Shaler Area schools will take on a new look next school year as the district implements its "Vision for the Future" plan, which includes offering all-day kindergarten and changing which grades attend what buildings throughout the district.

The five elementary schools will become primary centers housing kindergarten through grade three; the present middle school will hold grades four through six; grades seven and eight will attend what is now the intermediate school; ninth grade will move to the high school.

The curriculum portion of the plan was developed over two years with input from school staff, educational experts and the community. Construction to accommodate the changes began in June last year, and all work is slated for completion in August this year.

When students report for the first day of the 2008-09 school year, they will encounter educational changes and building improvements at all grade levels.

"There has been lots of research showing that all-day kindergarten provides the greatest early educational advantage for all students in our schools," said district Superintendent Don Lee. "We decided to go in that direction."

The district used the University of Pittsburgh Reading Achievement Center to train its staff on methods to provide kindergartners with reading skills that not only help improve state test scores but also lower special education referrals. All-day kindergarten also will give youngsters opportunities for art, music and physical education.

The additional classroom space needed for the kindergarten program required a reconfiguration of the entire school district.

"It was a matter of practicality," Dr. Lee said. "It was not cost-effective to add onto each elementary building to create the needed space, so we decided to move a grade out."

Next school year, children in kindergarten through the third grade will attend "primary centers," where teachers will focus on education designed specifically for younger students.

The primary schools will be Rogers, Burchfield, Jeffery, Marzolf and Reserve -- elementary schools that currently house pupils in half-day kindergarten through the fourth grade.

Shaler Area Middle School will become Shaler Area Elementary School next year, housing students in grades four through six.

There again, changes have been made to the curriculum and the building. The former technical and family and consumer education wing has been transformed into an area for art classes, a computer lab that includes robotics and enhanced music rooms for band and chorus. The school's kitchen and cafeteria have been altered to better serve elementary-age students.

For a more secure entrance to the building, a second set of doors now connects the first to the school through a vestibule where building secretaries check in visitors. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning as well as roofing repairs will complete the $6 million transformation.

A new philosophy and curriculum also will greet seventh- and eighth-graders when they enter the former intermediate school on Mount Royal Boulevard, which will serve as the district's middle school.

About $30 million is being spent at the high school on Wible Run Road. About 20 percent of it will pay for an addition, while the rest is being applied to renovations throughout the building.

The three-story building will house students in grades nine through 12, but two separate school communities are being created. Ninth- and 10th-grade students will attend classes on the upper level, which will have its own administrative offices. Classrooms for juniors and seniors will be on the main floor. A shared space on the lower level will include gymnasiums, the cafeteria and art rooms.

"Our plan is to always separate the freshmen from the seniors," Dr. Lee said. "But we did provide some flexibility so the high achievers could migrate from floor to floor for foreign language and science classes."

New space at the high school will include science labs and family and consumer sciences rooms. Renovations also will improve the technical education and art areas, enhance the auditorium and create a second full-size gymnasium by enlarging a former auxiliary gym.

Once the bills are paid, any reserve will be spent on maintenance and improvements at the five primary schools, such as new windows and doors.

Funding for all of the changes was made available through a state reimbursement program called Plan Con, which refers to planning and construction, Dr. Lee said. The state oversees the process and requires a facility study and also looks at the drawings and specifications of construction.

Because it's been more than 20 years since the last project at the high school, it qualified for state reimbursement. The district raised the $38 million needed for construction. As the bills are paid, the state shares in some of the payments. The reimbursement rate will end up being 15 percent to 20 percent.

"We started the process in 2006 with a district facility study, which was conducted by our architect," Dr. Lee said. "Together, we talked to principals at all of our schools and asked for their suggestions on improvements."

Next, the community was invited to form a committee to address concerns about the changes taking place throughout the district.

"This committee did an outstanding job," Dr. Lee said. "Their reports helped the school board make adjustments to meet the needs and concerns of parents."

In addition, public meetings were held over the winter when parents could air concerns and ask questions. Information was made available on the district's Web site and through a 45-minute program on the local community cable station.