The new class

schedule takes into account state standards for instructional time in

middle schools, but also responds to concerns raised by parents in last

year's Board of Education Town Hall meetings, that not enough time is

allowed for Connections classes such as chorus and band. The new class

schedule allows for a Connections class every day (music classes can meet

consistently), and also allows for two gifted classes during the day for

six graders, rather than just one.

"The longer

classes will require that teachers use different strategies and lesson

plans for this sort of class structure, so it has meant a good bit of

work," said Dr. Hodge, "but it will also allow for a greater

depth of instruction and then time to lead students in applying their

lessons, so this goes hand-in-hand with the school system's focus on providing

students engaging classroom work. Plus, this new schedule will allow -

and require - that teachers meet regularly within their teaching teams

to plan together and share best practices."

The addition

of a pilot Latin class at one middle school (Smokey Road), and the addition

of music courses in middle schools, including strings at three middle

schools and keyboard/piano at two more. The Latin class is being added

based on the level of popularity of high school-level Latin offerings

at the Central Educational Center.

"Those

classes remain full," said Dr. Hodge, about high school Latin. "It

has been a great program and is very popular with students."

If the Smokey

Road program is successful, the class may be expanded to other middle

schools. The study of foreign language - Latin in particular - tends to

help young students learn other foreign languages later, and tends to

aid in academic achievement in other subjects, said Dr. Hodge.

No changes

have been made to the school system's dress codes for middle and high

schools, including the requirements of a clear or mesh book bags for 5th

through 8th grade students.

Elementary

grade curriculum plans will be accessible to parents on the school system's

Web site in the coming year, allowing parents to follow along with what

students are learning and providing some tools to help at home.

The school

system will continue with the school system's Instructional Support Specialists

program, which allows accomplished classroom teachers to use part of the

day to provide staff development, descriptive reviews (reviewing actual

student work and providing teaching practices advice to teachers), classroom

observation and peer coaching. The program won't be expanded this year

because of budget constraints, but schools that do not currently have

an ISS teacher assigned to them will be paired with school that do, and

staff development and best practices instruction will be shared between

the schools.

Based on widespread

request from teachers, time will be set aside for grade level and subject

teachers to meet in system-wide settings to share best classroom practices,

lesson plans, and discuss common challenges.