BETHLEHEM AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD CURRICULUM COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2005
Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, October 10, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. in the Superintendent's Conference Room at the Education Center. Present were: Curriculum Committee Members Anthony Villani, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and Richard Agretto, director of special education; and Board Members Rosario Amato, Joseph Craig, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, William Heske, Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, Diane Rowe, Julie Venanzi, Margaret Williams, and student representative Laura Collins. Also in attendance were: Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools; Robert Gross, assistant superintendent for human resources; Stanley Majewski, assistant to the superintendent for finance and administration; Mia Fernandes, coordinator of literacy; Julie Victory, supervisor of mathematics; Eric Smith, supervisor of science; George VanDoren, coordinator of English language arts; Thomas Washington, director of student services; Robin Lutcher, director of information technologies; Frank Arbushites, coordinator of academic computing; Doris Correll, coordinator of English acquisition; Dean Donaher, principal of Liberty High School; Roger Washburn, principal of Freedom High School; and representatives of the press.
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS (15 minutes allowed)
Moved to end of meeting.
OPEN FORUM
1. Mr. Craig congratulated Dr. Lewis on being chosen to be part of a statewide panel to evaluate the No Child Left Behind legislation and its impact on schools.
2. Mrs. Rowe noted that she and Dr. Lewis attended the Science Fest at Marvine Elementary School on Sunday, October 9, 2005, and congratulated everyone on a job well done, especially Ms. Linda Frederick, Mr. Steve Teeno, and Mr. Chuck Kunesh.
DISTRICT TEST RESULTS PRESENTATION (PSSA/SAT/TERRA NOVA)
Mr. Villani presented the district's PSSA results with an emphasis on district-wide disaggregated scores of the various subgroups. Also, a longitudinal look at the data was presented, along with district trends at the various grade levels.
Mr. Villani then made a presentation on the results of our district's high school students who took the SAT test prior to graduation this year. He noted that nearly 1.5 million students across the country, representing 49 percent of the 2005 graduation class, took the SAT. The math scores of the class of 2005 resumed the strong upward trend seen in math performance in the early 1900s, rising by two points nationally to 520. Verbal scores have risen nationally by two points over the past five years to 508. The report also broke out the student scores by ethnic group. He noted that, when looking at the top ten percent of our students taking the test, Bethlehem Area School District students continue to outperform similarly to students both statewide and nationally.
It was also noted that a new SAT format debuted this past March and will be reflected in new scores and comparisons for next year. Course content and curriculum will also be reviewed to make sure it reflects what students need to know for the SAT test.
Mr. Villani also reviewed the Terra Nova test results from the spring of 2005, with a national comparison for reading, language, and mathematics.
The board thanked Mr. Villani for the test presentation and requested that he bring an update to the board in a couple of months.
SKILL-21 EVALUATION AND LAPTOP ROLLOUT UPDATE
Mrs. Lutcher presented an update on the laptop rollout for this year. She stated that two of the middle schools are complete, and they are currently working on the other two. There was a slight delay because the district had to wait for newer models this year. Dr. Lewis noted that 3,900 computers were rolled out this year.
Mrs. Lutcher introduced Dr. Ward Cates who presented his final report on the Bethlehem Area School District's One-to-One Laptop Initiative. He stated that the Bethlehem Area School District's laptop initiative had just completed its first full school year. Beginning in the fall of 2003, Broughal Middle School served as the initial test site. At that time, only sixth grade teachers and their students were involved. In January of 2004, the other three middle schools joined in the initial implementation, once again involving only sixth grade teachers and their students. Dr. Cates had many positive findings. He found that it decreased the digital divide, increased students' twenty-first century skills, and increased student engagement among other effects.
Dr. Cates noted that he will be looking for more grant money and will be submitting a proposal shortly to continue the evaluation process.
MATH PROGRAM PROPOSAL
Dr. Lewis noted that after a thorough review of relevant information, data, anecdotal commentary listed in documents he distributed, and multiple meetings with supervisors and administrators, he, Mr. Villani, and Mrs. Victory have prepared a proposal to change secondary math course offerings for grades eight through twelve. The rationale for the decision to complete the phase out of Contemporary Mathematics in Context (Core Plus) was outlined. The proposal does not presuppose specific textbook selection but provides a timeline and process for textbook selection involving teachers, supervisors, and administration. However, the textbook parameters have been identified to support traditional course offerings following the Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, and Calculus course titles and designs. The state's anchor standards and the objectives supporting those standards will remain in force.
As a result, the following recommendation is being made: The Core Plus series should be phased out for both the Honors and Academic programs in eighth grade A-track and at Freedom and Liberty High Schools.
In order to achieve this recommendation, the following will occur:
n Single-content, traditional-formatted textbooks (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II) should be reviewed and purchased for use during 2006-2007 school year. Meetings will be held on November 2 and 3, 2005, with representatives from textbook publishers and mathematics teachers from Liberty and Freedom High Schools. A minimum of two texts will be chosen for pilot of units during second semester. New text selections will be made during second semester. The district will use the same text for Honors and Academic programs but have different scope and sequences, thus supporting the philosophy that the textbook is a resource.
n Courses for both Honors and Academic programs should be renamed to reflect the new emphasis. Career Prep math courses will use a new traditional textbook with spiral connections to other topics in mathematics. These math courses should have new names, such as Career Prep Math 9, Career Prep Algebra 1A, Career Prep Algebra 1B, and Career Prep Geometry to reflect the traditional emphasis. All math course names will be finalized this fall after dialogue with the math staff and principals.
n There will be a review with middle school principals and math staff of traditional math texts for middle school math classes to supplement the current Connected Mathematics series. A traditional textbook at this level would continue the practice of having a traditional text for concurrent use with investigations at the elementary level.
n The district will consider extending academic courses that span two semesters for students with PSSA proficiency levels of basic or below basic. The district will use a traditional text but move at a slower pace.
Evidence of success will include: increase in PSSA, GMADE, Terra Nova, and SAT scores; positive results from qualitative surveys of teachers and students.
COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS (15 minutes allowed)
1. Tamie Swain, 4410 Loraine Lane, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Topic: Math Program
2. Chris Andrews, 4530 Virginia Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Topic: Math Program
3. Judith Dexter-Rice, 1866 Homestead Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Topic: Math Program/Middle School Math Program
4. Tova Goldstein, Blair Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Topic: Math Program
5. Thomas Pelletiers, 1320 Gaspar Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Topic: Math Program/Skill Sets
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45 p.m.
Minutes Prepared By:
Charlotte L. Zimmerman
Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction