Kimberly Moritz BlogPosts

About five years ago, in an effort to focus on our students “in the middle” and with the hope that it would improve our academic achievement, an experimental middle school was developed in Randolph. Teachers in grades 5-8 came together to work as a team with Middle School principal, William Caldwell.

At today’s middle school faculty meeting, Mr. Caldwell announced our transition plan to revert to a K-6/7-12 configuration for the district. The transition plan will take place over the next eighteen months, with the dissolution of the middle school by July of 2010. Out of respect to Mr. Caldwell and his Middle School faculty, we took the time to talk to them in person today and now I would like to provide everyone in the district with further information.

Before explaining the changes, I would like to thank the teachers in grades 5-8 who came together to work as a team with Middle School principal, William Caldwell. I appreciate the time, effort and passion that you invested in the middle school concept. Thank you.

The middle school concept was not without challenges in a district of our size, including the physical separation of fifth and sixth grade at the elementary school and seventh and eighth grade at the high school. There’s also been the question of whether or not a school district with 1,000 students warrants three principals. A lot went right with our middle school, largely due to excellent teachers and a caring principal who clearly loves working with our students. A “Capturing Kids Hearts” initiative, good student achievement, the implementation of Thoughtful Classroom strategies and a team approach to middle level students are a few of the successes.

As we consider our economic future and prepare to keep our district in strong financial condition, we must consider the gains vs. costs of maintaining a separate middle school in Randolph. In my estimation, we have to take a “big picture” three to five year approach to planning. I don’t want to be like the big three automakers, looking back five years from now and realizing we should have planned differently, been more cautious, adjusted our programs. My goal is to keep this district in the solid financial condition in which I find it today, while maintaining our programs to the best of our ability. Therefore, I will work with the administrative team and the Board of Education to make good decisions about what’s necessary as we look forward three to five years.

We can’t consider cuts to our teaching and support staffs without first looking hard at our administrative team costs. This means that we will spend the next eighteen months transitioning back to a K-6 elementary school and a 7-12 high school. We will not move our sixth graders over to the high school as was once planned. We will continue to offer our sixth graders exposure to special area classes in the high school and will maintain a separate wing for seventh and eighth grade, with developmentally appropriate activities specifically for middle level students.

Over the next several months we will have lots of conversation at the administrative team level and with teachers and support staff to plan for the transition back to an elementary/high school district. I’m confident that we can continue the excellent work that’s currently under way. And I know that our administrative team will work together to fill any gaps left from our loss of a middle school principal position.

If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know via whatever means of communication works best for you: email, on the blog, via telephone or in person. I always want to know what’s on your mind. I will continue to think out loud on this blog, Randolph Writes, and welcome your comments there. This is one effort to make sure everyone in the district has good information about what’s happening and provide one more place for feedback.

I’ve been tagged in an Internet meme by Mark Stock. This Internet meme is entitled “Seven Things You Don’t Need to Know About Me”. This is why this meme business drives me crazy. If you don’t need to know it about me, why should I write it? And I tend to over-think things, so I will end up analyzing the possible things on my list which why do I have to write it in the first place if they are things you don’t need to know about me?

So here I am writing the post anyway for two reasons. One, I try really hard to be a good sport which means you try some things, even if you’re uncomfortable with them, and sometimes you end up better for it. Two, I don’t know Mark Stock of the blogging world, the meme tag caused me to check out his blog, and I remember that’s what it’s all about–reading each other, gaining new ideas, and connecting. So here goes.

Here are the Seven Things You Don’t Need to Know About Me. Stop reading now if you prefer to stay in the dark. I can’t blame you.

1. I analyze, evaluate, research and think about everything. My husband often asks me, “what are you thinking about?” When I reply “nothing”, he always says, “yes you are, you’re always thinking about something.” Which I am.

2. I am relatively impatient. If a meeting is going a little bit long, or especially if it’s extremely detail oriented, I begin tapping my foot, fiddling with my blackberry, wishing for the end. Conversely, when we’re really cooking with problem solving and meaningful discussion, I can stay attentive and patient forever.

3. Red is my favorite color. Inevitable that I would return to Randolph with our Red Randolph Cardinals!

4. I really, really, really have got to start exercising. I swim 50 laps a day all summer and then winter comes and well, forget about it.

5. I absolutely, positively love my job. I would rather work than just about anything (especially exercise).

6. I think the most perfect, peaceful, beautiful place on earth is the Allegany Reservoir aka Kinzua.

7. I can’t wait to see my husband at the end of each day, after 22 years of marriage-he’s still the one.

Everyone I read has been tagged, so let’s let it end with me. Thanks Mark!