Update on Sanford Middle School

Sanford is growing and changing! As some of you may have noticed or heard, Sanford will have more students this next fall. We are excited that more and more students are choosing Sanford as their middle school. In addition, we are also gaining more students because of the Changing School Options—schools closing, boundaries changing. Sanford will still be a relatively small middle school—about 600 students—much smaller than in past years when it had over 1,000 students!
There is a great deal of remodeling going on this summer. We are adding more classrooms and re-purposing others. I have been promised it will all be done by Aug. 30, the first day of school!

We are adding several wonderful and experienced new staff. We will have two teams at both the 6th and 7th grade level. In addition, we are welcoming two citywide programs. The DCD program (for students with severe cognitive disabilities) is returning to Sanford. This program had been at Sanford until two years ago and we have missed the students! The SPAN program (for students with significant emotional and behavioral concerns) will also be with us—about 42 students and 14 or so staff, including an administrator. This is a self-contained program, with its own suite and all its own classes. We have heard nothing but good things about its staff and program.

In addition, the parking lot is being improved, the gym floors are being refurbished and much interior painting has been finished.

We are very optimistic and enthusiastic about the upcoming year. Sanford is starting the process toward becoming a Middle Years Program school (part of the International Baccalaureate program). We are continuing with our strong emphasis on staff development, relationship building, the Arts, Pre-Engineering and the teaching of Arabic. If you have questions or comments, please feel free to e-mail me at merdavis@-mpls.k12.-mn.us.

Sincerely,
Meredith Davis, Principal

This is a letter to the community sent out through Kristen Berg Thompson, the Area B community liaison.