A new student advisory initiative at J. Taylor Finley Middle School has been approved by Huntington School Board members. The new program will be implemented in the 2022/23 school year.
All seventh and eighth graders in the building will participate in the initiative. A new program proposal was earlier presented to the Subject Matter Council and Educational Development Committee.
“Advisory periods will take place at least once per month during homeroom periods,” states the course description presented to trustees. “These sessions will be 40 minutes in length and will rotate across periods 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9. Teachers will conduct coordinated discussions with each group, based on a pre-planned set of topics for each month. Teachers will also have the flexibility to discuss other topics as needed.”
Materials for the program will be purchased through state school improvement grant funds. There is no other cost associated with the initiative.
“This is a continuation of a two-year implementation of peer/restorative circles at the middle school level,” according to the rationale for the program. “It also addresses an ongoing school goal related to improved student relationships and providing students with opportunities to express themselves in a safe and constructive manner.”
No staffing changes are required to implement the new program.