School Board approves Londonderry Middle School 2025–26 program of studies; several district policies advance

Londonderry Middle School presented an updated program of studies for the 2025–26 school year that the Londonderry School Board approved following a presentation and brief questions.

The board voted 5–0 to adopt the program of studies, which the district described as reorganizing related-arts into a quarterly model, adding a required nine-week technology-essentials course, expanding eighth-grade elective options and clarifying advanced pathways for students prepared for high-school-level work.

The program, presented by Megan (Londonderry Middle School staff) with comments from William (staff member), emphasizes a teaming approach in grades 6–8 and offers more student choice in related arts. Key curricular changes the board discussed include: making Technology Essentials a required nine-week course focusing on Google Suite, digital citizenship and introductory coding; offering Intro to Computer Science as an optional course; introducing a Grade 8 “Venture” PE quarter building toward ropes-course activities and outdoor options (to run in quarters 1 and 4); creating three distinct eighth-grade art quarter courses (Introduction to Photography, Hand Building with Clay, Introduction to Painting); moving related-arts from trimesters to quarters; and removing Read 180 and Advanced Young Adult Literature 8 to allow more students access to grade-level reading courses aligned with elementary literacy work.

The presentation also outlined the district’s advanced-pathways offerings for eighth graders: honors algebra, CP Algebra I, CP Earth Science (earth and space), and CP Spanish, German and French (course enrollments and staffing permitting). The board discussed how year-long music students will have a different related-arts scheduling block than students in quarterly music options.

Motion and vote: The board approved the motion to adopt the 2025–26 LMS program of studies (motion by Sarah Laughlin; second by Tim Porter). The roll-call style vote recorded five ayes and no nays: Sarah Laughlin — aye; Tim Porter — aye; Kevin Gray — aye; Bob Slater — aye; Amanda Butcher — aye.

Votes at a glance: During the same meeting the board also completed votes on several policies and readings. Highlights recorded in the minutes include unanimous approvals (5–0) for third readings and first readings where noted: policy JICJ (unauthorized electronic communication devices/cell phones) adopted (third reading); policy IKL (academic honesty and integrity) adopted (third reading); first readings or approvals to move forward were recorded for JLDA (wellness policy), JICL (Internet access for students), JICLR (student acceptable Internet use procedures), GBEF and GBEFR (staff Internet access policy and procedures), and rescinding older policy IIAE (acceptable use for students). For full vote text and motion seconds see the provenance and actions arrays below.

Board members asked clarifying questions about scheduling details, the capacity of advanced classes (staff noted CP German had a full section in the initial year), and how related-arts choices would feed into high-school readiness. Presenters said the changes aim to increase student choice and better align middle-school literacy and world-language offerings with district goals.

The presentation concluded with the board’s unanimous approval of the program of studies and the administration’s plan to implement the updated course catalog in scheduling and registration materials.

The board will publish the adopted program of studies to families and include the changes in next year’s course registration materials.