The meeting opened with remarks from Superintendent of Schools Saturnelli on three topics. First, she said that the district was working with the State Historic Department and State Department of Education to come up with a plan for what to do with the Balmville School Annex.
Second, regarding safety, she said that the district, City, and Towns have collaborated to insure safety. For many years they have worked to keep the ills of society outside of our schools. The decision to close schools was done in collaboration with the city Police Department. The population at the high school, and other schools touched by recent events, is 3000 and 1000 each. If anything broke out there might not be enough police to quell the situation. So in agreement with the police it was decided to close schools for a day.
On Friday, the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Finance Pacella, Mr. Wallace, Members of the City Council, Ed Diana, met for 5 1/2 hours at City Hall and produced an action plan which is available in a press release. They continue to work together to insure safety.
Next year the high school is coverting to grades 9 to 12, and just this week orientations have started. The presentations have been very positively received by the public.
Third, budget preparation is starting. Meetings are expected to be held every two weeks. They will be public to keep the process transparent. Things will be a little more complex this year due to two contracts expiring in June, CSEA and NTA.
The public was invited to comment on agenda items and Animal Hughes congratulated the administration on its efforts to resolve what to do with the old Balmville building.
The board adjourned to executive session for a while, and then procedd with the agenda. The New courses of study for 2010-2011 "for the NFA Conversion Program" were not approved, but were tabled for further discussion and a curriculum committee meeting. The proposed courses are Creative Solutions Through Science; First Aid/CPR; Forensics, Security and Law Academy Hub Course; Health and Human Services Academy HUB Course, Humanities House HUB Course, Introduction to Forensic Science, and Urban Ecology.
Board member Poppiti reiterated objections to the proposal to introduce a German course a this time. He said a four eyar course of study will have to involve another building. The board faces making decisions about cutting Foreign Language teachers at budget sessions. He said languages are currently offered in 6 buildings, if Gardnertown goes 5-8 or GAMS goes to k-8 would be offering in 8 buildings. What happens at the High School level; will they all have to go to the same house? It looks difficult to sustain with the budget problem. Poppiti and Resch voted No, the rest of the board approved offering German 1.
Among the reports from board members and administrators, I think I caught the points mentioned by Board Member Resch as the 8th Grade Promotion Policy. To be promoted to High School a student must pass two of (Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies), or score 2 or above on state ELA, or be 16 or over, or have repeated grade 8 twice. [Note, this policy was subsequently changed. Specifically, achieving a certain age is not sufficient for promotion.]
Assistant Superintentendent of Human Resources Leimur told the board that a revised staff directory was available to the board, and that HR was looking at the staff movement that will be required due to reconfiguration.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Bolton reported progress with Achieve 3000 (a computer based reading program) and a "clicker" student feedback system. He also said that Theresa Brown, the Director of Performing Arts, had arranged a workshop with district students and the Electronic Music Department at Bard. Also, that she had personally delivered student artwork to Senator Gilibrand, due to a suddenly realized deadline. It is very good to know that there are some dedicated staff working in the area of the Arts in the District.
Assistant Superintendent of Finance Pacella said work was rpoceding on the budget. The net loss in state aid is expected to be over $4m. Bus discipline issues on the rise. St. Christophers may be in the lead for setting up a program at the former McQuade facility. They may be able to provide some services to NECSD at a lower cost than Boces would.
Executive Director, Instructional Technology Jensen reported that the Infinite Campus program would go live February 1.
During the public comment on non-agenda items I spoke. I urged the Board of Education to listen to and respect the staff cuts recommended by the school principals in the district. The recommendations of the principals should be respected because they are the individuals who are accountable for the academic achievement of the students in their building, and they are the individuals who can best understand and predict the impact of staff cuts.