PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- The Providence Public School District is considering merging an elementary school and middle school as early as the next school year, Target 12 has learned. The proposal would involve merging Esek Hopkins Middle School and Harry Kizirian Elementary School, district spokesperson Jay Wegimont told Target 12. (Kizirian currently operates out of the Narducci Learning Center, a district-wide swing space created for students and staff who've been displaced by work in their own school buildings.) Wegimont said the earliest the merger would occur would be at the beginning of the 2025-26 school year, combining at the Narducci Learning Center, before the newly merged school moves into the rebuilt Kizirian building for the 2026-27 school year. "Through this merger, all students would be able to remain together in the combined schools and staff and faculty members would remain together as well," Wegimont said. Wegimont explained if the merger were to occur next year, current 5th graders at Kizirian would have the opportunity to remain in the school as 6th graders, and current 6th and 7th graders at Hopkins would move together to become the new 7th and 8th grade classes at the combined school. The district cited several reasons for considering the merger, such as allowing students at Hopkins to move into a new building and providing Kizirian families with the opportunity to stay in their school building for longer periods of time. It would also allow the Hopkins building to be used as additional swing space for other school construction projects, according to Wegimont. In June, Providence Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez wrote City Council President Rachel Miller to ask the city to return the Carl G. Lauro building to the district, which had classified it as too costly to repair. Last month, Mayor Brett Smiley told Target 12 that no progress has been made with the conversation. At the time, Wegimont told Target 12 that using Lauro as a swing space was a “critical component” of a “facilities plan that will ensure 100% of students are in new or like-new buildings.” The district said part of that plan involves creating schools that would serve pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. "We are expanding PK-8 options because we consistently heard from parents about a desire to reimagine the middle school experience and because research shows that minimizing school transitions has a positive impact on student academic outcomes," Wegimont said. News of a potential merger had been bubbling for weeks. Wegimont said the potential merger was discussed in a Providence Public School Building Committee meeting and in a Providence School Board meeting this month. Target 12 obtained copies of letters that Deputy Superintendent of Operations Zachary Scott sent to both school communities on Thursday. (Story continues below images.) 202409_Letter-to-Kizirian-2Download 202409_Letter-to-Hopkins-2Download "While we are in the early stages of this planning with more details to be worked out, we wanted to share with you as early as possible," Scott wrote. Scott added that before any final recommendation is made, the district would host meetings for each school to share information and hear feedback. Scott said meetings will be held Sept. 24 and Sept. 26 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Narducci Learning Center. Families also received links for online meetings being held on Oct. 2 and 3 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. "Families have long called for greater access to 21st century learning spaces and we are working to deliver the modern, high-quality spaces you deserve," Scott wrote. "We also want to ensure that our teachers and staff feel included and are part of this historic effort." Alexandra Leslie ([email protected]) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook.