Board wants teachers’ input on middle school curriculum

Modifications set to take effect in fall

Teachers have been brought to the table to work with Fox Chapel Area administrators on controversial plans for a new curriculum and schedule at Dorseyville Middle School.

Before a packed room of concerned parents, the school board on Monday approved a motion to authorize the superintendent or his designee to modify the middle school schedule for the 2018-2019 school year.

But the board also agreed to include the Fox Chapel Education Association in an advisory role for the best schedule plan for middle school students.

“Trust us for a while,” said Ron Frank, president of the Fox Chapel Education Association. who also is a high school art teacher and wrestling coach. “We’ll do our best for your kids,”

Superintendent Gene Freeman said the board and administrators are sensitive to the issues that have been raised by parents who are concerned about changing the school curriculum and schedule. He said officials have list e n e d to what parent groups have said at a series of meetings over the past two months, as well as on social media.

“I’ve heard some things that are important to you and I agree,” he said.

He mentioned keeping homebase, world languages and scrapping the proposal for 80-minute classes.

Board member Edith Cook recommended taking more time to address the concerns that have been raised by parents. She was the lone board member to vote against the motion.

“We need more time to study the impact this will have on our students. The board only heard about it last month. Our oversight up to this point has been nonexistent. The public needs to trust that we will do our job,” Ms. Cook said to a standing ovation of parents and students.

Parents and students have been asking for the past two months at various meetings about the planned curriculum changes. They spoke at several meetings since February, voicing their concerns about the arts losing time to math and science, teaching to state standardized tests and long instructional periods not suitable for middle-school-aged students.

“We welcome your comments,” said Mr. Frank, when he was thanking the board and administration for giving the teachers a chance to sit at the table and set the middle school curriculum.

Lisa Lang, a Fairview Elementary School teacher and fellow FCEA leader with Mr. Frank, invited parents and teachers to participate in the process of developing a curriculum favorable to all.

“We’ve been hearing parents’ concerns for five weeks,” she said after the board voted to consider community concerns and assess the impact changes to instructional time at the middle school might have on its educational offerings.