Takoma Park Middle School

Information on Bell Schedule, Meeting Minutes including Q&A with Ms. Martin.

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PTSA Meeting January 14, 2025,  7-8:30pm in the cafeteria, in person only

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Agenda

• Elections
• Books & Basketball information
• PTSA Budget summary
• Bell Schedule Q&A with Ms. Martin

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Click here for 2025 January PTSA Meeting Minutes

For background on the Bell Schedule, please read the following

Summary of the Planned TPMS Schedule Changes 

Overview:

 

• At TPMS, teachers currently teach 6 classes in a 8 period schedule. This schedule exceeds the standard MCPS teaching load of 5 periods and so teachers have to agree to it.

• Teachers have recently decided through a collective vote to teach 5 classes in a 7 period day, instead of the current 6 class in 8 period schedule.  

• The Administration and the Bell Schedule Committee, are obligated to run a process to determine a new bell schedule that will implement the change to a 7 period day with a 5-class teaching load.

• Though teachers have decision making power to determine the number and schedule of periods taught.  Ultimate decision approval is made by MCPS Central Office.

• Parents and students have the ability to provide input on the proposed bell schedule options and ways to mitigate the impacts of the loss of an elective, but have no decision making authority over the working conditions outlined in the teacher / school agreements.  

 

Nomenclature: 

• A period is a timeslot within a given day
• A class is taught by a teacher within a period 

 

Further background:

• TPMS teachers have been working outside of MCPS contract norms by teaching 6 classes, rather than normal 5 for middle school teachers.  The current TPMS schedule requires extra work that extends beyond the standard teaching contract, and so teachers collectively must agree to the additional work.  It is their right to vote collectively to make this change (in this case 80% voted to change to a 5 class teaching schedule).   By voting, the Administration is obligated to implement a 5 class teaching load. 
• Given current funding and teacher resources, there were two available options for implementing the change to a 5-class load that teachers would need to vote on:

1. Retaining 8 periods for students (with a significant class size increase)
2. Reduce the number of periods from 8 to 7 (a smaller class size increase)

***They voted to reduce the number of periods from 8 to 7.

• By reducing the number of classes teachers are required to teach to 5, there are less teaching hours available across the same number of teachers.  The school is unable to hire additional teachers to cover the loss of teaching hours.  Thus, class sizes will increase in any case; but reducing to a 7 period schedule has a smaller impact on class size than 8 periods.  
• It should also be known that regardless of the proposed 5 of 7 teaching plan, class sizes have been and will continue to increase due to enrollment increases and budget cuts (ie. reducing the number of teachers).   This effort is in part to minimize the impact on class sizes. 
  • The number of teachers allocated to a school is based on a variety of factors outlined in the MCPS Budget Guide. 
• What were the anticipated increased classroom totals in a 7 vs 8 period schedule?
  • With students taking 8 periods, class sizes would be 36-38 for standard classes
  • With students taking 7 periods, class sizes are estimated at 30-32 for standard classes
  • Enrollment is projected to increase to 1200 or more students next year, after significant increases last year and this year
• Shifting to a 7 period schedule results in the loss of an elective. Many parents and families are understandably upset about the loss of an elective for students with this shift. Its impacts are felt most acutely by any student in a program with a required elective class, as they go from selecting two electives to selecting one.
  • For Magnet program students, this may mean that they must select between a language course, or a music course.  Many Magnet families have expressed that they selected TPMS based on the ability to do both music and language.  And now that they are here, they are forced to choose language or music learning continuity.  And this may eliminate the opportunities for other elective options such as arts, etc. 
• To create a schedule with 7 periods reduces the length of a period in a day.  This provides an opportunity to have shorter class periods. A survey of students found the majority cited difficulty engaging for 90 minutes and preferred 50-70 minute periods..  Teachers prefer a shorter class period citing difficulty engaging their students for 90 minutes and classroom management effects.  Students and families who have preference for longer periods cite the opportunity to engage more deeply with the material and their classmates/teachers, and require less context switching during the day. 
• TPMS is currently seeking parent input on the bell schedule layout for 7 class periods. This input period closes at the end of day Wednesday. There is not an opportunity to change to 8 periods, but to provide input on how 7 periods are scheduled.
• On January 17, TPMS will submit its proposed bell schedule to MCPS for approval along with all input and feedback provided by stakeholders (including parents and students). 
• Though the decision has been made by teachers to move to a 5 of 7 schedule, there will be  opportunity to talk about what the school can do to mitigate the impacts of losing one elective period, such as after-school programming, quarter rotations, etc.  

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Questions posed at the Bell Schedule Q & A with Ms. Martin.  Her answers to these questions can be found in the PTSA Meeting Minutes: Click here for 2025 January PTSA Meeting Minutes

• This feels like a BIG change, what triggered this?

• What has been the timeline of this decision?

• Many folks don’t feel that they were properly engaged and want to know more about the process.  Can you tell us more about this?

• This feels rushed, why can’t we slow this down and roll it out next year or phase it in?

• The input that you have received from families – what were the patterns of feedback you received?

• The existing bell schedule has worked for years, why change what is working?  Can’t we just keep the 8 periods?

• Have you tried finding creative solutions?   Or finding more budget?

• Can you elaborate on why you can’t preserve the 8 periods?  How keeping 8 periods increase student class size?

• There are other schools with 8 period blocks (and 3 electives).  Have you consulted with them about how they make it work?

• What are current class size averages with the 6 of 8 at TPMS?

• What are predicted class size averages with a 5 or 7 teaching schedule?

• In some presentations predicted class sizes for a 5 of 8 teaching schedule are as high as 34-38 students. This seems counter-intuitive.  How does the number get that high with more classes?

• 3 potential bell schedules were presented to parents, students and teachers for feedback.  But you also need to present your decision on the schedule soon.  How can this feedback be properly incorporated into your process?

• Some parents have noted that when these choices were presented to their student by the teachers, teachers informed them that they were working outside of contract.  Are you aware of this?

• What are your next steps in this process?

• What options as a parent community do we have to mitigate these impacts?