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Springfield middle school to adopt team-based structure and shorter core periods for 2026
Summary
District presenters proposed a learning-community model with two teams per grade, daily 67-minute core classes, and a rotating 67-minute special; committee cleared staff to share plans with families and continue implementation work ahead of the middle school's August 2026 opening.
Assistant Superintendent Doctor Johnson convened the Springfield Township SD Academic Affairs Committee on Nov. 11 and heard a presentation on proposed structural and scheduling changes for the district's middle school.
Middle-school staff members Dr. Mangano and Mrs. Brady said the district will move to learning communities with two teams per grade — each team including core teachers and a special-education teacher — so roughly 100 students would be shared and taught by a core team. "This structure will help us get to know every child at a deeper level," one presenter said. "We want students to feel connected, challenged and capable."
The presenters proposed that the four core classes (ELA, math, science and social studies) meet daily for 67 minutes beginning in the 2026'7 school year, while specials would rotate so each student has one 67-minute special per day that changes by quarter. The Win/lunch block would become a 67-minute block with 30 minutes of lunch and a separate daily Win period for each grade so teachers can run smaller intervention or enrichment groups.
Committee members asked about how the team structure would integrate case managers for students with individualized education plans. Presenters said a student with an IEP assigned to a particular team would have a case manager on that team who would attend team meetings and manage services. Doctor Taratowski commented that including a special-education teacher on teams "allows for a lot more communication and integration of services."
Members also requested clearer visuals comparing current and proposed schedules. Mrs. Bell asked for a side-by-side slide showing "sixth grade old, sixth grade new" to make the changes easier to follow.
The committee gave staff permission to proceed with family communications, parent overview events next spring and continued professional development for teachers on teaming. Presenters said they will track attendance, behavior and belonging data and conduct a post-implementation review after the new building opens in August 2026.
The Academic Affairs Committee did not take a formal vote on the plan at the meeting; committee members approved moving forward with outreach and implementation steps.
