January 31, 2012

 The professional staff of the Middle School would like to present an alternative logistical layout of the Middle School keeping in mind the Superintendent’s vision of a two building school and separating the two schools as effectively as possible while maintaining academic programming. The Middle School staff has a working understanding of the logistics of traffic patterns and room usage through their decades of service to the district within the building.

 In the past the Middle School functioned as two buildings with two principals and an assistant principal. We were able to maintain the two schools and keep the students separated. The downstairs of the building was designed specifically for younger students. There are sinks in each of the downstairs rooms and coat racks. The upstairs was specifically designed and built for older students. There are no sinks or running water and there are lockers in both upstairs wings.

Focus on developing leadership qualities while fostering positive role models both academically and socially.

Note: This is only one example of how the downstairs can be configured. There are other Note: This is only one example of how the downstairs can be configured. There are other This is only one sample model. There are other alternative configurations that would work. The transition team with building input should make decisions about how the grades are placed in each of the downstairs wings.  Downstairs A Wing-  *4-fourth grade classes  *3-fifth grade classes  *3-sixth grade classes  *1- self-contained class (4/5)  *1-book room/AIS  *2- center pod rooms for special ed/pullout rooms  Downstairs C Wing-  *3-fourth grade classes  *3-5th grade classes  *3-sixth grade classes  *1-self-contained class (6)  *1-book room/AIS  *1- special ed/pullout room

 *Maintains separate entrances for Grades 4-6. (A wing entrance or music entrance) Also possible to alter entrance and dismissal times by a few minutes so grades 4-6 can get on and off buses ahead of older students. *Grades 4-6 do not have to pass through upper house students to go to music/band/library. *Grades 7 and 8 can use back staircase by guidance to go to gym and tech classes eliminating them in main hallway downstairs except for lunchtime.

 *Grades 7 and 8 can use staircase by music wing to come down to band/music/library eliminating them in main hallway downstairs except for lunchtime. *Grades 7 and 8 will have lockers in their own wings. This will eliminate all 300 students being in the upstairs C wing before classes in the morning and at the end of the day to access lockers. (This was a serious safety concern)

 *Grades 4-6 only need to go upstairs for art and grade 5 for home and careers. Students are escorted by classroom teachers down the main hallway and up the front staircase directly across from art rooms or home and career rooms. *Technology classrooms swapped upstairs and down for easier access to grades. *Maintains sinks and easy access to running water for all elementary classes.

 *Maintains science rooms for grades 7 and 8 and keeps one for use by downstairs classes and special education classes. *Maintains two schools upstairs and downstairs. Focus on “leadership” skills for grades 7 and 8 as positive role models. *Maintains book rooms that are essential to Literacy Programs with room available to bring over books from Rosendale.

 *No change in bell system upstairs/downstairs- cost savings of $2000 to $3000. *Cost effective- district plan would necessitate moving almost every single classroom in the building over the summer. This plan would move only a few 5 th and 6 th grade classes with only minor classroom location changes to the rest of the building. (technology/computers)