Beginning in September, South Whidbey Academy’s middle school program will reside on the campus of Langley Middle School.

Following the co-location of the alternative school’s 9-12 students to the north wing of South Whidbey High School in February, a similar move has been decided for around two dozen students in grades six-eight. The Record recently learned of the move in an email from Superintendent Jo Moccia.

Moccia said the move was made internally at the behest of academy teachers, parents and Director David Pfeiffer. Meetings were held with parents on May 5 and May 26, followed by an official letter to parents from Pfeiffer on June 13, which detailed the reasons for the move.

“I have made this decision because of the increase in positive learning experience opportunities for our students when located on the LMS campus,” Pfeiffer said in the letter.

Much like the academy students at the high school, Moccia said the middle school students will have the freedom to stay separate or integrate with the rest of the campus. The students will be located in a single classroom on the west wing of the middle school campus, and will retain teacher Sue Ann Brewer.

The positives, said Moccia, include increased access to elective courses and physical education classes.

“There’s the opportunity to be more flexible,” said Moccia in a phone interview Thursday afternoon.