Seven-period trimester middle school scheduled adopted for 2010-11
Bruce Borchers, assistant supt. for secondary education, presented the final report of the Middle School Schedule and Requirement Committee in fall 2009. The committee was charged with reviewing and proposing a new trimester schedule to the board for implementation in the 2010-11 school year.
The committee followed the same process that was laid out by the High School Schedule and Requirement Committee earlier in 2009, but in a much more compressed timeline. The committee met on Sept. 10 and Oct. 1, 2009, followed by a presentation to the School Board at a special meeting on Oct. 8, 2009.
The three schedules reviewed include seven-period, six-period and five-period trimester schedules. The committee's main goal when searching for a new schedule was to maximize student achievement and close the achievement gap, which included three main goals of providing opportunities for students to connect with a caring adult and learning community, teacher collaboration time and choices for all learners. The consensus choice of the committee was a seven-period trimester schedule, with a two-tiered phase-in.
The two-tiered phase-in of the new schedule allows more planning time and the ease of transition for students and families. The first stage was implemented in the 2010-11 school year and involved the schools changing to a trimester calendar and changing elective courses to an every-other-day schedule. In the second stage, all middle school programming, including electives and course requirements, will be reviewed and retooled for implementation in 2011-12.
