Head of School’s Board Report
October 29, 2015
The first four weeks have been about culture building, understanding process and
procedures, setting up standing meetings and developing a working relationship with the
Leadership Team. It has also been about establishing an expectation around
communication: with staff and with parents. Weekly newsletter will begin in November
that will feature a letter by the Head and a review of the week ahead. This will go out
electronically as well as sit on our Web Site. Overall, the transition has transpired well
with establishing (reinforcing) a sound foundation for working as a professional learning
community where everyone is responsive and responsible for making HLA into an
extraordinary school.
1. Instructional - Data
F and P Text reading levels

Results for September –October. All data have been analyzed and
next steps written for each class. Teachers focused on ensuring
additional guided reading for students whose reading fell in the
Levels 1 and 2 ranges.
NWEA
Sessions have been closed off and school-wide data is available.
 Teachers will be using the Student Reports that compare data from
NWEA inception last year to fall this year, as a basis for Parent
Teacher Conferences on November 4
 The Learning Continuum (filtered by topic and standards) will
also be used to explain to families the next steps for each student.
Math and ELA - Grades 2, 3 and 6
 For students that resulted in levels 1 and 2, we have implemented
a creative problem solving solution, which identifies staff
allocation as the key variable for us to support these children. One
way of doing this is to offer additional after school assistance,
which Dr. Penberg has proposed. To date 11 teachers have signed
up.
Professional Learning Communities
 TC consultants have begun working at our school. The K-2
consultant has used the data from the On Demand writing
assessment to determine foci moving forward.
 Salvadori Center consultants will begin working on STEM projects
with grades 2-6 in early November.
 Selected Grade leaders will be attending the ACSD leadership
conference October 29th – November 1st. The workshops, which
they have selected, are attached.
Election Day professional learning will include:



Whole school text study using Mindset (Carol Dweck)
An examination of the Code of Conduct and the principles, which
guide it. The session will also include the use of the reference
Conscious Classroom.
General Studies teachers will select 2 workshops to go to learn
more about the ASCD workshops Grade leaders attended.
2. Hiring/Recruitment
 Current vacancies as per 2015-16 Charter Budget
 Lower grade literacy support position
 Science Teacher
3. Student Services
Breakdown of Totals and Percentages
English Language Learners (ELLs) who receive English as a New Language
(ENL) Formerly known as ESL & Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
2015-2016
Total Students
with IEPs
ICT (Integrated
Co-Teaching)
97
35
TOTAL AMOUNT OF IEP SERVICES DISCONTINUED
OT
PT
Counseling Speech
SETSS
SETSS (Special
Education
Teachers
Support
Services)
41
Counseling
27
Speech
OT
(Occupational
Therapy)
PT
(Physical
Therapy)
71
OT
PT
32
0
0
HES
(Hearing
Education
Support)
Health/Crisis
Paraprofessional
Total Initial
Evaluations
Total Decertified
Students who
receive IEP
services
0-20% each
week
7
2
0
0
0
1
0
TOTAL AMOUNT OF IEP SERVICES REDUCED
Counseling Speech
0
SETSS
1
1
Percentages Calculated with total enrollment of 585 students
(Total/585) x 100=%
NYC
(20142015)
% IEPs in HLA compared to the City
Data from: NYSED Enrollment
2014-2015
HLA
16.5%
2
% IEPs in HLA compared to District 22
Data from: DOE Demographic Snapshot
2014-2015
3
Total
ELLs
0
Total
ELLs w/
ENL
svcs.
29
53
Total
Proficient
47
Total
Advanced
16%
District
22
(20142015)
14%
6
Total
LowIntermediate
13
28
Total LowBeginning
6
ELLs in HLA compared to the City
Data from: NYSED Enrollment
2014-2015
HLA
9%
NYC
(20142015)
6%
Students who
receive IEP
services
20-59% each
week
Students who
receive IEP
services at least
60% each week
34
34
ELLs in HLA compared to District 22
Data from: DOE Demographic Snapshot
2014-2015
4. Enrollment
 Recruitment continues to ensure full enrollment for school year
2015-16. Current enrollment numbers are: grade K:86, grade
1:88, grade 2:89 grade 3:80, grade 4:70, grade 5:70 and grade
6:86.
 Teachers have been implementing the new Play Works
framework during both indoor and outdoor recess. Students
play outside in our new schoolyard daily barring inclement
weather. Foundational principles of Play works, nationally
recognized, non-profit organizations are healthy, safe, funs,
inclusive, and respectful play. All games and activities are
conducted in Hebrew as our Hebrew staff supervises the lunch
period. Students have a variety of play options over the course
of a week.
5. Leadership
 The Head of School (HOS) meets regularly with Dr. Shane
Goldstein-Smith, CMO Executive Director, NY Metro Region.
In regular meetings, Dr. Smith and HOS discuss school
concerns such as instructional planning, budgetary concerns,
and stakeholder relationships.
 In order to build capacity from within the organization we have
identified a grade leader at each level who attends professional
learning with/her Director of Instruction. The leaders will use
the HCSC data as a basis for their work.
District
22
(20142015)
9.8%


HOS meets regularly with Elyse Piker, Director of School
operations, NY Metro Region and Charter School Business
Management (CSBM), HLA’s financial consultants to ensure
effective budget management.
HOS meets regularly with HLA leadership team to establish
school instructional and procedural priorities to continue
school success.
6. Community
 Our Parent Organization held its second General meeting on
October15, 2015.
 Grade level Meetings every Friday morning to discuss and
provide overview for parents. Two sessions held to date.
 Middle School Open House, Wed. Oct 28
 HLA has been granted $1500.00 by The Watershed
Agricultural Foundation to study the trout release program at
Pound Ridge Reservation.
 Visiting educators from Spain and Mexico visit HLA to learn
about cultural competency, coaching and dual language
instruction.
 Task Forces/Committees comprised of teachers and parent
volunteers have been created.
o Green
o Beautification
o Security
o Food
Operations Report to the HLA Board of Trustees
1. Technology Update
 Teachers have accounts linked to each class for the 2015-16
SY. Student data continues to be verified and entered. Links for
parents to reach classroom pages on Oncourse are available on
the HLA website.
 Network Outsource
o IT complaints continue to be tracked and monitored on
a regular basis. Network Outsource comes three times
monthly for maintenance. Staff continues to have the
ability to contact the helpdesk for minor issues.
2. Food Service
 Free and Reduced Price Applications for school meals has been
sent home to all students enrolled in the 2015-16 school year. We
continue to process each application according to NYSED
regulations. We have 251 free price designated students to date.
3. Insurance and Benefits
 HLA currently has 75 employees
o 48 are enrolled in Medical with 1 in COBRA. (Total 49)
o 33 are enrolled in Vision with 0 in COBRA.
o 46 are enrolled in Dental with 0 in COBRA
o 41 are enrolled in our 401K program.
4. Contractor Update
 Facilities
o Stage Curtain: Installed
o Motorized gate: Installation complete.
o Electronic door locks: Installation complete.
o Schoolyard gate lock: There is a slide bolt installed on the
inside of the gate so we can bar entry without creating a fire
exit hazard.
o Playground for Grade K: Play structure installed.