Common Core State Standards
Ms. Pinsak reported that the Core Standards new assessments would not be implemented until 2014. The new Core Standards are quite different from the current standards. Literacy is infused across the curriculum and math skills are heavy on critical thinking and problem solving.

Solar Project
Ms. Pinsak reported  that the district is involved in the solar project, installation of the canopies and upgrading boilers that are energy efficient and cost saving.

Online Courses
Ms. Pinsak reported that online courses would be piloted at Teaneck High School for Advanced Placement and Honors courses that students would not otherwise be able to fit into their schedules. Also if a class cannot be offered due to low enrollment, they could take the course online. Mrs. Schachter, high school Community Service – College Career Center Coordinator, would oversee the program. This would be an opportunity for some of our teachers to teach online courses. The New Jersey Virtual School (VHS) offers over 200 full semester courses in Arts, Business, English Language Arts, Foreign Language, Life Skills, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Technology. In addition, VHS offers full year Advanced Placement (AP) courses. The website for this program is www.govhs.org.

Parents inquired about the online program that the district is using and was it purchased?

Ms. Pinsak responded that Mr. McHale visited Bergen County districts and they were using the New Jersey Virtual School for several years. We did not purchase the program but will conduct a pilot program, assess it and review the achievement of the participating students. We will get parent and student feedback to determine if the district will continue the program for the next school year. We currently have online courses for course recovery which is an option for students who fail a course.

Parents inquired about the online courses and would they be offered across the grade levels?

Ms. Pinsak responded that they will be offered across the grade levels as electives. Teachers and Deans are seeking 11th and 12th grade students at the high school to participate in this online course pilot. 

Teacher and Principal Evaluation System
Ms. Pinsak reported that the district has selected the Teachscape model for the Teacher Evaluation System. The administration submitted an application for Race To The Top 3 grant funding. We are working on the application for a second round of Race To The Top funding. There is a high cost for the evaluation but the $43,000 would assist in the cost.

We received notification of the Principal Evaluation grant. We may not apply for this grant because we may not have the time to pilot the program. Professional Development for the principals is critical. During April recess, we held intensive two-day training for all of our administrators. We have spent a lot of funds on professional development for teaching staff but not for administrative staff.

Pre-K and Kindergarten
Ms. Pinsak reported that it may be a possibility to add a bilingual person for a Kindergarten bilingual class. Bryant School staff members are writing a grant to fund an afterschool ESL (English as a Second Language) program. This grant, if funded, provides a parent component to the afterschool program. This year, the district funded an afterschool program for ESL students.

Parents responded that many parents got involved in the homework club.

Ms. Pinsak responded that she may add staff to the ELL (English Language Learners) program once it is determined how many students need assistance.

Parents inquired about the status of moving Kindergarten classes to grade 1-4 schools.

Ms. Pinsak responded that administration is considering moving two Kindergarten classes to Hawthorne School and two to Lowell School. Mr. McHale, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction, is contacting parents whose children would attend first grade at Hawthorne or Lowell Schools for their feedback about their children attending Kindergarten at Hawthorne or Lowell Schools.

Ms. Pinsak reported that we could add a Pre-K class at Bryant School. A Pre-K class was opened in the middle of this year.

Parents responded that the Preschool is growing. 3 year olds who have special needs start preschool on their 3rd birthday.

Parents reported that Tools of the Mind curriculum is working well with general and special needs students. The students who receive Tools of the Mind curriculum have better writing skills but there are only two sessions of Pre-K that go to Kindergarten in the public schools.

Ms. Pinsak responded that the Tools of the Mind curriculum is heavy on literacy but not on math. We are planning to implement a new mathematics curriculum for K-2.

Ms. Pinsak responded that the schools are on target this year with scheduling. Last year, scheduling was delayed due to the elimination of staff and teachers were reassigned for Freshmen Seminar.

Foundations Training
Ms. Pinsak reported that Foundations is a culminating activity for first, second and third year teachers. Mr. Fleming, Assistant Principal, oversees the management and teacher training.

On April 19th, our teachers in Foundations Training Years 1 and 2 presented what they have learned this year. Year 3 Teachers presented their unit plans. These presentations were very impressive.

Middle States
Ms. Pinsak reported that The Middle States Accreditation Team met with high school teachers, students and administrators. The Team was very impressed after a thorough evaluation of the high school. According to their preliminary report, the high school is accredited for another seven years.

Rutgers Field Trip
Ms. Pinsak reported that approximately 250 ninth grade students visited the Rutgers University campus over two days.

Events
Parents reported that 5th and 6th grade students should be invited to the 7th and 8th grade Science Fairs. On June 1, French Day will be held for students in Mr. Uwisaveye’s French classes and their parents are also invited to attend from 12:30pm - 3:00pm in the BFMS cafeteria. The events will include cooking crepes, poetry and singing.

Automotive Classes
Parents inquired about consideration of reinstating auto shop which was mentioned during the Strategic Planning meetings.

Ms. Pinsak responded that the problem with the course was that it was not supported by the technology that students would use in the workplace and that technology would be costly to upgrade. We are setting up half-day off-campus classes for general education as we have for special education students.

Technology
Ms. Pinsak reported that the wireless technology at the high school will be completed for '12-'13. She would like to have funding for IPads for all students. Some districts use Air Books for teachers and IPads for students but the cost is about $35,000 per classroom. We are piloting the Kindle Fire in a middle school classroom and the students are allowed to take the Kindles home. This pilot program is working well because the teacher knew what he wanted to do with the Kindles with his students. There is an app for Algebra I for support and it is fabulous. It is interactive for algebra and takes students to tutoring.

Parents responded that parents could supply the IPad for their child or a class set could be purchased and shared by students.

Parents inquired about interactive textbooks on DVD to replace the hard cover textbooks that are cumbersome for students to carry to and from school.

Ms. Pinsak responded that when you buy textbooks, a DVD is included and students can go back and forth from home to school with the DVD. If the DVD is destroyed, the cost is much less to replace it than the textbook. A teacher purchased I-Excel for his class and was able to download onto the Kindles and he got an account to download clusters of books for reading groups. The teacher reported that students love it and they are taking the Kindles home.

Strategic Planning
Ms. Pinsak reported that we are waiting for Dr. Ivory’s final notes to place on the website. The Board of Education will produce a document over the summer. The document will include the Board of Education’s goals and objectives. We will reach out to the community for more input in the near future.

Please note that Sunday with the Superintendent in May has been rescheduled to June 10 from 2pm-4pm.