Minutes 9/27/13
Curriculum committee
Present: Joe Phelan, Marvin Kreps, Deirdre d’Albertis, Diane Lyons, Laura Schulkind, Ed
Davenport
Superintendent Phelan circulated in advance a list of agenda items carrying over from
June, including:
--review of the health curriculum
--review of lessons learned from Lego pilot program
--review of foreign languages curricula
--PLTW: plans to expand
--possibility of accelerated science program after “next generation” curriculum
is implemented in 2014-15.
Members of the committee spoke at length about several of the above items and
explored others for the coming year in terms of long-term and short-term concerns to
be addressed by the BoE.
RHS Principal Davenport met briefly with the group to offer an update regarding
ongoing conversations with Guidance to explore the benefits of Naviance, an online
portal for college applications. The Common Application (Common App) is used at
present by approximately 500 institutions, but many more colleges do not use it. One
important question to consider is how favorably colleges review paper as opposed to
digital applications. Before changing the current practice, it should be clear whether or
not there is a distinct advantage to applying digitally. A recommendation should be
forthcoming soon.
The committee rehearsed at some length the various efforts made in years past to
extend foreign language instruction into the earlier grades. There is very little room in
the day for children at CLS now: new Common Core Standards for ELA/Math require
tremendous time and effort as educators and children navigate a challenging time of
transition. There is a need to protect the Whole Child focus that is the hallmark of this
district with rich offerings in music, science, and art as well as the core subjects of
Math/ELA. Mr. Kreps shared findings from his own earlier research into “infusion”
programs—for instance, integrating Mandarin Chinese into Binghamton’s primary
school curriculum—but pointed out the tremendous expense and logistical complexity
of such programs. “Infusion” programs cost a great deal of money and human
resources. At BMS there is very little flexibility in scheduling due to the high number of
mandated courses, but perhaps it would be feasible to build a full year of language
learning into the 7th grade (at present half the year is dedicated to GTT and the other
half to introductory study of language). Mr. Phelan pointed out that it takes several
years to phase a language in or out of the curriculum, Latin being a case in point. There
has always been an expectation that a third language (to replace Latin) would be
proposed at some point in the future. Are online courses an option? Perhaps, but only
within the context of a fully integrated or “blended learning” plan. The District would
need to think very carefully about what sort of commitment would be necessary to
provide a supportive environment for such programs. It was agreed, at least in the
short term, that the focus should remain on strengthening and perhaps modestly
expanding language learning in the middle school.
Mr. Kreps reported on the tremendous success of Project Lead The Way (PLTW) and
pointed to possible directions for future growth. The 7th and 8th grade Gateway to
Technology (GTT) curriculum is now fully aligned and customized to BMS; there have
been good connections established, as well, to the science courses in 7th and 8th grade.
The new high school “Introduction to Engineering” elective is fully enrolled with 28
students this fall. Mr. Kreps sketched out the three-tier organization of PLTW curricula,
suggesting that Rhinebeck is at present most concerned to establish “Foundation” level
courses. The next step would be to add a “Principles of Engineering” course, if
resources permit. 10, 11, and 12th grades are the target groups for such an expansion.
An advisory team of administrators, teachers, tech experts in the community and the
new Tech Director will soon be assembled to consider best practices for ”building out”
from the middle school to both CLS and RHS. If PLTW does successfully expand, there
will be pressure on space, teacher time, and resources that will have to be evaluated as
well. There are a lot of variables to take into account.
The Lego program was discussed. Mr. Kreps described the “simple diffusion strategy”
employed to bring resources from Tufts and to send teachers there for professional
development in support of the Lego initiative. At present, CLS Principal Brett King is
undertaking an “inventory of utilization” to gain a clear picture of how well the program
is faring.
The committee talked at length about professional development needs given the
massive curricular changes underway. Mr. Phelan affirmed the fact that prudent
budgeting in the last cycle has ensured that adequate funds have been made available
for the extremely robust work accomplished over the summer in relation to CCS. Mr.
Kreps explained the process whereby opportunities are made available to teachers and
vetted by the district. Members of the committee expressed great interest in learning
more about “communities of practice” as an approach to ongoing, integrative
development of teaching/learning strategies in the classroom. The committee will
discuss the specifics of a report to be made to the full Board at a time to be determined.
With all of these dramatic changes taking place, where can a parent or community
member go to obtain a copy of the new curriculum or Common Core Standards? Mr.
Kreps provided some historical background on curriculum writing in the district. He
also pointed out that aspects of the new standards, for instance, “Expeditionary Units,”
are still in the process of being written by the state. The revised curriculum will be
presented in draft form to the curriculum committee for response and eventually for
action by the board (a vote to approve) later this year. Mr. Kreps has graciously agreed
to offer a report to the Board in October regarding the curriculum work completed thus
far, much of it this past summer, in support of the implementation of the Common Core
standards.
Respectfully submitted by: Deirdre d’Albertis
9/30/13