TRI-DISTRICT CURRICULUM / EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The tri-district superintendents, principals and other key administrators
responsible for curriculum meet periodically with the tri-district Board of
Education curriculum committees. The Committee’s Mission Statement was
adopted in February, 2006:
This tri-district board is committed to K-13 articulation: with
that commitment we will meet periodically to oversee a
process of study and articulation especially in the areas of
curriculum design and social adjustment.
Minutes of November 29, 2006 meeting:
Tri- District Curriculum & Education Committee
Meeting Minutes
November 29, 2006
Location: RFHRHS
Attendees:
Name
John Hendrick
Liz Panella
Ellen Spears
T. Famulary
Darryl Heale
Jamie Turner
Roger Caruba
Tracy Lederman
Steve LaValva
Kathi Cronin
Pete Righi
Kate Bergin
Lee Clay
Margaret Graf
Bill Presutti
Michael Goione
Maureen MacNeal
Ann Rossbach
Mary Chiarella
Linda Decelle
Role
BOE, RFHRHS
Principal, RFHRHS
Curriculum Supervisor, Knollwood
Principal, Knollwood
Guidance Supervisor, RFHRHS
Principal, Sickles
Superintendent, Rumson Schools
Curriculum Supervisor, Rumson
Principal, Deane Porter
Principal, Forrestdale
Superintendent, RFHRHS
BOE, RFHRHS
BOE, Fair Haven
BOE, Fair Haven
Superintendent, Fair Haven Schools
BOE, Fair Haven
BOE, Rumson
BOE, RFHRHS
BOE, Fair Haven
BOE, Rumson
Agenda:
1.
Introductions
2.
Mission Statement (Adopted: February, 2006)
This tri-district board is committed to K-13 articulation. With that commitment we will meet periodically to
oversee a process of study and articulation especially in the areas of curriculum design and social
adjustment.
3.
K-13 Curriculum Review and Revision Process (Adopted: Feb 2006)

Identify area to be studied

Select an educational/subject-area expert who conducts an evaluation of the program K-12
utilizing:

Benchmarking

Current research

State and National standards

Recommendation for revisions made by expert to Tri-District Education Committee

Superintendents recommend Action Plan with timeline

Implementation of Action Plan

Development of metrics for evaluation
4.
Math Study Update – Tri District Superintendents
5.
Ninth Grade Transition – D. Heale & Liz Panella

Discussion of this year’s transition

Suggestions for future
6.
Next Area to be Reviewed and Revised – Roundtable Discussion
***************
Start Time: 8:08 am
Finish Time: 9:15 am
Minutes
Items 2 & 3 - Review of Mission Statement and Process Agreement
Pete Righi reviewed the mission and committee process that was agreed to at last meeting. No suggested
changes. Pete indicated that he would like each participating district to publish the mission statement of
this committee, its membership and key learnings/information regarding the work of this tri-district
committee on each of our respective websites.
Item 4 - Math Study Update – Tri District Superintendents
Paul Lawrence, noted subject matter expert and math consultant, will be retained by the tri-district to
perform a site visit and study of the 3 district’s math programs. A team of consultants will visit the tridistrict during the week of January 8, 2007 to:
 Baseline our respective math programs vs. current standards
 Analyze existing curriculum and math program artifacts across the tri-district
 Interview key stakeholders involved in math program design and delivery
o Set up small focus groups in advance to allow for maximum participation and access to
site visit team based on accelerated site visit timeframes
 Complete a site visit report that will include key learnings and specific recommendations for
improvement
Following the issuance of his report, a follow-up meeting will be held (attendees to be determined) for the
consultant(s) to share tacit learnings and recommendations for improvement. Initially, it will be a small
group discussion (i.e., Superintendents) followed by larger group readouts, including others and members
from this committee. A meeting for the public to attend (recommendation for consultant(s) to be present at
this meeting) was suggested followed by “send home” and web site tri district communication pieces.
The current plan for the 1/8/07 site visit week is as follows:
0.5 day @ Sickles
0.5 day @ Dean Porter
K-6 - Everyday Math Program - benchmark program implementation
1.5 days @ Knollwood
1.5 days @ Forrestdale
1 day @ RFHRHS
In depth meetings (focus groups) w/ key stakeholders will be held to understand our respective math
programs, enablers, barriers and opportunities for performance improvement within a K-13 context.
Consultant will be asked specifically to provide feedback on current 5 levels of math that exist in grade 9 at
RFHRHS.
There was discussion regarding a tri district shared commitment to implementation based on key findings
vs. historical tendency to accept report and file it under “to do sometime later”. It was suggested that some
of the recommendations could require the tri-district to ensure implementation resources are properly
budgeted for in upcoming operating budgets.
5. Ninth Grade Transition – Darryl Heale & Liz Panella
Last year, RFHRHS looked very closely at what we were doing to help students transition successfully into
our high school. Extensive interviews were conducted as well as many internal meetings were held to
scope out changes to be implemented starting in summer 2006.
Each 9th grader was assigned a mentor (per existing practice) but this was augmented w/ additional
enablers:
 Hired a dynamic, full time, dedicated 9th grade guidance counselor to focus solely on transition
management and,
 Design and deliver a 9th grade mentorship curriculum that includes:
o Time Management
o Test Preparation and Test Taking Skills
o Presentation/Performance Skills
o Stress Reduction
o Personality/Trait Assessments
 Innovative redesign of freshman study periods that allow for minimum of 80 minutes per week
dedicated to mentorship and transition curriculum instruction along w/ unlimited access to one’s
mentor during all study periods.
 Welcoming Committee ( Juniors & Seniors) provide peer tutoring during study periods by giving
up 2 of their study halls per week to serve as roaming peer tutors.
RFHRHS is committed to this program for the long term and will continue to survey to understand the
impact this program is having on:
o Academic performance (grades)
o Resilience & Assimilation levels (surveys)
o Other areas (Leading/lagging indicators)
In addition, efforts will continue in helping parents understand how they can help their children become
more self determined and resilient; developing skills to problem solve on their own and to take more
accountability for outcomes they have direct control over.
Jamie Turner suggested 2 “must reads” for all committee members:
The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage Are
Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids (Hardcover)
by Madeline Levine
Key Phrases: affluent kids, affluent teens, competitive parents, San Francisco, University of California (more...)
(14 customer reviews)
(Sample Review)
I bought this book after seeing it cited in a newspaper article about how parents these days are pushing
their kids, even kindergarteners, too hard. I was intrigued by the title and the book did not disappoint! I
bought it thinking it would help me be a better mom to my son as he grows up (he is only 1 year old right
now), but in the process I learned a ton about myself and how important it is for the emotional well-being
of my children that I am emotionally healthy myself. I underlined numerous things throughout the book and
plan to refer back to it often over the years to come. There is a great section on the different ages and
stages that kids go through and how to parent effectively during each of them. That was so interesting to
me.
The very last section of the book was about the working mom’s debate and the author does a superb job of
presenting a balanced view. I did not feel bad after reading the book; in fact, I felt understood and
encouraged.
I will definitely re-read this book and recommend it to others.
The Blessing of a Skinned Knee: Using Jewish Teachings to Raise SelfReliant Children (Paperback)
by Wendy Mogel
(36 customer reviews)
(Sample Review)
I would recommend this book to any parent who is experiencing trouble with
overprotected and/or overindulged children. Though I am myself not Jewish I liked
how the author - based on Jewish beliefs - reassured parents that it is ok to set
limits and ask your children to pay you the due respect. Afterall, you are supposed to
be your child's parent and not his/her friend! Parenting is not about pampering or
protecting but about preparing for life. Even from a non-religious point of view the
book made some good points; a lot of the other suggestions made in the book were
pretty much common sense but I guess that also depends where you come from.
What I liked most about it though was that it encouraged parents to accept that a
kid might just be "normal" and it is sometimes more important to accept that than to
try to turn your child into something it is not (read: a genius). It's a good book read it.
Each committee member agreed to read, Blessing of a Skinned Knee – we will discuss at future meeting or
online as a group.
A recommendation was made to look into having one of these authors come to our communities and give a
special public presentation for interested parents, children, teachers and professionals.
Also, it was suggested that highlights of these types of books be featured in Guidance newsletters or Tower
Chimes publications.
7.
Next Area to be Reviewed and Revised – Roundtable Discussion
Suggested Areas for Future Deep Dives:
o English
o
o
o
Grade Reporting Systems
Assessments as the Basis for Reporting Performance
Science
There was general agreement to hold off choice of next area of study until after math study findings and
next steps are understood and committed to action.
END/jih