FREEPORT, ILLINOIS — At its regular meeting last night, the Board of Education of Freeport School District 145 approved a proposal to change the district’s middle school structure beginning with the start of the 2018-19 school year.
Under the newly approved structure, the district will have one facility that serves the district’s 5th and 6th grade students, and one facility that serves the district’s 7th and 8th grade students. The current Carl Sandburg Middle School, located at 1717 Eby Street, will be the grade 5-6 site and will use the name “Carl Sandburg School”.
The current Freeport Middle School, located at 701 W. Empire Street, will be the grade 7-8 site and will continue to use the name “Freeport Middle School”. Each school will maintain its current start time. The transition will be made during the summer months so that the new structure is in place when students return for the start of the 2018-2019 school year.
The Board’s decision follows a task force’s review of the current middle school structure to determine its effectiveness for students in the areas of academic achievement and social-emotional development. The task force used academic and discipline data along with conducting a staff and community survey in order to make a recommendation that would benefit the growth of our middle school students. The task force recommended the adjusted structure because it will provide these schools with the opportunity to focus more intentional support and resources on students’ social-emotional growth and academics. It will also provide all district students with a similar and equitable experience as they move through the grades.
“The implementation of this new structure will allow the district to continue to monitor academic and social-emotional growth in a more detailed fashion and to make efforts that are geared toward a smaller grade level range,” said Dr. Mike Schiffman, Superintendent of Freeport School District. Freeport School District is working to make this shift as comfortable as possible for students, parents, teachers, and staff. The district will provide updates over the coming months as the transition progresses and information is available.
Freeport School District will also hold a public forum in late February to provide information about curriculum efforts and the middle school restructure. Information about the forum will be announced as event details are finalized.
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Cover photo: https://www.facebook.com/CarlSandburgMiddleSchool/photos/a.334004753353783.79829.333999783354280/1430212467066334/
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