02
BOARD CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Monday, February 4, 2002
Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, February 4, 2002, at 6:45 p.m. in the SuperintendentÕs Conference Room at the Education Center. Present were Curriculum Committee Members, William Nelson and Monty Perfetti and Board Members Loretta Leeson, Craig Haytmanek, William Heske, Charlene Koch, Margaret Williams, Rosario Amato and Julie Venanzi. Also in attendance were Superintendent Thomas Doluisio and Assistant Superintendent Michele Kostem.
There were no issues addressed during Open Forum.
Craig
Zieger, President of the Bethlehem Education Association, provided an
introduction and an overview of the goals of the Academic Standards
Academy. The focus of this program
is to accelerate and elevate the learning of students who have been retained
due to poor academic performance and those incoming students who are at risk of
not meeting Pennsylvania academic standards. He noted that grants from the Pennsylvania Department of
Education and the Pennsylvania State Education Association in the amount of
$300,000 have been provided for the research and development phase of this
project. In addition, the
Bethlehem Education Association has committed to providing $50,000 for teacher
training.
Mr.
Doluisio introduced the video, ÒSolutions for SuccessÓ. The video highlighted the major
objectives of the program.
Tom
Kartsotis gave an overview of the program. He told those present that the student selection process
will include assessing PSSA, NSRE and standardized test scores, as well as
soliciting teacher feedback and looking at the student profile. The curriculum will focus on
English/language arts and Math and will incorporate other content areas. The Academy will be comprised of small
instructional groups that will provide more individualized attention with
minimal interruption. He reviewed
the proposed mathematics team schedule and stated that each quarter would
include nine weeks of instruction, with the first assessment occurring after
four and a half weeks. He
explained the process of how a student would move through the schedule. The English/language arts schedule will
include a technology component.
Scott
Garrigan, ICT Coordinator,
described how technology will be incorporated into the program. This component will support the
teaching and learning process.
Each student will have a personal computer. A staff component will be included to track student progress.
Iris
Cintron told those present that the Family Center would be involved in the
program by working with the families prior to the start of school. In addition, they will address
attendance concerns and provide on site health/dental/vision services at no
cost to the district. A team
approach will be used to provide support services to families as needed.
In
response to a question from Loretta Leeson, it was noted that homework will be
addressed during the regular school day, probably at the end of each block
session. She was also told that
the probable profile of a student considered for attendance at the Academy
would include attendance at a Title I school and a pattern of poor
attendance. A more specific
profile for students attending the Academy will be developed this summer.
Mr.
Heske mentioned that the program will have to be marketed to make the school
more appealing.
Pat
Derrico reviewed the implementation timelines for the remainder of this school
year. By the end of February,
tentative identification of students will be completed. During the months of February and
March, the staff selection process will take place. Orientation for selected staff members will occur during
April and May to define expectations.
During the summer months, staff development will take place, student
demographics will be reviewed, a reporting process will be developed, and
planning for the parent orientation program will occur.
Karen
Persichini outlined the details of the Academy experience. Approximately 150 students will attend
the Academy. The Academy program
is set up in four separate blocks consisting of English/language arts, math,
science/social studies, and creative arts. Character education will also be incorporated throughout the
curriculum. Fifteen or less
students will comprise a block.
Each block is 100 minutes.
Academy students will have an extended day and extended school
year. It was noted that the BEA
has promised full support for the extended hours that will be required by staff
members. There will be no homework
assigned during the first semester.
Mr.
Doluisio reviewed the anticipated funding costs for the first year of the
program. He told those present
that the cost would be $979,000 ($6,526 per student). He has already secured funding from PPL and other community
sources. He will also reallocate
Title I funds. In addition to the
funding promised by the BEA for teacher training, the State will provide
funding for assessment purposes.
Mr.
Doluisio asked for the BoardÕs support to use money from this yearÕs budget to
cover the miscellaneous start up costs for the program. The Board members present gave full
support to his request.
Mr.
Doluisio stated that he is very impressed with the work of the Academy Steering
Committee. Mrs. Leeson and Mrs.
Williams thanked the committee for their dedication to the project.
The
meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Minutes
Prepared By:
________________________________________________
Lynda Ruth, Confidential Secretary