Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grade6 Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Administrators ask board to add grade‑6 transition teacher to address mid‑school proficiency drop
Summary
District administrators proposed adding a licensed grade‑6 transition teacher to create double‑period (90‑minute) reading and math blocks aimed at providing Tier‑2 supports for 15–20 students and closing a documented dip in proficiency between grades 5 and 8.
Administrators asked the Smith‑Green Community Schools board on Feb. 16 to create a licensed grade‑6 transition teacher position intended to provide sustained Tier‑2 instruction during double‑period (90‑minute) reading and math blocks.
The presenter said the request responds to data showing a decline in proficiency after grade 5 and argued the transition year needs a bridge. "Melissa and I are asking tonight for the board to consider a grade 6 transition teacher," the presenter said. The administration said the class would serve roughly 15–20 students per section, allowing more modeling and scaffolded instruction for students identified for Tier‑2 supports.
Administrators outlined the schedule mechanics: the transitional teacher would teach two double‑period classes so a grade‑6 reading block and grade‑6 math block would each be 90 minutes, giving teachers the time to pull small groups for targeted intervention. Board members pressed on tradeoffs; the presenter acknowledged some students could lose an elective but said the change would not affect graduation requirements.
The motion to approve the 2026–27 course/catalog was moved later in the meeting, and the transition teacher proposal was presented as staffing request tied to strategic planning; no formal vote on the specific position is recorded in the transcript.
