Stroudsburg Middle School

Stroudsburg Middle School is located at 200 Pocono Commons, Stroudsburg. The school is part of the Stroudsburg Area School District. In 2013, enrollment declined to 1,202 pupils, in grades 5th through 7th, with 42% of pupils eligible for a free lunch due to family poverty. Additionally, 15.7% of pupils received special education services, while 2.58% of pupils were identified as gifted.[2] According to a 2013 report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, 6% of its teachers were rated "Non Highly Qualified" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.[3]

Stroudsburg Middle School
Location
200 Pocono Commons
Stroudsburg, PA 18360

Monroe County

United States
Coordinates40.997253°N 75.237778°W / 40.997253; -75.237778
Information
TypeMiddle school
School districtStroudsburg Area School District
SuperintendentDr. John A. Toleno (contract 2001 through August 19, 2014)[1]
PrincipalLaura Connolly
Faculty45 regular classroom teachers (2014)
Grades5–7
Number of students1,202 pupils (2013), 1,289 (2010)
 • Grade 5383 (2012), 392 (2010)
 • Grade 6413 (2012), 460
 • Grade 7406 (2012), 453
Feeder schoolsStroudsburg Intermediate Elementary School
Websitelink

The Middle School building operates a split program, with the fifth and sixth grades following an elementary model with team teaching, and the seventh grade following a secondary model with a homeroom and separate teachers for each subject.[4] Other specialized staff provide instruction for seventh graders, and additional curriculum and supporting instruction for the regular educational program in all three grades. These positions include: 5 music teachers, 1 ESL teacher, 1.3 Art teachers, 1 computer teacher, 3 Health & Physical Education teachers, 1.50 Tech Education teachers, 3.66 Reading Specialists, and 2.50 Math Specialists. The school's total Regular Instruction staff is 72.82 positions, with the salaries costing $5,307,486 in 2014.

In 2010, Stroudsburg Middle School enrollment was 1,305 students in grades 5th through 7th, with 411 pupils receiving a federal free or reduced-price lunch due to family poverty. The school employed 101 teachers, yielding a student–teacher ratio of 12.86:1.[5] According to a report to the PDE, 29 classes were taught by "Non‐Highly Qualified" Teachers.[6] Due to its low academic performance, the Stroudsburg Middle School Administration was required by the federal No Child Left Behind law to offer the opportunity to students to transfer to a successful middle school in the district. Letters were sent to each student's parents. The school's administration was also required to develop a School Improvement Plan and submit it to the Pennsylvania Department of education for approval. The school was eligible for targeted federal School Improvement funding.

Their slogan is "The Stroudsburg area school district is a safe and loving environment that promotes learning and individual success".

Academics
2013 School Performance Profile

Stroudsburg Middle School achieved 82.9 out of 100. Reflects on-grade-level reading, writing, mathematics and science achievement. In reading, just 70% of the students were on grade level. In Mathematics/Algebra 1, 81% of the students showed on-grade-level skills. In writing, just 69% of the 5th grade students demonstrated on-grade-level writing skills.[7]

AYP History

In 2012, Stroudsburg Middle School declined further to Corrective Action I level AYP status due to chronic low academic achievement of the pupils.[8]

  • 2011 - Making Progress: in Corrective Action I status due to low student achievement.
  • 2010 - declined to Corrective Action I status due to chronic, low student achievement of special education students and low-income students.[9]
  • 2009 - Making Progress - School Improvement Level II[10]
  • 2008 - declined to School Improvement Level II due to chronic student underachievement[11]
  • 2007 - declined to School Improvement Level I[12]
  • 2006 - Warning AYP status due to lagging student achievement.[13]

PSSA Results

Pennsylvania System of School Assessments, commonly called PSSAs are NCLB related examinations given in the Spring of each school year. Sixth and seventh grades have been tested in reading and mathematics since 2006. The fifth grade is tested in reading, writing and mathematics.[14] The goal is for 100% of students to be on grade level or better in reading and mathematics, by the Spring of 2014. The tests focus on the state's Academic Standards for reading, writing, and mathematics.[15] The standards were published in 1998 and are mandated by the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. In 2014, the Commonwealth adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards - Mathematics.[16]

Wellness policy

Stroudsburg Area School Board established a district-wide wellness policy 246 in March 2006.[23] The policy deals with nutritious meals served at school, the control of access to some foods and beverages during school hours, age appropriate nutrition education for all students, and physical education for students K-12. The policy is in response to state mandates and federal legislation (P.L. 108 – 265). The law dictates that each school district participating in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq) "shall establish a local school wellness policy by School Year 2006." Most districts identified the superintendent and school foodservice director as responsible for ensuring local wellness policy implementation.[24]

The legislation placed the responsibility of developing a wellness policy at the local level so the individual needs of each district can be addressed. According to the requirements for the Local Wellness Policy, school districts must set goals for nutrition education, physical activity, campus food provision, and other school-based activities designed to promote student wellness. Additionally, districts were required to involve a broad group of individuals in policy development and to have a plan for measuring policy implementation. Districts were offered a choice of levels of implementation for limiting or prohibiting low nutrition foods on the school campus. In final implementation these regulations prohibit some foods and beverages on the school campus.[25] The Pennsylvania Department of Education required the district to submit a copy of the policy for approval.

Stroudsburg Middle School offers both a free school breakfast and a free or reduced-price lunch to children in low-income families. All students attending the school can eat breakfast and lunch. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are provided a breakfast and lunch at no cost to the family. Children from families with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of the federal poverty level can be charged no more than 30 cents per breakfast. A foster child whose care and placement is the responsibility of the State or who is placed by a court with a caretaker household is eligible for both a free breakfast and a free lunch. Runaway, homeless and Migrant Youth are also automatically eligible for free meals.[26] The meals are partially funded with federal dollars through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).[27]

In 2013, the USDA issued new restrictions to foods in public schools. The rules apply to foods and beverages sold on all public school district campuses during the day. They limit vending machine snacks to a maximum of 200 calories per item. Additionally, all snack foods sold at school must meet competitive nutrient standards, meaning they must have fruits, vegetables, dairy or protein in them or contain at least 10 percent of the daily value of fiber, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin D.[28] In order to comply with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 all US public school districts are required to raise the price of their school lunches to $2.60 regardless of the actual cost of providing the lunch.[29] In 2014, President Obama ordered a prohibition of advertisements for unhealthy foods on public school campuses during the school day.[30] The Food and Drug Administration requires that students take milk as their beverage at lunch. In accordance with this law, any student requesting water in place of milk with their lunch must present a written request, signed by a doctor, documenting the need for water instead of milk.[31]

Stroudsburg Middle School provides health services as mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Nurses are available in each building to conduct annual health screenings (data reported to the PDE and state Department of Health) and to dispense prescribed medications to students during the school day. Students can be excluded from school unless they comply with all the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s extensive immunization mandates. School nurses monitor each pupil for this compliance.[32][33] Nurses also monitor each child's weight.

The school provides a physical education program to all its pupils on a weekly basis.

School safety and bullying

The Stroudsburg Area School District administration reported there were fifty-one incidents of bullying in the Stroudsburg Middle School in 2012. Additionally, there were seven assaults on students and ten sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in seven incidents at the school, with no arrests.[34] [35] Each year the school safety data is reported by the district to the Safe School Center which then publishes the compiled reports online. Nationally, nearly 20% of pupils report being bullied at school.[36]

The Stroudsburg Area School District administration reported there were seventy-eight incidents of bullying in the Stroudsburg Middle School in 2012. Additionally, there were seven sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in seven incidents at the school, with three arrests.[37]

The Stroudsburg Area School District administration reported there was one (1) incident of bullying in the Stroudsburg Middle School in 2009. Additionally, there were two (2) sexual incidents involving students. The local law enforcement was involved in twenty-two (22) incidents at the school, with no arrests.[38]

In 2008, the Stroudsburg Area School Board mandated a strict dress code with the intent of improving school safety.[39][40] Families may qualify under certain income guidelines for a standardized dress subsidy paid for by local taxpayers. Failure to comply with the dress code results in students going to in school suspension.

Stroudsburg Area School District contracted with Right Reason Technologies to provide student safety training to students at Stroudsburg Middle School. They will be providing Bullying Awareness, Internet Safety, and Sexting Awareness and Prevention training. The program will be used to enhance the district’s bullying prevention and Internet safety programs while also helping to address the problem of sexting.

The federal No Child Left Behind Act established the Unsafe School Choice Option.[41] Each state that receives federal funds was mandated to establish a statewide policy requiring that a student at a “persistently dangerous” public school be allowed to transfer/enroll in a safe public school. The policy permitted a student who becomes the victim of a violent criminal offense, while in or on the grounds of any public school that he or she attends, to transfer to a safe public school. Each year since 2006, the Pennsylvania Department of Education has released a list of Persistently Dangerous Schools. Area School District schools have not been on the lists.[42]

The Stroudsburg Area School Board has provided the district's Bullying/Cyberbullying policy 249 online in 2012.[43] All Pennsylvania schools are required to have an anti-bullying policy incorporated into their Code of Student Conduct. The policy must identify disciplinary actions for bullying and designate a school staff person to receive complaints of bullying. The policy must be available on the school's website and posted in every classroom. All Pennsylvania public schools must provide a copy of its anti-bullying policy to the Office for Safe Schools every year, and shall review their policy every three years. Additionally, the district must conduct an annual review of that policy with students.[44] The Center for Schools and Communities works in partnership with the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime & Delinquency and the Pennsylvania Department of Education to assist schools and communities as they research, select and implement bullying prevention programs and initiatives.[45][46]

Education standards relating to student safety and anti harassment programs are described in the 10.3. Safety and Injury Prevention in the Pennsylvania Academic Standards for Health, Safety and Physical Education.[47]

Stroudsburg Area School District did not participate in the Commonwealth's Safe Schools Office’s Target Grants for 2012-13 or 2013-14. The district also did not participate in the 2013-14 School Resource Office/School Police Officer Grant from the Commonwealth. Both grants provide funding to establish a safe school environment.

Truancy

Stroudsburg Area School District works cooperatively with Monroe County's Truancy Task Force in response to the Statewide Task Force on School Attendance and Truancy Reduction to bring consistency in the application of Pennsylvania’s truancy law. Upon the fourth unlawful absence a citation is issued; a referral is made to Children and Youth and a school/family conference for students in grade 5-9 will be scheduled with a Judge or designee.[48]

The Old Middle School 1974-2000

The original Stroudsburg Middle School was opened in September 1974 and is now the site of the Stroudsburg Intermediate School on Chipperfield Drive. The School was built as an "Open Concept" school with no walls. The school housed grades 5 through 8. Grades 5-6 ran on the later elementary busing schedule, while grades 7-8 were aligned with the high school bell and busing schedules. In September of 2000, when construction of the Stroudsburg Junior High School was complete, The school was renamed Stroudsburg Intermediate School and housed grades 4-6, later 3-4 when the current Middle School opened in 2005.

In 2014, the Pocono Record had released a series of articles celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Stroudsburg Middle School, which include photos and historical accounts from past students and teachers.

References
  1. PDE, Ed Names and Addresses, 2014
  2. Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "Stroudsburg Middle School School Fast Facts 2013".
  3. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Professional Qualifications of Teachers Stroudsburg Middle School, October 4, 2013
  4. Stroudsburg Area School District Administration, Budget Detail Report 2014-15, 2014
  5. National Center for Education Statistics - Common Core Data - Stroudsburg Middle School, 2010
  6. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School - Professional Qualifications of Teachers, 2011
  7. Pennsylvania Department of Education (October 4, 2013). "Stroudsburg Middle School Academic Performance Data 2013,".
  8. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Stroudsburg Middle School AYP Overview 2012". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  9. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School AYP Overview 2011, September 29, 2011
  10. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School AYP Overview 2009, September 14, 2009
  11. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School AYP Overview 2008, August 15, 2008
  12. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School AYP Overview 2007, 2007
  13. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School AYP Overview 2006, 2006
  14. Pennsylvania Department of Education. "IU16-PSSA 95-96 Results by School". Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  15. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "Standards Aligned Systems".
  16. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "State Academic Standards Mathematics".
  17. Pennsylvania Department of Education (September 21, 2012). "Stroudsburg Middle School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2012" (PDF).
  18. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2011, September 29, 2011
  19. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2010, October 20, 2010
  20. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2009, September 14, 2009
  21. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2008, August 15, 2008
  22. Pennsylvania Department of Education, Stroudsburg Middle School District Academic Achievement Report Card 2007, 2007
  23. Stroudsburg Area School Board (March 2006). "Student Wellness Policy 246".
  24. Probart C, McDonnell E, Weirich JE, Schilling L, Fekete V (September 2008). "Statewide assessment of local wellness policies in Pennsylvania public school districts". J Am Diet Assoc. 108 (9): 1497–502. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.06.429. PMID 18755322.
  25. Pennsylvania Department of Education – Division of Food and Nutrition (July 2008). "Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods in Pennsylvania Schools for the School Nutrition Incentive".
  26. USDA, Child Nutrition Programs - Eligibility Manual for School Meals, 2012
  27. Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center, The Pennsylvania School Breakfast Report Card, 2009
  28. USDA, Child Nutrition Programs, June 27, 2013
  29. United States Department of Agriculture (2011). "Food and Nutrition Service Equity in School Lunch Pricing Fact Sheet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-09-22.
  30. Denver Nicks (February 25, 2014). "White House Sets New Limits on Junk Food Ads in Schools". Time Magazine.
  31. USDA Food and Nutrition Service (2014). "School Meals FAQ".
  32. Pennsylvania State Department of Health (2010). "Pennsylvania Bulletin Doc. No. 10-984 School Immunizations; Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases".
  33. Pennsylvania Department of Health (2014). "School Immunization Requirements".
  34. Center for Safe Schools (2013). "Stroudsburg Middle School Safety Report 2013" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  35. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Safe School Center (2012). "Pennsylvania Safe Schools Online Reports".
  36. Safe & Responsive Schools Project (June 20, 2011). "Area high school students create anti-bullying mural". Williamsport Sun Gazette.
  37. Center for Safe Schools (2012). "Stroudsburg Middle School Safety Report 2011-12" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  38. Center for Safe Schools (2010). "Stroudsburg Middle School Safety Report 2009-10" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-05-31. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  39. Dan Berrett (May 13, 2008). "Stroudsburg school dress code in spotlight tonight". Pocono Record.
  40. Stroudsburg Area School Board (May 2008). "Standardized Dress Code" (PDF).
  41. Safe Schools Office (2006). "Unsafe School Choice Option".
  42. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2014). "Persistently Dangerous Schools".
  43. Strousburg Area School Board (May 16, 2012). "Bullying/Cyberbullying Policy 249,".
  44. Pennsylvania General Assembly (2006). "Regular Session 2007–2008 House Bill 1067, Act 61 Section 6 page 8".
  45. Center for Safe Schools of Pennsylvania (2006). "Bullying Prevention advisory".
  46. Pennsylvania Department of Education (2012). "Bullying, Hazing, and Harassment Resources". Archived from the original on 2011-11-21.
  47. Pennsylvania State Board of Education (January 11, 2003). "Pennsylvania Academic Standards Health, Safety and Physical Education".
  48. Stroudsburg Middle School Administration, Truancy Policy - SMS Student Handbook 2013-14, 2013
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