Freehold Borough
Strategic Planning
3-8 Subcommittee
Rich Pepe
Joy Forrest
Will Smith
Sarah Jacobsen
Nicole Sabel
John Brovak
Tracey Edwards
Diane Dispenza
Kelly Bernazzoli
Steve Hirsch
Dr. Michael Lichardi
OUR VISITS
- Metuchen
Metuchen – Edgar Middle School
Demographic Data
DFG = I, P-12 district, ~2,300 students
P-K (~150 students) – Principal + shared supervisors*
1-4 (~700) – Principal + shared supervisors*
Grade Span Structure 5-8 (~700) – Principal + AP + shared supervisors* + 2 counselors
9-12 (~800) – N/A
* 5 district content supervisors
Common Planning
Grouping
Technology
Challenges
PE/Cycle - 2/day => 1 daily prep + 4 duty periods/week + 1 PLC/wk
ELA: unique learners, high, average, skills, BSI, resource,
ESL/Bilingual (heterogeneous for Writers Workshop)
Math – unique learners, high, average, low average, skills-double
period, resource, ESL/Bilingual
SMART Boards in every classroom
Labs: technology, writing, industrial arts
Social Media: Edmodo
5th and 8th in same building
OUR VISITS
- Red Bank
Red Bank Borough – Red Bank Middle School
Demographic Data
DFG =CD, K-8 district, ~1,000 students
Grade Span Structure K-3 (~550)
4-8 (~450)
Common Planning
Daily with grade level + 1 additional common planning period /
week
4th & 5th have same 2 back-to-back periods for prep/duty…same for
7th & 8th
Grouping
ELA 4-8 Bilingual OR ESL-only (during specials)
Math 4-8 Bilingual OR ESL-only (during specials)
Technology
STEM Initiative – Project Lead the Way
LinkIt assessment & data warehouse system
Challenges
3rd-4th articulation
OUR VISITS
- MERS I
MERS – MEMS
Demographic Data
DFG = GH, P-8 district, ~4,100 students
Grade Span Structure P-K (~400)
1-5 (~3,000)
6 (~650) – Principal + AP + Counselor
7-8 (~1,400) – Principal + 2 AP’s + 2 Counselors + CST
* 3 shared district supervisors (Math, ELA, Science)
Common Planning
Every other day for 60 minutes during PE (including Special
Education teachers) + daily prep during cycle classes
Grouping
ELA: 3 levels + supplemental assessment readiness class
Math: 4 levels (including 8th grade Geometry track) + supplemental
assessment readiness class
Technology
SMART Boards in most classrooms
SMART Table in Life Skills room
New Classrooms: mounted projectors w/ easy access station +
phonic ears w/ mounted speakers
Challenges
(none mentioned)
OUR VISITS
- MERS II
MERS – Pine Brook
Demographic Data
DFG = GH, P-8 district, ~4,100 students
Grade Span Structure P-K (~400)
1-5 (~3,000)
6 (~650) – Principal + Assistant Principal + Counselor
7-8 (~1,400) – Principal + 2 AP’s + 2 Counselors + CST
* 3 shared district supervisors (Math, ELA, Science)
Common Planning
Daily prep + 3 extra periods (during PE) – 1 team mtg w/ admin per
week + 2 extra preps + monthly department PLC (contractual – after
hours)
Grouping
Math: Pre-Algebra-A (gifted), Pre-Algebra-B (advanced), 6A, 6-ICS
Technology
SMART Board & document camera in every room
LinkIt assessment & data warehouse system
Challenges
No vertical articulation, no long-term relationships with students,
only math teachers have multiple classes for which to prep
Visit
Highlights
• Gradual transition to middle school environment beginning
in 5th grade with structured support for students is critical
• Schedules all built to provide daily prep + extra periods for
common planning & PLC-based PD
• Extra periods dedicated to targeted instruction
(remediation, supplemental support, enrichment)
• Time dedicated to departmental collaboration (at least
monthly)
• All districts visited have leveled grouping for Math &
Reading
We
Recommend…
Part 1: Grade Span Structure P-2, 3-8*
*3-8 school to have tiered schedule
• 3-4 common bell schedule
• 5-8 common bell schedule
Rationale
• 5th & 6th together to allow for gradual transition from
elementary setting to departmentalized setting
• 6th, 7th, & 8th in same grade span to allow for articulation
related to progression toward proficiency with 8th grade
standards
• 6th in same grade span as 7th & 8th is needed in our district
to ensure we have enough students to field sports teams
We
Recommend…
Part II: Scheduling Considerations
In addition to daily prep period, provide a second daily release
period to be used for common planning, collaboration,
articulation, and targeted instruction
Rationale
• Provides weekly time for targeted instruction for the purpose
of remediation, supplemental support, and enrichment
• Provides opportunities for job-embedded, ongoing
professional growth
• Provides opportunities for horizontal and vertical articulation
• Provides time for working with data to make instructional
decisions