History of the Onteora Middle School Discussion

Prior to the 2004/2005 school year, Onteora had four K-6 elementary buildings. The West Hurley campus was closed at the end of the 2003/2004 school year to address declining enrollment. Our enrollment has decreased by over 1,000 students since the 2004/2005 school year:

• 2004/2005 = 2, 111
• 2017/2018 = 1,252
• 2022/2023 = 1, 100
• 2027/2028 = 936 (projection based on live birth data)

In 2004/2005, a Middle-Level Steering Committee was tasked with the mission of creating a middle-level school where the environment maximized the unique developmental needs of early adolescence.

• They recommended creating a separate middle school that would have a distinct identity and an expanded grade configuration. They ultimately recommended a 5-8 middle school be created. The vision at that time was for a separate and distinct building. This recommendation never came to fruition.

In 2010/2011 a Middle School Task Force was created to advise the Board of Education of an educationally desirable, sound direction for the structure of the middle school. They were also asked to consider whether the existence of a middle school is the ideal model, or whether some other configuration would be more educationally and fiscally sound.

• They recommended a 6-8 middle school configuration. This recommendation was also never implemented.

Both committees that reviewed the structure of our existing 7-8 middle school concluded that the current configuration was not optimal for the students. They provided research and recommendations to explain their positions.

Some of the rationales for expanding the middle school configuration include expanding the grades to create a greater sense of identity and belonging for the middle school as well as allowing additional time for our middle school students to complete the coursework required at the middle school level. With only two grades, our current middle school students have no flexibility in their schedules and cannot even include a study hall to help alleviate the pressure of more rigorous coursework and increased after-school activities including sports and clubs. Students with special needs experience additional scheduling challenges in order to receive mandated services and access middle school academic opportunities. This is made even more imperative and time sensitive by the pandemic and the effects it has had on our younger students. These students need and deserve to have access to additional services and supports during their middle school years.

Moving Forward:

Transportation

Once sixth-grade students are transitioned to the middle school, they will join the seventh through twelfth-grade students on the transportation vehicles. As always, behavior issues will be addressed as they arise. Various strategies may be utilized, including seat assignments and the assignment of a monitor to a specific run when necessary. Currently, Bennett Elementary students in grades four (4) through six (6) are transported together on late runs with middle and high school students when participating in after-school activities.

Extracurricular activities

Although Section IX does not allow for sixth grade students to participate in modified sports, intramural sports will be added where possible in order to provide opportunities for sixth-grade students. Sixth-grade students will also be able to participate in middle school clubs, a list of which can be found on the middle school website. As always, additional clubs may be added based on interest from students.

Mental Health/SEL

Once a date of implementation has been established, the middle school team will work with administrators and district-wide clinical staff to start collaborating on ways to support students in the transition. This will also include incorporating our partnership with Morningside.

Safety

 Once a timeline has been adopted by the BOE, middle and high school administrators, faculty, and staff will work together to review current building utilization and structure, staff assignments, building separation where possible, and resources to assure appropriate support is provided for safety and supervision.

Special Education

All student IEP/504 service and program recommendations will be met. Special education staff and administrators from both Bennett and the middle school will collectively and regularly review student needs and strengths to determine the appropriate continuum of services to meet the needs of all Onteora special education students.