CMS parents, faculty focusing on discipline, curriculum tonight

A group of parents, teachers and administrators will meet tonight to discuss curriculum, discipline and other issues of concern at Central Middle School.

"A bunch of parents just want to know what's going on, so we're trying to bring parents and teachers and administrators together," said parent Ellen Schmidt. "It's not anything bad, it's a good thing we're getting together."

Schmidt said the more parents who attend, the better.

The middle school, which houses fifth- and sixth-graders, opened in 2002 as part of a districtwide grade reconfiguration.

Prior to that, fifth and sixth grades were housed in the district's five elementary schools and students from those five schools intermixed for the first time at a seventh-grade center.

"Each elementary is so different and then all these kids come together at the middle school and it's hard in the beginning," said Schmidt.

CMS assistant principal Debbie Followell said this is the group's second meeting. Around 50 people attended the first to ask questions about curriculum and discipline at the schools.

Tonight's meeting is likely to include answers to questions surrounding those two issues as well as a question and answer period about general issues.

"We're trying to share information so parents can get a good overview of what the middle school is doing," said Followell. "It's been a positive experience."

Followell said parents of current fourth-graders are welcome to attend the meetings as well, since their students will be at CMS next year.

"They have a stock in what goes on too," Followell said. "It's open to anyone."

The meeting will be held in the Central Middle School cafeteria. For more information, call the school at 334-6281.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128