Dr. Snider outlines sixth-grade integration, schedule overhaul and curriculum plans at Madonic Middle School

Dr. Snider presented a detailed account of curriculum and operational changes at Madonic Middle School after the campus accepted sixth graders this year. He explained the building’s original 'house' model — four color‑coded wings designed for cohort stability — and said the campus previously served roughly 270 students before enrollment rose to about 305 during the transition.

Faced with an influx of sixth‑grade students (about 40 this year), Dr. Snider said the school prioritized safety and supervision, and concluded that running parallel schedules and designating sixth‑grade classrooms across houses was the most workable approach. He described restructuring the wings into departmental PLCs (science/green, ELA/blue, social studies/red, math/purple) to strengthen content communities while keeping advisory groups to preserve student‑teacher continuity.

"Chaos contains opportunity," Dr. Snider said, describing the work to adapt schedules, staffing and room assignments. He reported survey results finding that 70–80% of surveyed eighth graders felt the new arrangement was the same or better than the previous model, and he called the sixth‑grade rollout “an unmitigated success” so far while noting ongoing monitoring.

Dr. Snider acknowledged administrative and certification constraints (grade‑specific teacher certifications) that will require coordination with state authorities as staffing models evolve. He said the school intends to departmentalize the sixth‑grade schedule so students receive daily instruction in science, social studies, math and language arts and to develop an integrated 6–8 curriculum over the coming year.

On behavior, Dr. Snider described the school’s PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) framework emphasizing respect, responsibility and kindness and said staff practice “connect before correct” methods for student redirection. He noted board‑approved hires for music and guidance are attracting strong applicants and that staff are building next year’s schedules with the goal of maintaining stability and expanding curricular options.