BOARD CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Monday, May 1, 2000
Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, May 1, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. in the Superintendent’s Conference Room at the Education Center. Present were Committee Members William Nelson, Monty Perfetti and Ric Agretto and Board Members Loretta Leeson, Lynn Glancy, William Heske, Margaret Williams, Julie Venanzi and Joe Craig. Also in attendance were Superintendent Thomas J. Doluisio and Assistant Superintendent Michele Kostem.
There were no issues addressed during Open Forum.
Iris Cintron told those present that the purpose in issuing the grant monies was to help school districts achieve the goal to have all children reading by the end of third grade. The criteria for application for this grant included schools not increasing their PSSA scores and schools not showing improvement in performance during the past two years. Three of our district elementary schools met the criteria: Donegan, Fountain Hill, and Marvine.
Lupe Matias, principal at Marvine, told those present that a plan has been developed based on three basic needs: parents need to be informed about teaching strategies, literacy training needs to take place in the home, and classroom libraries. The school will address these needs by using a balanced literacy approach with the services of a literacy coach. The process will cover interaction to, with, and by the child.
At Donegan, a great deal of research was done on best practices. It was decided that the focus for the school would be on the community component by offering support and services to the parents at various locations throughout the neighborhood. They will also focus on classroom libraries adapted to student levels. A literacy coach will coordinate all of these interventions.
Loretta Leeson asked what strategies would be used for a student that is new to the classroom and behind other students in achievement. She was told that within each classroom, there is flexible group instruction, to help bring a child up to grade level. Also the literacy coach would make visits to the home.
In response to a concern from Joe Craig about getting parents to be involved in these initiatives, Sandra Figueroa said that transportation will be provided and that parents will be encouraged to participate by offering games, refreshments, etc. to make the sessions less intimidating.
At Fountain Hill, in addition to the use of a literacy coach, the focus will be on providing the time needed to accomplish their goals by extending the school day and/or school year. Joe Rahs told those present that parent literacy will be available to the community and an additional reading specialist will be hired .
Iris Cintron added that the funding will be available for two years and statistics will be shared on the progress of these endeavors at the end of the two years. An outside evaluator will be reviewing the programs. She thanked everyone for their commitment to this project.
William Nelson, Director of Elementary Education, presented the proposed Board Policy to allow the superintendent, at his discretion, to extend the school day and/or school year on a case-by-case basis to students who have not achieved academic standards identified for their grade level. Committee members were also shown a sample of the form that will be used to notify parents that their child is not achieving the expected standards, as well as the return form to register their child for academic support.
Loretta Leeson expressed a concern about the child who may become overburdened with additional academic support strategies and the repercussions to a parent’s decision about removing their child from the program. She was reminded that decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
Joe Craig was assured that all requests for academic support will be accommodated.
The policy will be presented for a second reading at the May 15 Board Meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
Minutes prepared by __________________________________
Lynda Ruth, Confidential Secretary