Gates Chili middle school credits new tutoring center and reconfiguration with sharp drop in missed instruction
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Summary
Gates Chili Middle School leaders told the board that a reconfiguration and a new in‑house tutoring center—supported by a SUNY Geneseo partnership—have increased academic support and, the presenters said, reduced days of instruction missed to suspension by 62% compared with last year.
Gates Chili Middle School administrators told the Board of Education that a recent building reconfiguration and a newly created in‑house tutoring center have improved instructional access and reduced suspension‑related lost classroom time.
"I'm the proud principal at GCMS," Principal Dan Sadowski said as he opened a broad presentation about academic programs, reconfiguration outcomes and the tutoring center. He and assistant principals described grade‑specific pathways that have "made hallways calmer, more managed, and more safe," and said the changes also allowed expansion of electives and new reading and ELA courses for sixth and seventh graders.
The presentation emphasized the district's new tutoring center, which staff said was created to support students academically while they are suspended and to assist students who struggle with work completion. Nancy Sheridan, who oversees the tutoring center, described a shift from a punitive model to a restorative approach: "We are changing mindsets from a punitive approach to a restorative lens," she said, and added that the center increases attendance and assignment completion.
Administrators highlighted a partnership with SUNY Geneseo, saying more than 600 students signed out of study hall or lunch to work with a tutor in October and November, and that "more than 80% of the work being sent to the tutoring center is completed." The presentation also said the program has enabled longer OSS (out‑of‑school suspension) support—five hours per day in the building versus three hours previously at the high school—and routine teacher involvement in the center.
On data, presenters reported a marked drop in suspension impacts. "Between this time last year and this year we're down 62% days of instruction missed due to suspension," an administrator said, and they noted only three incidents of repeat behaviors resulting in out‑of‑school suspension so far this year compared with larger counts last year.
Board members and families responded with praise and follow‑up questions; one family member said their child found the Geneseo tutors "so helpful," and staff credited the partnership while noting that teachers had voluntarily accommodated field placements to support the program.
The board did not take formal action on the presentation; administrators said they would provide further data and continue to monitor outcomes as the program develops.