Mount Sinai middle school unveils new master-schedule, electives wheel and floor-plan changes

Chris Elsesser, the middle school principal, told the Board of Education the district will start a multi-year overhaul of the grades 5–8 master schedule in 2025–26 intended to increase course variety, deepen math supports and create more predictable student travel through the building.

The plan centers on three near-term changes: a two-period-a-day electives “wheel” for grades 5 and 6 that rotates students through short, quarterly elective sprints; a math lab that gives some students two periods of math every other day for targeted small‑group instruction; and shifting parts of the required health curriculum so younger students begin health instruction earlier.

The district said the electives wheel will give every grade‑5 and grade‑6 student exposure to multiple subjects across a 10‑week sprint. Elsesser described grade‑5 wheel content as art, family and consumer science, a digital literacy/computer science course, and a to‑be‑determined study‑skills elective. Grade 6 will include Spanish, a 10‑week block of health and a second study‑skills rotation. Performing‑group students (band, orchestra, chorus) will continue to meet daily; when they do not have music, they will join the wheel.

On math, Elsesser said the district will pilot a math lab model designed to allow “smaller group instruction” so students who need extra help or additional challenge can be taught at different levels. He also announced the return of a full‑time math AIS (Academic Intervention Services) position for the coming year.

Elsesser outlined changes to 7th‑ and 8th‑grade science sequence: accelerated Earth Science will move to the high school as an 8th‑grade accelerated offering while the regents Living Environment (biology) will be taught to current 8th graders next year; the state is rolling out a new Regents exam that the district expects will better align with middle‑school curricula.

The principal described a reconfigured floor plan to reduce student travel and cluster grades by wing: a grade‑6 wing on the north/downstairs section, a grade‑5 “elementary” wing in the front half, and a south side for grades 7–8 that groups math/science and humanities. Elsesser said the change responds to staffing and enrollment shifts — the district is moving from seven sections of sixth grade to five — and aims to ease transitions, increase inclusion for special‑education classes and make collaborative planning easier for teachers.

Elsesser also said the school will provide lockers for every student to reduce classroom clutter and improve safety during evacuations; he told the board the building already has enough lockers but some need maintenance. He added the district is planning “lock and learn” summer sessions for families so students and parents know locker routines before school starts. Elsesser said he expects roughly 618 students in the middle school building and emphasized staff interest in preserving strong performing‑music offerings while expanding electives.

Board members asked procedural questions: one asked whether physical‑education staff were certified to teach health when the health requirement shifts into grade 6; Elsesser replied the district can maintain the existing full‑time equivalent (FTE) footprint for phys ed and health and will use existing staff and contracted time to deliver the curriculum. Another board member asked the principal to emphasize teacher involvement in Mustang Matters, the building’s character‑education program; Elsesser said teachers had “internalized Mustang matters.”

Implementation timing: Elsesser described the first rollout for grades 5 and 6 in 2025–26, with phased changes for grades 7 and 8 over the next two years. He said the district will monitor capacity, staffing and student access as the schedule evolves and make adjustments as needed.

The presentation closed with Elsesser taking board questions and thanking members for their support.PERSONS

- Chris Elsesser, Middle School Principal (government) - Dr. Christiani, Superintendent (government) - Mr. DeVito, Board member (government) - Mr. Amato, Assistant Principal (government)

AUTHORITIES

- type: policy; name/description: New York State Universal/required curricular standards and Regents exam changes; referenced_by: ["middle-school-master-schedule-and-floorplan-changes"]

CLARIFYING_DETAILS

- {"category":"enrollment_sections","detail":"Sixth grade sections shifting from 7 sections to 5 sections due to enrollment changes","value":"7->5","approximate":false} - {"category":"student_count","detail":"Middle school enrollment cited","value":618,"units":"students","approximate":false} - {"category":"math_lab","detail":"Math lab will provide two periods of math every other day; intended for small-group differentiated instruction"} - {"category":"electives_wheel","detail":"Grades 5–6 will rotate through 10-week elective sprints; performing groups meet daily; wheel uses 2 periods"} - {"category":"health_curriculum","detail":"10 weeks of health moved into grade 6; remaining 10 weeks phased into grade 7 for a two‑year transition"} - {"category":"lockers","detail":"District reports enough lockers for all students; will run summer locker orientation sessions"}

COMMUNITY_RELEVANCE

- geographies: ["Mount Sinai Union Free School District"] - impact_groups: ["grades 5-8 students","special education students","music program students"]

MEETING_CONTEXT

- engagement_level: {"speakers_count":6,"duration_minutes":95,"items_count":1} - implementation_risk: "medium" - history: [{"date":"not specified","note":"Master schedule planning described as multi-year; some items phased in over two years"}]

SEARCHABLE_TAGS:["middle school","master schedule","electives","math lab","health curriculum","lockers","Mount Sinai"]

PROVENANCE

- {"block_id":"block_12","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"So a lot of stuff going on in the middle school... our updated middle school vision, our character education program, Mustang matters...","reason_code":"topicintro"} - {"block_id":"block_88","local_start":0,"local_end":200,"evidence_excerpt":"But in all seriousness, I would love to answer any questions that the board has, concerns. But just, you know, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support the whole year.","reason_code":"topicfinish"}