TO: Middle School Teachers, Support Staff, and Counselors
FROM: Shanna Merritt, Acting Principal and Kelly Stewart, Principal
DATE: July 24, 2025
RE: 2025-2026 Middle School Schedule, Instructional Expectations, and Legal Compliance
Dear Middle School Staff,
As part of our commitment to instructional excellence and legal compliance, we are updating the middle school schedule for the 2025–2026 school year to align with the Virginia Administrative Code 8VAC20-671-510, which mandates that each middle school course be provided with a minimum of 140 clock hours in English, mathematics, science, and history/social science. A recent review determined that the district was out of compliance with this regulation in several areas, including world language, science, and history. These changes are necessary and non-negotiable.
We understand that these changes may be difficult, but they are necessary. A recent audit of our middle school schedule revealed these longstanding areas of noncompliance with the administrative code, findings that only came to light within the last few weeks. Our responsibility is to respond swiftly and lawfully. Our goal is to maximize instructional time while maintaining a schedule that is both sustainable and aligned with other high-performing districts in our region. We believe the revised structure accomplishes that.
Parents and teachers must understand that these changes are legally required. We have an ethical and legal obligation to ensure that every student receives at least 140 hours of seat time in all middle school courses, not just English and math.
To correct this, the following updates will take effect in August 2025:
● The EIB (Enrichment, Intervention, and Block Support) period will be removed.
● The Friday “C Day” schedule will shift to an alternating A/B rotation, with students attending either an A day or B day schedule on Fridays.
● A daily stand-alone homeroom period will be added to support community-building and student readiness.
These adjustments allow us to meet required instructional hours while preserving academic integrity and student schedules.
What remains the same:
1. Start and end times of the school day
2. Student class assignments and number of courses taken
3. Number of classes taught by each teacher
4. Teacher assignments to specific classes
5. Student and teacher course loads and cluster assignments
The revised 4-block schedule includes:
●Four instructional blocks per day, approximately 93 minutes each
● A daily stand-alone homeroom period (approx. 5 minutes/day, 25 minutes/week)
● Total daily seat time that meets or exceeds the 5½-hour requirement
● Daily opportunities for targeted, standards-based small group instruction in all four core areas
This model supports:
● Fewer transitions and more sustained learning time
● More instructional flexibility for labs, projects, and collaboration
● Stronger academic interventions during the school day
● More focused planning time for teachers
Next steps:
All staff will receive professional development on block scheduling strategies, including:
● Brain-based instructional practices
● Lesson design for extended periods
● Differentiation and small group strategies
● Techniques for maximizing student engagement and retention
We appreciate your partnership as we take necessary steps to uphold the standards expected of public schools in Virginia. Thank you for your ongoing dedication to every student’s growth and success.
Sincerely,
Kelly Stewart
Principal, Peasley Middle School
Shanna Merritt
Acting Principal, Page Middle School
Dr. Stefan Mygas
Director of Secondary Instruction
Dr. Anthony Vladu
Superintendent