Last year's decision by the Bethlehem Area School Board to eliminate 18 staff positions from our 4 middle schools caused the end to teaming for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Because the lack of teaming means teachers now have to teach across grades, all three grades now have to follow the same 'bells' throughout the day which has led to shorter academic periods, longer lunches, and an extra homeroom period. This adds up to: •An additional 60 hours of homeroom added to the schedule at the end of the day on top of the 60 total hours they get in the morning. Total homeroom time for the year is 120 hours • Instructional time was reduced by 15 hours per class • Students have 45 more hours, yes HOURS of lunch time per year FYI…teaming has been a successful proponent of our middle schools for over 30 years! The school board and administration are realizing the negative impact this year has had on staff and students alike. BASD Administration is proposing to the Board that they bring back teaming to only 6th grade, also adding 3 minutes onto instructional time but keeping the 45 minute lunches and, though the two homeroom periods will be slightly shorter, students will still go to homeroom at the start and end of each day. So, what of our 7th and 8th graders? Where do they benefit? At a time when most are less cooperative, less communicative, more challenged, we remove a support system which helps students prepare for their journey through high school. Please sign the petition in support of teaming. You can also show your support of full teaming in our middle schools by attending school board committee meetings, general board meetings and budget workshops. At these meetings, you are able to speak during 'courtesy of the floor' in the beginning and/or ending of each meeting. Emailing our administration and school board members is an additional option if public speaking is not your forte. As the old saying goes “it’s better in numbers” so let’s pull together in support of full teaming in the Bethlehem Area School District!

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