township.</p><p>The two-floor school will house third, fourth and fifth grades. Wycallis, meanwhile, will contain kindergarten, first and second grades.</p><p>Construction is expected to finish in time for the 2019-2020 school year, Duffy said.</p><p>In other news, Duffy announced several ongoing safety updates that include:</p><p>&#8226; Hiring Contingency Management Consulting Group to conduct a vulnerability assessment and professional development analysis of the campus.</p><p>&#8226; Discussions with Pennsylvania State Police and the Dallas Township Police Department as well as increased police presence.</p><p>&#8226; Obtaining quotes for a protective glass coating for windows and doors.</p><p>&#8226; An internal review of the district&#8217;s perimeter security.</p><p>The next Dallas School Board meeting is set for 7 p.m. April 16 in the administration building.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Eileen Godin</p><p>egodin@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Eileen Godin at 570-991-6387 or on Twitter @TLNews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Dallas School District takes preliminary steps toward grade reconfiguration