11:00 a.m.–12:12 p.m.
Meeting Conducted By: Dr. Sean Edwards, Principal
Notes: Liana Mangisi, Administrative Secretary
Attendance: Sean Edwards, Nicole Murray, Katie Webster, Joy McMurray, Joelle Lambert, Alex Jensen, Michelle Shrader, Greg Cronin, Liana Mangisi
Additional Attendees: Jennifer Partridge, Board of Education Representative; Heather Williams, Administrative Intern
Absent: Madeline Hamblin
Welcome, Mission, Vision, and Meeting Norms
The meeting began at 11:00 a.m. Dr. Edwards welcomed members and reviewed Centennial Middle School's mission and vision. The mission emphasizes creating a collaborative community in which each person feels safe, develops academic skills, and faces challenges. The vision is to empower learners for life by building community, scholarship, and resilience.
The Council also reviewed PACK-aligned meeting norms: Perseverance – Participate Purposefully; Academics – Keep Focus on Students; Community – Collaborate for Collective Success; and Kindness – Assume Positive Intent.
School Improvement Plan Goals
Dr. Edwards reviewed Centennial's 2026–2027 School Improvement Plan goals:
Reading: Increase RISE ELA proficiency by at least 3% by May 2027, with additional NWEA Reading growth targets based on students' beginning-of-year proficiency.
Math: Increase RISE Math proficiency by at least 3% by May 2027, with additional NWEA Math growth targets based on students' beginning-of-year proficiency.
PBIS/Behavior: Decrease office disciplinary referrals by at least 5% and minor offenses by at least 5% by May 2027.
Answered clarifying questions about the School Improvement Plan goals, including the purposed of NWEA and what percentile targets mean and are in reference to.
Purpose of the School Community Council
The Council reviewed the role of School Community Councils and the School LAND Trust Program. The purpose of the SCC includes involving parents in school decision-making, improving educational opportunities and student achievement, collaborating on the use of School LAND Trust funds, and increasing public awareness of trust lands and funds.
Council members also discussed their responsibility to use data and evidence to identify academic needs, establish goals and measurements, oversee the use of LAND Trust funds, and support district and school academic priorities.
Introductions and Contact Information
Council members and guests introduced themselves and discussed their roles and reasons for participating in the SCC. Members expressed a shared interest in supporting students, contributing parent and community perspectives, understanding school decision-making, and helping improve educational opportunities at Centennial.
Members were also asked to confirm their contact information. SCC member names and a method for community members to contact representatives will be available through the school website.
2026–2027 SCC Meeting Schedule
The Council reviewed and approved the 2026–2027 meeting calendar. Meetings will be held at 11:00 a.m. on the following dates: September 23, October 28, November 18, January 27, February 24, March 24, and May 26. No meetings are scheduled for December or April.
Action: A motion was made and seconded to approve the meeting calendar. The motion passed.
School Improvement Plan and LAND Trust Funding
The Council reviewed the 2026–2027 School Improvement Plan and the use of School LAND Trust funds. Approximately $205,000 is allocated toward teacher compensation, including funding for two English Language Arts teachers to support Secondary Reading intervention offerings and one Math teacher to support Math Lab intervention offerings.
Rules of Order and Procedure
The Council reviewed its Rules of Order and Procedure, including expectations related to SCC membership and participation.
Action: A motion was made and seconded to approve the Rules of Order and Procedure. The motion passed.
Election of SCC Leadership
The Council reviewed the responsibilities of the SCC Chair and Co-Chair. The Chair works with the principal to plan meeting agendas and must be a parent representative.
Action: Michelle Shrader was nominated to serve as SCC Chairperson for 2026–2027. A motion was made, seconded, and approved.
Action: Greg Cronin was nominated to serve as SCC Co-Chairperson for 2026–2027. A motion was made, seconded, and approved.
The Chair (and Co-Chair as needed) will work with Dr. Edwards in advance of monthly meetings to review and prepare SCC agendas.
School Schedule Evaluation
Dr. Edwards provided an update regarding Centennial's ongoing evaluation of its schoolwide schedule. CMS has used a 5×5 A/B schedule for approximately 10 years, allowing students to take up to 10 courses over a two-day rotation. The model was originally designed to expand elective access and provide additional intervention and support opportunities.
Dr. Edwards emphasized that there is no predetermined decision regarding a schedule change. The purpose of the process is to thoughtfully evaluate the strengths and challenges of the current model and determine which schedule would best support student and educator success. The schedule evaluation information in no way is meant to suggest one schedule is “wrong” or “bad” as every schedule has its own benefits and challenges.
Feedback gathered during the 2025–2026 school year included informal conversations and emails, an educator survey, the Building Leadership Team, School Community Council, and a parent focus group. Parent discussions generally reflected an interest in using evidence and data to determine what is best for students. Educator feedback was more varied, with a slight preference for maintaining the current 5×5 schedule.
Four primary areas for continued consideration were discussed:
Core Instruction: Every-other-day classes create gaps in instructional frequency. The presentation noted that daily instruction provides more frequent opportunities for students to recall information, practice skills, receive feedback, and build upon prior learning.
Instructional Minutes: Estimates presented to the Council showed approximately 5,760 annual minutes per course under the 5×5 model compared with approximately 8,100 minutes under a seven-period daily model—a difference of approximately 39 hours, or 28.9%, per course. The presentation noted that these figures are estimates and can be affected by testing, assemblies, early-release days, safety drills, and other events.
Student Course Load: Students currently manage up to 10 courses and the associated expectations, assignments, deadlines, grading practices, and communication systems. The Council discussed this in relation to the organizational and executive-function skills that are still developing during adolescence.
Educator Workload: The number of students served under different scheduling models can affect teacher planning, grading, feedback, parent communication, student relationships, intervention, enrichment, and behavior support. Recruitment and retention considerations were also discussed.
The school is currently exploring several possible models, including the existing 5×5 A/B schedule, a 7-period daily schedule, a 4×4 A/B schedule, and a 6-period daily schedule. Considerations include daily instruction, elective opportunities, student organization, teacher preparation time, teacher student load, student attention, classroom intervention, teacher-student relationships, and the relationship between attendance and learning.
The discussion also connected the schedule evaluation to the Provo City School District Strategic Plan and its emphasis on increasing academic proficiency in core subjects.
Stakeholder conversations will continue during September and October. If a schedule change is ultimately recommended, a proposed schedule would be presented to the Board of Education for consideration before implementation for the 2027–2028 school year.
Council members were encouraged to continue considering the benefits, challenges, and tradeoffs associated with each scheduling model and to provide additional feedback.
Members of the council shared and asked the following: Based on a review of data and research, there is no middle school schedule “best practice” (it really is about whatever will best meet the school's needs), educator planning is possibly not as heavy of a load when on a block schedule compared to a daily schedule, cleared misconceptions about parents being encouraged to enroll their child in a partial schedule (we want students to be at school for the full school day as much as possible), clarified that CMS is not over enrollment and that we do have space for all our current students enrolled, and made it clear that the greatest impact does not come from one schedule or another but rather from the quality of planning and instruction from teachers. It is the teachers who make the greatest difference.
Next Meeting
The next SCC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
Council members were also asked, if possible, to review the schedule evaluation information in advance of the next meeting so the discussion can continue.
Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Alex Jensen and seconded. The meeting adjourned at 12:12 p.m.
Presentation Link: School Community Council Meeting Presentation
