NEW TRUSTEES AND VICE PRESIDENT SWORN IN AT NORTH SHORE BOE MEETING; HERMAN BERLINER RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT
July 8, 2014 -- Recently elected school board Trustees Joanna Commander and Lara Gonzalez were sworn-in to office for three year terms at last Tuesday evening's North Shore Board of Education annual organizational meeting, and Dr. Herman Berliner who has served on the Board since 2009, was unanimously re-elected to a one year term as Board President. Trustee Toni Labbate was elected Vice President by a 4-2 vote, replacing Tom Knierim who did not seek re-election to the school board this past May.
Ms. Labbate, beginning her third year as Trustee, was nominated by Trustee Sara Jones, and Trustee Commander seconded the choice. Trustee Michael Nightingale then nominated Trustee Marianne Russo for the position, with Ms Russo seconding her nomination. Without discussion, a vote was held, and Trustee Labbate was elected to the position, receiving votes from herself as well as Trustees Commander, Gonzalez, and Jones. Ms. Russo received votes from herself and Trustee Nightingale. Dr. Berliner did not attend Tuesday's meeting. With the two new trustees taking office, Dr. Berliner is now the most senior member of the Board with five years experience, and the only trustee of the seven who has been in office for more than one three-year term. Ms. Labbate was elected in 2012; Ms. Jones, Mr. Nightingale, and Ms.Russo in 2013; and Ms. Commander and Ms. Gonzalez in 2014. OTHER HEADLINES FROM 7.1.14 BOE MEETING |
DISTRICT GOALS
Schools Superintendent Dr. Edward Melnick outlined goals for the 2014-15 school year. A board discussion of the goals is scheduled to take place at the August 27, 2014 meeting goals. He proposed the following:
Goal #1 - Instructional Goals.
International Baccalaureate Program. High School teachers will be involved in the development of course curricula for the IB program, and are in the process of developing and implementing a transition plan for incoming sophomores to prepare them for IB courses and the diploma program as juniors.
The key goal in instruction, the Superintendent said, is developing measurements "longitudinally" for the "habits of mind" the district would like students to acquire which included "problem-solving, engagement, and critical thinking skills," from "kindergarten to senior year." The PADI initiative and the Teacher's College Readers and Writers workshop have provided good models, he said.
Additionally, the Superintendent discussed "re-launching" the IPad initiative, which he said has been successful in replacing pen and paper tasks and in transforming instruction in some courses such as AP Bio, physics and 8th grade English. He said teachers and administrators would receive more training in transforming their instruction with technology. New technology has changed instruction in a way that it has become "24/7" and that it has caused educators to re-think the classroom and delivery of content, he said. He cited the flipped classroom as an example, where students would receive notes and review those notes as homework (instruction that would traditionally have been given in the classroom), and then the classroom setting would be used to go over the most difficult problems (what traditionally had been homework).
Goal #2 - Evaluation.
Dr. Melnick said that the district's reading and writing programs would be reviewed through the "Tri-States" evaluation. "It's a huge undertaking," he explained that the district has been preparing for over the past year - collecting student work, "looking at indicators, and creating boxes of evidence." In October, he said, 15-20 administrators from other "high performing" districts in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, will visit the district and examine student work, as well as interview teachers, students, administrators and parents. Based on the review, a report will be developed that will include recommendations.
The superintendent said that there would also be a review of the high school Guidance Department - especially in terms of supporting students in applying to college - in particular student athletes and those active in the arts. He said that he would like to hold off on Athletics until the following year. Trustee Russo said that she would like the district to look at its relationship with universities and would like parents and students who have been through the process to be a part of the review. Dr. Melnick said that they would be. Trustee Nightingale questioned why Athletics would not be reviewed. The Superintendent replied that with the Tri-States evaluation being conducted this year, it would be too much in one year with regard to burdens put on staff and costs. "I want to give it its fair share," he said. Responding to a request from Trustee Commander, Dr. Melnick said he would distribute a copy of the last Athletics report (done in 2003) to the board. Trustee Jones commented that the district has never had an outside review done of its social studies and science programs, and that perhaps that should be considered in the future.
Goal #3 - Fiscal planning. Dr. Melnick said that District would look at what the tax levy limit will mean for the schools "going out 5 to 10 years," and would like the board to "continue its vigilant oversight in terms of the LIPA ramp-down."
Goal #1 - Instructional Goals.
International Baccalaureate Program. High School teachers will be involved in the development of course curricula for the IB program, and are in the process of developing and implementing a transition plan for incoming sophomores to prepare them for IB courses and the diploma program as juniors.
The key goal in instruction, the Superintendent said, is developing measurements "longitudinally" for the "habits of mind" the district would like students to acquire which included "problem-solving, engagement, and critical thinking skills," from "kindergarten to senior year." The PADI initiative and the Teacher's College Readers and Writers workshop have provided good models, he said.
Additionally, the Superintendent discussed "re-launching" the IPad initiative, which he said has been successful in replacing pen and paper tasks and in transforming instruction in some courses such as AP Bio, physics and 8th grade English. He said teachers and administrators would receive more training in transforming their instruction with technology. New technology has changed instruction in a way that it has become "24/7" and that it has caused educators to re-think the classroom and delivery of content, he said. He cited the flipped classroom as an example, where students would receive notes and review those notes as homework (instruction that would traditionally have been given in the classroom), and then the classroom setting would be used to go over the most difficult problems (what traditionally had been homework).
Goal #2 - Evaluation.
Dr. Melnick said that the district's reading and writing programs would be reviewed through the "Tri-States" evaluation. "It's a huge undertaking," he explained that the district has been preparing for over the past year - collecting student work, "looking at indicators, and creating boxes of evidence." In October, he said, 15-20 administrators from other "high performing" districts in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, will visit the district and examine student work, as well as interview teachers, students, administrators and parents. Based on the review, a report will be developed that will include recommendations.
The superintendent said that there would also be a review of the high school Guidance Department - especially in terms of supporting students in applying to college - in particular student athletes and those active in the arts. He said that he would like to hold off on Athletics until the following year. Trustee Russo said that she would like the district to look at its relationship with universities and would like parents and students who have been through the process to be a part of the review. Dr. Melnick said that they would be. Trustee Nightingale questioned why Athletics would not be reviewed. The Superintendent replied that with the Tri-States evaluation being conducted this year, it would be too much in one year with regard to burdens put on staff and costs. "I want to give it its fair share," he said. Responding to a request from Trustee Commander, Dr. Melnick said he would distribute a copy of the last Athletics report (done in 2003) to the board. Trustee Jones commented that the district has never had an outside review done of its social studies and science programs, and that perhaps that should be considered in the future.
Goal #3 - Fiscal planning. Dr. Melnick said that District would look at what the tax levy limit will mean for the schools "going out 5 to 10 years," and would like the board to "continue its vigilant oversight in terms of the LIPA ramp-down."
ADDITIONAL FIRST GRADE SECTION CREATED AT SEA CLIFF ELEMENTARY
During public comment, a resident asked if action had been taken with regard to the request made by parents of incoming first graders at Sea Cliff School to create a third class for the 2014-15 school year. Dr. Melnick replied that the District decided to create an additional section, thereby reducing the class-sizes. (Click here for link to article on 6/19 BOE meeting)
TAX LEVY SET
By a 6-0 vote, the Board set the tax levy for the 2014-15 school year at $87,886,065, which represents a 1.5% increase over the past year and more than $300,000 below the tax levy limit established by New York State. Earlier during public comment, a resident commented that there had been a vote on the levy in April, with that preliminary figure submitted to the state at that time, and asked whether that amount, staying within the levy limit, could be adjusted up or down when the final figure is given to Albany. Assistant Superintendent for Business Olivia Buatsi said that it could not - that the district by law had to go with the figure submitted in April.
