- Anytown School District faced budget cuts that required reducing teachers and increasing class sizes at Anytown Intermediate School. The school will have 3 teams instead of 4 at each grade level, reducing teachers by 12. Class sizes will increase by about 6 students. - The superintendent communicated these changes to the staff and community in advance. However, staff have not been involved in developing the new schedule and have no opportunity to provide input or feedback. - For the changes to be successful, the document recommends improving communication, including staff representation in meetings, and allowing time for questions from departments.

1. Geraldine A. Ryan, M. Ed. EDL-726 – Section 32 Dr. Mary Calderone

4. SENSE OF URGENCY Budget crisis forces district to realign staffing structure at the Intermediate School This information was communicated to the district staff and community for months. The superintendent met with Anytown staff answering questions about the budget and how it would impact them. The superintendent was ‘transparent’ with this information. He discussed enrollment at Anytown and the balance needed to satisfy the budget. Consequently, people were more prepared to handle the inevitable changes. Anytown’ Intermediate's Staff has been reduced by 12 teachers. Class sizes will be increased to adjust to the smaller staff.

5. GUIDING TEAM Superintendent Principal Vice-Principal At the building level only the Principal and Vice Principal are developing Arcola’s new schedule and then it is presented to the department coordinators. There is no room for discussion or input from the staff. Team Should include all administrators and representatives from within the building

6. VISION Arcola will have 12 less teachers Change must be fully implemented by September Class sizes will increase by 6 students One less team at each grade level Teachers will be teaching subjects for the first time Expectations do not change Anytown Intermediate School will educate the same number of students, providing the same level of quality education with less staff. The student experience will not change.

7. The effect of class size is well documented in research. Some research indicates that student achievement increases with smaller class size (Konstantopoulos, S., 2011).

8. Smaller class size has resulted in positive effects on students’ achievement in early grades (Konstantopoulos, 2011).

9. Communicate for Understanding and Buy In The communication is delivered to staff to inform them of changes that have been made There has not been any formal or direct communication between the supervisor of sped and the building principal, The VP has communicated some information. There is no opportunity to present feed back or voice concerns about special education student needs. Individuals, Department Chairs, Departments and the faculty and staff as a whole have been included in some form with communication.

10. Empower Others to Act Provide opportunities for staff to have input in the process and include them in the decision making process Self Reflection on the part of the Administration to determine if current process is being as successful as it could be The opportunity to act in an effective manner that would support this building change has not been provided nor welcomed when given.

11. No furloughs at the district No furloughs at the district Teachers will support each other Teachers who are in a new subject will be provided with a Mentor The building schedule will be completed and students will have schedules for September Anytown Intermediate school was an appropriate choice for this change Produce Short – Term Wins No furloughs at the district

12. Revisit current strategies for effectiveness Create opportunities to share thoughts on building schedule and the impact on special education students Support teachers when changes in the schedule directly impact the ability to deliver special education supports and services Don’t Let Up Continue to work with Anytown’s Administration with sustaining this change

13. Create a New Culture A new culture is developing at Anytown Continue to move forward with the plan, adjusting as needed Provide Staff training in the area of Differentiated Instruction Set up a team to review the success of the new schedule, for suggestions on improvements and changes for the following year. Create a New Culture Meet with departments through out the year to hear first hand how the change is effecting them