BETTER KNOW A CANDIDATE - THREE RUNNING FOR BOE RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ON ISSUES FACING NORTH SHORE SCHOOLS
Joanna Commander1. What do you believe are the characteristics of a great educational system or school?
A supportive community which values and reflects the inclusion of diverse ideas and thoughts. An emphasis on forward thinking, progressive educational programs to challenge all students as well as providing opportunities for students to explore and fully develop all of their many abilities. Concurrently, student performance and achievement must always be valued and ways for improvement identified. The importance of community support and understanding of all extracurricular activities, particularly athletics and the arts, is critical to the evaluation of any school system. Professional development programs for staff will insure current ideas/methodology will be integrated into curriculum. 2. What do you believe are the three or four greatest challenges (fiscal, educational, operational, or political, etc.) facing the North Shore Schools today? Do you have any suggestions on how the district should confront these challenges? The decommissioning of the LIPA power plant and the uncertainty of the potential cost to homeowners is of great concern and importance. The board must continue their efforts to seek legislative relief to insure the gradual shift of those costs to taxpayers. Given this uncertainty, the district must proceed in a conservative manner in their budget preparation and deliberations until the resolution of this issue becomes more clear. Implementation of the common core and testing procedures are other areas the board must address. The board must adopt policies deemphasizing testing while evaluating its impact on children as well as curriculum. At the same time we must continue working with state officials for the development of age appropriate materials. Immediate action should be taken regarding the modification of time restraints within the assessment experience. This is a program that should have been introduced a grade level at a time to allow for professional and parental feedback. I commit to working towards that end. A very significant effort should be made improve communication with all members of the community and to increase their respective participation in the decision making process. Assisting the community in making informed decisions is of paramount importance for the health and continued growth of the school district. 3. What are your thoughts on the following – a. International Baccalaureate Program (IB) b. Foreign Language instruction in the elementary schools (FLES). Keeping in mind financial considerations, do you believe the program should continue as is, be expanded, eliminated, or something else? Explain. The IB program is a new program that should be evaluated and monitored for its effectiveness. Having been a resident in Rockville Centre, a district that has participated in the IB program for many years, it was clear that the program served to enhance and broaden the educational experience for students. This is an opportunity to enrich that experience and raise the bar of both students and faculty while teaching our students to be creative, to analyze and develop a depth of understanding to enable them to be successful participants in the world in which we live. We must always strive to challenge our students. It should never be OK to be OK. I am an advocate of the FLES program. The parental feedback for this program has been positive but rather than evaluating this program with an emphasis on fluency, the value of exposure of language and culture to our children should be the primary goal. We need to continue to evaluate the cost effectiveness of this and all programs the district offers. 4. What is your view of the Common Core Learning Standards and State Testing? Is there anything you believe the district ought to do in addressing these issues? What are your feelings about “opting out”? Please see responses above regarding state testing. It is my belief that every parent has the right to evaluate the testing experience for their own child and make any subsequent decision regarding their child’s participation. However, I would encourage parents to continue to deemphasize the test outcome and focus on the importance of their child’s best effort. Embracing every opportunity to teach children that the evaluation of their performance but not their value will be a life long event is critical for a child’s development. 5. What do you see as the proper role of the School Board as a whole and trustees as individuals in the district decision-making process, especially in their relationship to the superintendent? The role of the School Board is to make policy and oversee the implementation of those policies. The Board hires a superintendent, works closely with him or her and needs to hold that person accountable. The needs of students should always come first in consideration of any issue. Trustees have a responsibility to be open minded, be cognizant of the needs of all students and not be driven by personal agendas while offering their expertise to enable the district to function optimally. 6. What are your feelings about the current budget proposal on both the spending side and the revenue side (tax levy)? Is there anything you would change (even if you do support the budget)? I understand the concern of many community members that the district did not present a tax levy increase at the maximum allowable limit and it’s future implications. However, the uncertainty of the LIPA situation on tax increase has certainly caused a frightening reality for other community members. 7. What are your feelings about the Board’s relationship with the community? Do you think anything should be done to change that relationship? The Board represents the community - all of the community and it is imperative to provide every opportunity for participation. There is world of divergent opinion that exists and it is incumbent upon the board to invite those opinions. Certainly continuing a transparent environment perhaps reaching out with “town hall” events would present an opportunity for both community members and trustees to interact in a more meaningful way. |
Lara Gonzalez1. What do you believe are the characteristics of a great educational system or school?
A great educational system is a collection of outstanding schools that provide sufficient support and challenge to all the students in the district. From kindergarten through twelfth grade, students should be engaged in rich academic programs that encourage both creativity and critical thinking. Programs should be aligned and interdisciplinary when possible and in service of the district’s educational vision to nurture and enrich our students’ natural delight in learning. Elementary, middle and high school offerings should provide an array of academics, arts, athletics, and extracurricular activities to meet the needs of a diverse student body. The single most important area for a great educational system is academics with the arts, athletics and extracurricular activities in a three-way tie for next place. In order to ensure students’ success at all levels, teaching and learning must be the primary focus of the school system. 2. What do you believe are the three or four greatest challenges (fiscal, educational, operational, or political, etc.) facing the North Shore Schools today? Do you have any suggestions on how the district should confront these challenges? Fiscal challenges – undoubtedly the most pressing fiscal concerns are those surrounding the uncertainty posed by the decommissioning of the Glenwood Landing LIPA plant. While there has been some relief from our legislators, there are still many unanswered questions. The district and Board of Education must remain vigilant and continue to press for a legislative remedy so as to ensure that Real Property Law 1803a that limits the amount of the tax burden that can be shifted from one class of taxpayer to the other to no more than one percent per year remains in place. Educational challenges – I have spoken to many residents of the district these past weeks and I have heard our district being compared to others. I have heard community members say that we don’t want to be like such and such district - the insinuation being perhaps that others are overly concerned with academics and ratings. It is my strong opinion that it is a false choice to suggest that we must choose, for example, between having a fine academic program and an excellent art program. We should pursue excellence in all areas. Our standings vis a vis our neighboring districts matter to a number of people I have dialogued with in these days leading up to the Budget Vote and Trustee Election. Our High School is the flagship of this district; as Trustee I would work to ensure that our children are held to the highest standards so that they receive the best possible educational experience and have many doors open to them to pursue their dreams in college, in the military, in the workplace and beyond. Political challenges – Recent elections have revealed deep philosophical differences within our community. Based on conversations I have had with community members, some feel that their concerns are not being heard or have been dismissed. I would be willing to bet that we can find common ground on a number of issues if we take the time to engage in conversation and really listen to one another. I’m willing. 3. What are your thoughts on the following – a. International Baccalaureate Program (IB) – I have first-hand experience teaching an Advanced Placement course when I taught High School Social Studies in Great Neck so I am much more familiar with AP course requirements than those of the International Baccalaureate program. I have spoken to IB teachers and administrators in IB schools and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. At one of the meetings I attended at North Shore High School earlier this school year, I came to the meeting skeptical but found comfort in two things in particular that the High School Principal, Mr. Cousins, said. To paraphrase, Mr. Cousins stated that he believed that the IB would lift the level of academic rigor at the High School for all students. He mentioned that the High School conducted a type of internal audit of the number of students taking the most rigorous course offerings at the High School and that he felt a much larger number of students would benefit from IB than AP. The second point he made was that the teachers at the High School were energized and excited by the movement to IB. Mr. Cousins’ comments were echoed by teachers in attendance at the meeting that I attended. b. Foreign Language instruction in the elementary schools (FLES). Keeping in mind financial considerations, do you believe the program should continue as is, be expanded, eliminated, or something else? Explain. Two of our children are currently in Sea Cliff Elementary – one is taking Spanish and the other Mandarin. I am supportive of the FLES not only because it gives our children exposure to another language at an early age but also because it gives them a window into another culture as well. I feel strongly that cultural literacy is an important element of being a citizen of the world in the twenty-first century. I would maintain FLES as it has been proposed for the 2014-15 school year. 4. What is your view of the Common Core Learning Standards and State Testing? Is there anything you believe the district ought to do in addressing these issues? What are your feelings about “opting out”? I have deep knowledge of the Common Core Learning Standards for Literary and a working knowledge of the Common Core Mathematics Standards. As a Supervisor of K-12 Social Studies, I have spent the past three years attending professional development related to the CCLS and providing training for my staff across the grade levels. I have presented at LILAC (the Long Island Language Arts Council) with my counterpart in ELA on aligning our curriculum to the Common Core. What I appreciate most about the CCLS is that they emphasize four key areas of learning: reading, writing, listening and speaking. The CCLS are particularly friendly to the discipline of Social Studies as the standards require students to make claims, support their claims with evidence, use multiple sources, analyze point of view, synthesize information from multiple sources, etc. The Common Core Learning Standards require students to read more non-fiction or informational text. Common Core –aligned curricula encourage students to read widely on a particular topic, evaluate their evidence and make and support their arguments. The CCLS promotes inquiry-based learning by fostering students’ ability to “read like detectives” and “write like investigative reporters.” The problem with the Common Core Learning Standards as we have experienced them is the flawed implementation of a new set of standards tied to new standardized tests in English Language Arts and math grades 3-8 combined with a new teacher evaluation system (Annual Professional Performance Review). I attended multiple trainings at Nassau BOCES on the Common Core Learning Standards. At BOCES, they frequently used the analogy of constructing an airplane while flying it in mid-air. They even showed a fictitious YouTube clip to emphasize the point. Imagine being a fourth grade student this year who sits for a Common Core-aligned exam but who has only been exposed to the new standards for a year or two. No wonder children, parents, teachers and school leaders are upset. State testing is a complicated issue and one that I could write many paragraphs on. In brief, assessment is an important part of teaching and learning. Assessment should be done informally and formally at regular intervals to ensure that a teacher’s objectives are being met and that students are learning in the classroom. Performance-based and standardized assessments should inform a teacher’s lesson-planning and drive the teacher’s instructional approach to his/her students. The reality is that grading varies dramatically from teacher to teacher and from school to school. The use of yearly standardized tests in English Language Arts and mathematics in grades 3-8 gives teachers and school systems data about how students are doing in specific areas of ELA and math and the ability to compare them to students in other schools in a given district, neighboring districts, across the state, and the country for that matter. Still, standardized test scores are only a couple data points and should be coupled with a host of other, preferably more authentic, measures of student performance in the classroom. Our children should never be reduced to a number. Opting out: the decision is a personal one and parents/guardians must do what is in the best interest of their children. 5. What do you see as the proper role of the School Board as a whole and trustees as individuals in the district decision-making process, especially in their relationship to the superintendent? The Superintendent is directly responsible to the Board of Education. Board trustees, as elected leaders, are the representatives of all constituents in the school district and must weigh the sometimes competing interests of different constituencies. In my opinion, trustees have an obligation to make decisions based the diverse talents and needs of students in kindergarten through twelfth grade in our school district. The Board of Education should work in concert with the Superintendent, Central Office administrators, and school principals to ensure that the district’s mission is realized. Members of the School Board are the stewards of the democratic process and are part of the system of checks and balances at the local level regarding school governance. 6. What are your feelings about the current budget proposal on both the spending side and the revenue side (tax levy)? Is there anything you would change (even if you do support the budget)? Although I understand the decision to present a budget that requires a 1.53% tax levy increase ($300,000 below the allowable tax levy cap), I do wonder what the long term implications of that decision will be. I attended the Board meeting during which the Board deliberated and ultimately decided 5-2 to approve the budget with the 1.53% increase. There seemed to be very little public discussion of the levy issue and what the actual savings will be to the taxpayer this year. 7. What are your feelings about the Board’s relationship with the community? Do you think anything should be done to change that relationship? I believe that this election cycle has already changed the tenor of the debate about how our school system should best meet the needs of our youngsters. Mr. Mazzella, Ms. Commander, and I have all approached this campaign from the perspective that we want the best for our young people and that we all desire to give back to the North Shore community. While there are differences in our platforms, we have modeled civility towards one another and with members of the community at various events. We need less “us v. them” rhetoric, more respectful dialogue across the district and more emphasis on the fact that we are in this together. Our kids are relying on us! |
Robert Mazzella1. What do you believe are the characteristics of a great educational system or school?
First and foremost, a great educational system or school should provide children with a well-rounded top quality education . This means that the school should not only stress academics (reading, writing, math, science, history, etc.) but should also introduce children to the arts, sports and culture. A school district should create a nurturing environment that encourages children to explore, question, and obtain a deeper understanding of the material being taught. Creativity of thought and expression should also be encouraged and rewarded. 2) What do you believe are the three or four greatest challenges (fiscal, educational, operational, or political, etc.) facing the North Shore Schools today? Do you have any suggestions on how the district should confront these challenges? The biggest issues facing the school district are the decommissioning of the Glenwood Landing Power Plant, the implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards and State Testing (which I will discuss in question 4 below), and communication with all constituency groups. I fully support and commend the district’s efforts to obtain additional funds from the state to help ease the burden on North Shore School District taxpayers as the power plant’s tax burden shifts to the other classes of taxpayers. The district’s efforts to create a “glide-path” so that the aforementioned shift does not happen all at once should also be commended. What I would like to recommend in this area is that the district create a more concrete contingency plan in case efforts to create this “glide-path” fail. I would also recommend that the budget be scrutinized by the Board of Education in an effort to identify cost saving opportunities that would not cut programs but, would instead, cut expenses which would not alter the quality of our children’s education. In my opinion, the key to successfully facing any and all challenges is improved communication with all members of the community (i.e., parents, seniors, local business leaders, teachers, and students). The ultimate goal should be to inform the entire community about the challenges facing our district so that we can all work together to develop and implement solutions. Our differences should be respected, valued, and leveraged. A united community can and will overcome all obstacles! 3) What are your thoughts on the following – a. International Baccalaureate Program (IB) As the IB Program has been discussed at BOE and Superintendent Advisory Council meetings, I have gone on record as saying that I do not believe the cost of the program should be the driving factor in the debate as to the merits of the program. I’ve also stated the debate about IB does not need to be an all or nothing debate. If, for instance, the Superintendent decided not to pursue the IB program, I am confident that we could leverage one of our district’s best assets (our teachers) to incorporate the best parts of the IB program into our existing curriculum. My biggest concern with IB is trying to ascertain the potential impact upon the vast majority of students who will not participate in the IB degree program as they apply to Colleges and Universities across the country As some popular AP courses, such as AP American History, are eliminated to make room for IB courses, there is potential for the non-IB degree student to have what might be perceived to be a weaker college application. College admission offices place a high emphasis on how many higher level courses students take in high school. As a result, the district should keep a watchful eye on how the IB program is implemented. In short, I still have a few questions I would like to ask on this topic but I am open to the possibility that this could be a very successful program for North Shore School District students. Principal Cousins’ enthusiasm for the program is, most certainly, contagious! b. Foreign Language instruction in the elementary schools (FLES). Keeping in mind financial considerations, do you believe the program should continue as is, be expanded, eliminated, or something else? Explain. I will reiterate what I said about this topic at Meet the Candidates Night. If the goal of the FLES program is to expose our young children to a foreign language, I believe next year’s plan to increase class time to twice per cycle is sufficient. This year’s schedule (once per cycle) was, in my opinion, insufficient. If the goal of the FLES program is fluency, I do not believe a twice per cycle schedule is sufficient and I would support efforts to explore financially responsible ways in which increased class time could be achieved. 4) What is your view of the Common Core Learning Standards and State Testing? Is there anything you believe the district ought to do in addressing these issues? What are your feelings about “opting out”? I believe the rollout of the Common Core Learning Standards has been horrible. When you see the impact that the state’s botched attempt to roll out these standards has had on our children, it is easy to agree with Dr. Melnick’s position that the state’s implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards borders on abuse. As for the standards themselves, I have not had a big issue with the English Language Arts program. Time spent trying to improve reading and writing skills is, in my opinion, time well spent. While attending Board of Education meetings, Dr. Melnick seems to have suggested that a relatively small portion of the Common Core English Language Arts program was developmentally inappropriate. I would fully support efforts to remove these inappropriate portions from the curriculum as well as efforts to strengthen the program to ensure that we do not end up with a less effective program than we had previously. I would like to see cursive handwriting lessons brought back into the curriculum. Lastly, I am greatly disappointed in the Common Core Math program! In terms of state testing, I believe the district’s Legislative Action Committee should work to reduce the number of state mandated tests required of our elementary level students. I do not believe student test scores should be tied to teacher evaluations and that pre-testing at the beginning of the school year is a complete waste of time. I do understand and have supported those who decide to opt-out of early grade state testing. It is proving to be an effective way to send a strong message to our state education leaders. In short, I think most would agree that local control of our school is better than outsourcing it to the state or federal government. We know our community and children better than they do. I believe our district Legislative Action Committee should also actively advocate for a reduction in as many state and/or federal mandates as possible. 5) What do you see as the proper role of the School Board as a whole and trustees as individuals in the district decision-making process, especially in their relationship to the superintendent? I believe the primary role of the Board of Education is fiscal oversight which is why I believe having someone with my financial, accounting, and business knowledge on the Board of Education is critical to the long term success of the North Shore School District. The Superintendent is the educational leader of the district. As such, School Board Trustees should work cooperatively and respectfully with the Superintendent. By asking questions, working together collaboratively, analyzing data and information, and identifying creative solutions to problems, we can keep our schools great, our children happy, and our community united! 6) What are your feelings about the current budget proposal on both the spending side and the revenue side (tax levy)? Is there anything you would change (even if you do support the budget)? I believe the school district has presented a responsible budget to the community. Going forward, I would like to see the district continue to explore cost saving opportunities, revenue generating initiatives, and fundraising efforts. I would encourage all community members to go out and vote on May 20th. I look forward to having the privilege of representing all of you for the next three years! 7) What are your feelings about the Board’s relationship with the community? Do you think anything should be done to change that relationship? I believe it is the Board of Education’s responsibility to represent all members of the community. Trustees should listen to what community members have to say, vote responsibly and objectively, communicate results, and encourage continued community involvement. As a North Shore District Trustee, community engagement would be one of my top priorities! |
