Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Middle School Schedule topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Marple Newtown discusses Paxton Hollow schedule change; foreign-language courses shift for some students
Summary
Board members discussed and approved a middle-school schedule change that moves some students'foreign-language instruction from sixth to seventh grade as part of a curriculum reorganization at Paxton Hollow Middle School.
The Marple Newtown School Board approved a schedule change for Paxton Hollow Middle School at its Jan. 28 meeting that shifts the start of formal foreign-language instruction for some students from sixth grade to seventh grade.
Why it matters: The shift affects students who would otherwise have begun language study in sixth grade; the board and administration described the change as a one-year shift for those cohorts, with most students retaining access to Spanish or French in middle school because many begin language study in eighth grade under the district's existing pattern.
Board discussion: During the curriculum committee discussion and the full board meeting, at least one board member who was not present at the committee meeting said they supported the plan after asking questions about instructional access. That board member said the change would not prevent students who are especially focused on language from pursuing higher-level coursework in high school, noting the high school's block schedule and scheduling flexibility for AP-level language classes.
Administration context: Superintendent Dr. Tina Kane and curriculum staff were referenced in discussion as having previously reviewed impacts on course sequencing. The transcript records board members and administration noting that the change effectively delays the start of language for some students by one year and replaces the sixth-grade slot with other coursework; the district said the majority of affected students typically begin language in eighth grade, so the net effect for most is limited.
Nut graf: The change is curricular rather than budgetary; board members framed it as an instructional scheduling adjustment meant to preserve access to language pathways while reorganizing middle-school course time. The board approved the item as part of the broader curriculum recommendations on the agenda.
Looking ahead: District staff will implement the schedule change for the affected schools and grade levels and communicate the sequencing and elective options to families during course-selection advising. The district did not record classroom-by-classroom impacts in the meeting transcript; staff will confirm details with families and publish specific schedules.
Ending: The board passed the curriculum motion and moved on to other agenda business.
