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Middle school requests 0.5 campus‑monitor FTE, 0.3 art and 0.2 tech sections; officials flag shrinking club participation
Summary
Middle School Principal Mark Peterson presented needs including adding a 0.5 campus safety monitor to stagger coverage, hiring a 0.3 AIS math teacher and noting a current vacancy for one paraprofessional. Peterson and board members also discussed low sustained club membership and the impact of large extracurricular commitments on participation.
Cohoes Middle School Principal Mark Peterson presented his needs assessment on March 19, asking the board to consider modest staffing increases and to review club structures.
Peterson said enrollment is stable and that next year's grade mix will shift as students transfer between buildings. On staffing, Peterson requested an additional 0.5 campus safety monitor to stagger coverage and provide morning and afternoon presence; he told the board the school currently has 2.5 monitors on an 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. schedule and that a 0.5 position would raise capacity to three. “We would have them there. We'd be able to stagger their share hours,” Peterson said.
Instructional requests included a 0.3 AIS math extension teacher and a 0.2 technology teacher to address high seventh‑grade cohort sizes; Peterson said the art class is currently taught by a non‑art specialist and that the school is recruiting a true art teacher. Peterson also said one teaching assistant vacancy remains open and that he has advertised for the role.
The board and principals discussed club participation: some clubs show consistently low weekly attendance while others — notably drama and the musical — have surged and absorb many students. Board members suggested examining scheduling, intramural models and club thresholds to increase sustained participation without cutting valued offerings.
Ending: Peterson asked staff and board to evaluate historical club data and explore models that balance large co‑curricular productions with smaller club offerings; staffing requests will be part of the budget review process.
