Middle School Schedule Change Feedback Sessions

CONTACT

Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

Miles Lawson, Secondary Curriculum and Gifted and Talented Coordinator

Karen Allen, Principal Heritage E-STEM Magnet School School

Chris Hiti, Principal Friendly Hills Middle School.

In alignment with our strategic framework, we are developing a district-wide middle school schedule that meets the needs of our middle school students and standards requirements from the Minnesota Department of Education. Over the summer and into the fall, our Middle School Design Team developed different schedule options, with support and facilitation from TeamWorks International, and presented them to the community in November.

The feedback sessions were created to hear from the community and get their ideas prior to refining the options and sending them to the District Administrators, who will bring a recommended option to the School Board for a decision. Implementation planning will occur after a decision is made, with implementation to begin no sooner than fall 2023.

If you couldn't make one of the feedback sessions and would like to learn more about the options presented, you can view the presentation here.

Presentation of Draft Options & Feedback Sessions

Middle School Schedule Change Overview

Why are we changing middle school schedules?

To develop a consistent schedule across both middle schools that meets the needs of our students, addresses the challenges of the current schedule, and ensures we are meeting the standards requirements from the Minnesota Department of Education. What do we mean by schedule change and review? School hours will not change, and the current grade configuration for the middle schools (e.g. grades 5-6 in one building and grades 7-8 in another building) will not change.

 
How were the schedule options developed?
In May 2022, we sought input about the middle school experience and schedule from current middle school staff, students and families through surveys. The information from those surveys were used by the Middle School Design Team, with support and facilitation from TeamWorks International, to create two schedule options.
 
Who is on the Middle School Design Team?
The Middle School Design Team includes middle school administrators and staff, along with district administrators who act as information resources and liaisons to the school board.
 
What will happen at the feedback sessions?
We will give a general overview of the middle school schedule review process, walk through the two different schedule options, and ask for feedback on each option.
 
Will this review mean a change in the classes that are offered?
The Middle School Schedule review itself will not result in changes to classes. The review process will determine the amount of space in a students daily schedule that can be used to meet the MN standards and statutes. To see what is required see policy 604. As we move to the implementation phase we will consider what opportunities are available to students to meet those standards and statutes.
 
After the feedback sessions, what’s next?
The Middle School Design Team will meet in December. They will take the input from the feedback sessions and refine the options In November, the refined options as they make final recommendations for the decision makers (Superintendent; Assistant Superintendent; Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; and Director of Special Services). This group will then take a recommendation to the School Board for discussion in January 2023 and potential approval in February 2023 for implementation no sooner than 2023-2024.
 
Who do I reach out to for questions?
If you have any questions please reach out to Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; Miles Lawson, Secondary Curriculum and Gifted and Talented Coordinator; Karen Allen, Principal Heritage E-STEM Magnet School School; or Chris Hiti, Principal Friendly Hills Middle School.