School Board Report
Submitted by: Barbara Powers, Asst. Supt.
Date: September 24, 2008
As the 2008-09 school year begins, I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight aspects of
our district initiatives within the context of progress toward the 18-month action plan
goals:
GOAL 2: MEET THE LEARNING NEEDS OF EVERY STUDENT
•Continue the curriculum review cycle with a goal of K-12 consistency
1) Review Visual and Performance Arts (Wendy Northrop and Nancy Durst, cofacilitators)
2) Review science with focus on the unifying themes in the revised Maine
Learning Results (teacher initiated and led curriculum topic studies to the
themes of model, scale, constancy and change, and systems)
3) Finalize writing curriculum document, addressing expectations for all grades
and content areas (ELA teacher leaders with literacy coaches as consultants)
•Implement science and social studies modifications and develop common
assessments
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Continue work on the US History survey course in grade 8
Finalize documentation of grades 6 and 7 world studies
Implement new Maine Studies curriculum in grade 4
Introduce and evaluate implementation of AP Physics
Implement revised sequence of science units at Plummer-Motz to better
integrate with the social studies curriculum
•Continue to implement reading goals and assessments and evaluate effectiveness
1) Conduct data reviews, consult with teaching teams, model instructional
practices, and intensify direct support to students, monitoring progress
regularly, all facilitated/taught by literacy coaches
2) Initiate longitudinal data review to evaluate reading interventions
3) See RTI progress below
•Review math curriculum sequence K-12
1) Implement HS pre-algebra course
2) Review 8/9 algebra/geometry transition based on decision to teach algebra in
grade 8 primarily through the Connected Math Program
3) Identify criteria for successful middle school honors math placements
•Implement all aspects of curriculum, instruction and assessment practices resulting
from the world languages review
1) Implement all changes in grades 1 through high school, including the long
sequence change at Lunt to Spanish (now in grades 1 and 2)
2) Introduce Mandarin Chinese and support guest teacher, Cheng Wen
3) Introduce AP French and evaluate implementation
4) Evaluate assessment practices re: oral proficiency
5) Propose addition of world language to graduation requirements
•Continue RTI program development and implementation in reading and math
1) Lunt School: Continue to support full implementation in reading; initial
implementation SY09 in math; additional staff support assigned
2) PMotz School: Fully implement reading; begin to implement math;
capitalize on reconfigured staff support
3) FMS: Implement of Jamestown Reading Navigator’s on line reading
program with 30+ regular ed. and special ed. students; plan for math
intervention
4) FHS: Implement new reading and math courses; continued planning for
oversight through Student Centered Team, including strategies for the regular
evaluation of performance levels of all students
5) District: Require that RTI professional staff and special education
professional staff stay in close communication
•Create web based access for all curriculum documentation
•Support development of Gifted and Talented parent information sites and develop
plan incorporating performance arts
•Monitor effectiveness of staffing and support practices for all English language
learners
GOAL 4: BUILDING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES WITHIN
OUR SCHOOLS, ACROSS OUR DISTRICT, REGIONALLY AND BEYOND
•Continue work of the K-12 PD steering committee with representation from each
building
1) Meet regularly with committee recruited last year, which includes literacy
coaches, building principals, the director of special services, and teacher
representatives from all four buildings
2) Focus resources for professional development using Title II funds in five
project areas: coaching and mentoring, study groups, curriculum, English
language arts, and improving instruction
*NOTE: Significant summer work was accomplished by PLCs and funded by
Title II. A list of the 20 approved projects is at the end of this report.
3) Enhance work with liaisons with respective building PD committees
4) Plan for district-wide initiatives and use of professional learning time to best
meet identified needs
•Deepen partnerships with USM in response to identified needs
1) Support new relationship with USM re: five elementary student teacher
placements (grades 2-5) placed as part of the TEAMS program
2) Continue partnership with USM’s Professional Development Center to offer a
second teacher leadership cohort group seeking administrative certification
•Begin to identify authentic PD collaboration opportunities with MSAD 51
1) Continue relationship between literacy coaches from the two districts
2) Support MSAD’s request for consultation re: special services instructional
practices K-8
3) Collaborate on middle school and high school RTI efforts
4) Re-evaluate these efforts based on Nov. 4 consolidation results
•Monitor and evaluate effectiveness of supervision/evaluation practices with
continuing contract teachers
OTHER:
1) Serve on the executive board of the Maine Curriculum Leaders Association
2) Carefully monitor adjustments to the graduation requirements currently under
review at the Department of Education
2008 Summer Work Proposals funded by Title II
1. Review primary handwriting instruction and resources (Lunt)
2. Tackle and revised learning results in science (Lunt)
3. Review and align word study program (PMotz)
4. Integration strategies for science and social studies in grade 3 (PMotz)
5. Finalize Maine Studies unit in grade 4 (PMotz)
6. Begin visual arts curriculum review (K-8)
7. Further develop grade 7 world studies (FMS)
8. Develop grade 8 US History course outcomes (FMS)
9. Identify differentiation strategies in science (FMS)
10. Plan for algebra transitions (FMS and FHS)
11. Create a plan for grade 6 reading and writing (FMS)
12. Develop the AP French curriculum (FHS)
13. Develop math assessments in line with the SATs (FHS)
14. Revise the Junior CP English curriculum (FHS)
15. Review and revise AP Language and Composition curriculum (FHS)
16. Develop integrated earth and space science curriculum (FHS)
17. Align CP Physics (FHS)
18. Develop AP Physics curriculum (FHS)
19. Increase poetry use throughout the English curriculum (FHS)
20. Identify strategies for incorporating the unifying themes of science (K-12)