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Tiffin Middle School principal updates board on curriculum, grants and student supports
Summary
The Tiffin Middle School representative reported on new ELA implementation, a planned middle‑school math curriculum recommendation, STEM and music‑tech grants, intervention classes, and student activities including band, choir and a new drama club.
Tiffin Middle School staff told the board about curricular changes, new programs funded by grants and measurable gains in reading data during a presentation at the board meeting.
The presenter, identified in the meeting as Mr. Emke of Tiffin Middle School, said teachers implemented a new English language arts curriculum and have adjusted pacing and supports to improve fidelity. He said the math team reviewed four curricular options and will bring a recommendation for a new grades 6–8 math curriculum to the board in the coming weeks.
Nut graf: The presentation outlined multiple classroom and extracurricular improvements—some funded by external grants—that school leaders said are intended to boost instruction and provide more hands‑on and career‑focused experiences for middle‑school students.
Key items described included Project Lead The Way STEM course offerings and teacher training, an upcoming music‑technology lab funded by a National Machinery grant, and continued social‑emotional learning work supported by a Second Step grant. The presenter said the school will continue STEM offerings (design and modeling; medical detectives in year two) and expects to open a state‑of‑the‑art music tech lab for grades 7–8 next school year.
The presentation also highlighted intervention and assessment changes. The school created a “4 plus reading” class to deliver extra instruction for students at risk in reading and reported midyear gains on state benchmark (AcaDIA N) reading measures, which administrators attributed to interventions and the new ELA curriculum implementation. Student speakers—eighth‑graders Braden Distel and Olivia Miller—told the board about daily band and choir, tornado‑time support blocks for missing work or extra help, a planned drama club, and field trips including Cedar Point in May.
Presenters thanked custodial, maintenance, cafeteria, counseling and instructional staff by name for supporting the changes and noted landscaping and interior painting projects that have refreshed the building.
Ending: The school requested continued board support as staff prepare for spring state testing and for the district to review the planned math‑curriculum recommendation when it is presented.
