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Board reviews 6'7 reconfiguration, scheduling and student-device rules ahead of July work session
Summary
Board members discussed a proposed middle-school model combining grades 6 and 7 to address low enrollments, a plan for intervention periods and CTE rotation, and the need for administrative guidelines on classroom cell-phone restrictions mandated by a new statute; staff will provide schedules and staffing charts at the July work session.
Board members and staff discussed a proposed middle-school concept that would combine grades 6 and 7 (with a possible later expansion to 8) to address low enrollment in those grades and to maximize teacher certification flexibility. An administrator (Speaker 1) outlined a model with four content-area teachers (science, math, social studies, English), a student support period for intervention or acceleration, and a career-technical-education "wheel" for exploration.
"The reason we're looking at doing this is because the new graduation standards...8th graders will now be able to take high school classes for credit," the administrator said, explaining the reconfiguration is intended to create elective and credit opportunities and to handle current enrollment numbers without unnecessary hires. Staff said combining 6 and 7 could be untied later if enrollment and staffing allow a return to separate configurations.
Board members requested a clear visual chart showing which grades would be located where, block schedules, staffing assignments and how special-education supports would be maintained. Staff said an elementary special-education hire would be needed to keep elementary services covered while high-school and middle-school staffing are adjusted.
Separately, members discussed state statute changes restricting classroom cell-phone use and the need to have administrative guidelines in place by the first day of school. Staff cautioned about logistics (tote/bag availability) and liability if the district stores devices; staff pledged to bring recommended administrative procedures for board consideration.
The board also discussed strategic planning and communications work, proposing an administrative retreat in July with a bottom-up approach (teachers, staff, parents) and a July kickoff session to align the board's priorities with the strategic plan.
Next steps: staff will provide schedule charts, a staffing outline and a special-education coverage plan for the July work session and will draft administrative guidelines for cell-phone rules to implement prior to the start of school.
