BOARD CURRICULUM COMMITTEE

MEETING MINUTES

MONDAY, MAY 8, 2006

 

 

Members of the Board Curriculum Committee met on Monday, May 8, 2006, at 6:15 p.m. in the Auditorium at East Hills Middle School. 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, Judith Dexter, Dr. Craig Haytmanek, William Heske, Charlene Koch, Loretta Leeson, Diane Rowe, and Margaret Williams. Also in attendance were: Dr. Joseph A. Lewis, superintendent of schools; Robert Gross, assistant superintendent for human resources; Robin Lutcher, director of information technologies; Stanley J. Majewski, Jr., assistant to the superintendent for finance and administration; Thomas Washington, director of student services; Eric Smith, supervisor of science; George VanDoren, coordinator of English language arts; Julie Victory, supervisor of mathematics; Frank Arbushites, coordinator of academic computing; and representatives of the press.

 

COURTESY OF THE FLOOR TO VISITORS (15 minutes allowed)

 

Mrs. Leeson commented that the public is concerned about the behavior of board members. She requested that members of the board show respect for each other and their opinions.

 

1.     Mr. Donald Midway, a teacher at Liberty High School, spoke regarding the technology/ laptop initiative. His recommendation was to put the high school initiative on hold until the construction project at Liberty High School is completed. He stated that it is a matter of timing and logistics regarding security, storage, and a lack of technical support services.

 

2.     Ms. Jody Guro spoke regarding her concern with the sixth grade curriculum. She suggested the district consider offering more challenging courses for gifted and accelerated students.

 

3.     Mr. Stephen Antalics commented on the board’s disagreement on the three-minute rule.

 

SKILL 21 UPDATE

 

Robin Lutcher presented a SKILL 21 update. She reviewed the topic “SKILL 21 – Why?” She stated that the mission of the SKILL 21 initiative is to integrate technology into the curriculum through best practices enabling all students to acquire the technological skills appropriate for the 21st century. The goals of the initiative are to increase student performance and achievement in the academic standards, provide 21st century learning skills, increase involvement of parents and families, and provide a system of ongoing support and evaluation of the SKILL 21 program.

Mrs. Lutcher noted that the district should be receiving almost $200,000 next year from the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) grant to help support this project. She also noted that the district is currently submitting an application to receive addition funds through a Classrooms for the Future grant. A committee is currently putting information together for the board regarding this grant and will be bringing a report to the June Board Curriculum Committee Meeting.

 

Mrs. Lutcher then introduced Frank Arbushites, coordinator of academic computing, who made a presentation on the Regional Academic Standards Academy. He noted that on April 11, 2006, eleven students were invited to the Apple Store in King of Prussia to do a computer demonstration. He also showed a presentation on the work submitted by students for the PBS Digital Innovation contest.

 

Mr. Arbushites then introduced Evon Zundel from the technology staff who presented testimonies from teachers on SKILL 21 and the changes it has made in the classrooms.

 

Ms. Zundel then introduced Jerry Tate, a sixth grade teacher at East Hills Middle School, who spoke on the laptop initiative and his appreciation of it as it relates to READ 180.

 

Mrs. Dexter inquired why only excused absences and not unexcused absences were included in the report she requested. Mrs. Lutcher replied she would look into it and redo her report.

 

Mrs. Koch inquired if Mrs. Lutcher has looked into security for laptops at the high schools. Mrs. Lutcher replied that she has met with the principals at both high schools, and they are reviewing the security situation. She also noted that next year’s ninth graders at Liberty High School would again be located at the freshman campus and not at the main campus where all the construction is located.

 

Mrs. Koch noted that before computers our school libraries held World Book Encyclopedias. She inquired if students are limited to the Web or do they have articles and magazines also available to them? Mrs. Lutcher replied that besides the Web, the district encourages students to use Power Library, Grolier Online, World Book Encyclopedia Online, and that all libraries are part of the Access Pennsylvania program. This program enables libraries to borrow books and materials from other libraries.

 

Mrs. Rowe inquired of the status of Internet2 (an educational Internet). Mrs. Lutcher replied that PenTeleData has dropped the ball and cannot find the district’s eRate application. She noted that it would be implemented by the beginning of the school year.

 

Mrs. Dexter inquired as to the effect of waiting another year to expand the laptop initiative to the high schools, as per comments made by Mr. Midway. Mrs. Lutcher stated that eighth grade students are accustomed to learning and working with computers everyday and waiting would mean they would be without a valuable learning tool.

 

 

 

Mrs. Dexter noted that the original report showed zero percent change in attitude of students towards school, and Mrs. Lutcher’s report states that students say they cannot work without laptops. Why are there two different answers? Mrs. Lutcher stated that she is currently putting together a report by teachers and students on the laptop initiative and will have this report for the board sometime in July.

 

Mrs. Leeson inquired if the freshman campus had to be wired for computers next year. Mrs. Lutcher replied that it is already wired since laptops were in use when the building housed the Northeast Middle School students.

 

Mrs. Dexter noted that concerns have been raised by teachers regarding whether there is enough staff and sufficient backup computers for the ninth grade initiative. Mrs. Lutcher replied that spare computers will be ordered for each classroom and the new budget includes additions to her staff. Mrs. Lutcher also stated that teacher trainings have been set up for June, July, and August, and BFLEX is currently being set up.

 

Mrs. Williams noted that SKILL 21 updates are currently located on the BASD Web site. Mrs. Lutcher confirmed this and added that next year the technology staff would like to provide the updates by using podcasting.

 

FOSS IMPLEMENTATION UPDATE

 

Eric Smith presented an update on the Full Option Science System (FOSS) implementation for next year. He noted that the fourth grade pilot was very successful. Every grade level will be receiving a kit for next year. Topics by grade will be:

 

            Grade 1 – Pebbles, Sand and Silt

            Grade 2 – Air and Weather

            Grade 3 – Human Body

            Grade 4 – Physics of Sound

            Grade 5 – Solar Energy

 

Mr. Smith noted that the new FOSS kits will not only meet state needs but will also teach students what we want them to learn. All kits will also address writing, reading, and math skills.

Mr. Smith explained that this year’s adoption will cost $60,000 and will include training in the beginning of the year as well as throughout the entire school year.

 

DROPOUT REPORT AND STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT REVISIONS

 

Because of the time factor, these two items were tabled to the next Board Curriculum Committee Meeting in June.

 

 

 

 

 

OPEN FORUM

 

Mrs. Leeson stated that the board had received information on tracking at Northeast Middle School, but she would also like the same information on the other three middle schools and the two high schools. She also stated that she was not clear on what was happening at Northeast Middle School. Mrs. Dexter requested that this information be put before parents, students, and teachers before acceptance. She did not want any decisions made behind the scenes without everyone involved being informed. Dr. Lewis stated that he will bring all changes before the board before any implementations are made. It was agreed that this discussion would be continued at next Monday’s Regular Board Meeting and be discussed under Unfinished Business.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

 

Minutes Prepared By:

 

 

 

 

Charlotte L. Zimmerman

Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction