Committee forms
Golden proposes funds to enrich writing



GUILDERLAND — The pressure of recent proposed budget cuts has inspired a dialogue between the English and social studies departments at the high school.

Last year, the administration proposed that English teachers teach five classes, as most other high school teachers do, rather than four, which supporters argue is necessary for a rich writing curriculum.

This year, in another cost-saving measure, the administration proposed merging the supervisor posts for the two departments.

Both proposals were ultimately rejected by the school board. Next year’s budget allows for the English faculty to continue to teach just four courses and it pays for separate supervisors for each department.
English teachers turned out in force this spring to speak of the importance of having their own supervisor. Long-time high-school English teacher Kathleen Sherwin told the board that the department’s rich curriculum is constantly evolving. "In the last 10 years, under our supervisor, we’ve added over a dozen new courses and 25 new books," she said, "to help our students grow as readers, writers, and literate thinkers."

Social studies teachers, too, made their case to the board for their own supervisor; they also talked about the writing involved in their curriculum and suggested they could develop popular and worthwhile electives if faculty had more time.

Ninth-grade social-studies teacher Jonathan Mapstone told the board that, in the last four years, his department has lost 1.3 teaching positions; the average load for social-studies teachers, who teach five courses, is 105 students although many have up to 145 students.

Board member Peter Golden, himself an author, pointed out earlier this spring that courses combining the disciplines of social studies and English were so popular at the high school, students were enrolled by lottery. He suggested that having the departments work together would create synergy.

When superintendent Gregory Aidala proposed forming a committee made up of both departments, he told the board it could discuss integrating writing skills across English and social studies to come up with a better plan to benefit students.
"Good writing doesn’t only take place in English," he said in April.

Board member Richard Weisz said at that time that the committee should not just focus on who teaches four classes and who teaches five but on broadening writing and cultural skills.
He said he was intrigued by comments from social-studies teachers on electives they could teach. "In a good budget year, we could add a social-studies position," he said then.

A committee is now being formed so that the two departments can discuss common issues.

At last Tuesday’s board meeting, Golden asked if the board would consider making money available if the committee decided the social studies faculty should also be allowed to teach fewer courses to provide more time to develop student writing.
Golden said it was "important for teachers to know the board would support them."

Golden also urged that the curricula be synchronized, so that students are not reading Animal Farm before they have studied the Russian Revolution.
"I think you’re jumping ahead quite a bit," responded Nancy Andress, the assistant superintendent for instruction. The purpose of the committee, Andress said, is "a collaborative effort." She also said that the committee’s membership is still being finalized.

Golden persisted, asking if the board would consider extending the program.

Board President Gene Danese said that was far too premature.

Board member Richard Weisz also said it was premature to talk about money. He applauded the district for broaching interactive study and said studies had shown kids learn best when subjects — including science and math as well as the social sciences and languages — are woven together.
Board member Barbara Fraterrigo called it "a phenomenal opportunity for the two departments to get together and brainstorm."
"I didn’t want them to feel limited," said Golden.
"If you tell them there’s a check at the end," said Weisz, the focus becomes, "How much""
"We have to reinvigorate all of our teaching," he said.
"Exactly," concurred Andress.

Other business

In other business, the board:

— Passed a bond resolution, authorizing the purchase of school buses, as approved last month in a public vote, for a cost of $828,200.

About half of the purchase of the 10 new buses is to be returned to the district as state aid in the future. Additionally, the district will buy a new plow truck;

— Approved bid awards to the lowest bidder in a dozen different categories — garbage, rubbish, and recyclables; rock salt and calcium chloride; art supplies; classroom and office supplies; nurses’ supplies; science supplies; baked goods; ice cream; cafeteria supplies; milk and dairy products; cafeteria snacks; and vending machine and associated beverages;

— Accepted the donation of a keyboard and 10 violin technical study texts from Elinor Greenfield and accepted the donation of a refrigerator from Sue Klim;

— Established a memorial scholarship in the name of Stacy Zounes to recognize a senior who will attend college for education or special education and who has an interest in physical fitness and has been involved in school or community clubs or school government.

Zounes, a Guilderland High School graduate who became a mother and fitness teacher, was 33 when she was killed in a car crash in 2004. This spring, her friends held the first Stacy Zounes Family Fun Run to raise money for the scholarship;

— Received copies for review of three state-required district plans.

The Professional Development Plan outlines activities for administrators, teachers, and teaching assistants for 2006-07.

The SAVE (Schools Against Violence in Education) Plan outlines the district’s school safety plan, emergency management plan, code of conduct, building-level emergency response plans, and professional development for violence prevention.

The Academic Intervention Services Plan describes the remedial services and support programs in English, math, social studies, counseling, and social work to help students who need it.

The board is scheduled to approve the plans at its June 20 meeting.
"Basically, there haven’t been any major changes," said Nancy Andress. The plans will be posted on the district’s website;

— Heard congratulations for Meredith Best, whose paintings are part of a summer art exhibit at The Daily Grind in Troy, on display through Sept. 17;

— Learned that six Guilderland teams qualified for the spring season of the 2005-06 Suburban Council Sportsmanship Awards Program — boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, boys’ and girls’ track and field, softball, and boys’ tennis.

The awards are voted on by players, coaches, and parents from other schools in the Suburban Council;

— Heard congratulations for the boys’ Nordic ski team, which finished in second place state-wide in the Scholar-Athlete Award Program sponsored by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

Brighton High School, in the Rochester area, had a team that finished first with a grade-point average of 96.995; Guilderland’s Nordic team was second with a GPA of 96.485; and a team from Queensbury High School was third with a GPA of 95.517;

— Heard from Superintendent Gregory Aidala that the number of students projected for next fall at Guilderland and Lynnwood elementary schools is different than originally expected. And, at the high school, because of increased enrollment in business classes, plans to reduce a business teacher’s position will be changed to expand it, instead.

The budget has one unassigned teaching position for next year, Aidala said, which should cover the changes anticipated so far.

Board member Barbara Fraterrigo said it broke her heart that the high school won’t offer an Advanced Placement, or college-level, course in computer programming next year. The mother of a student who wanted to take the course recently wrote a letter to the Enterprise editor, urging that the course be taught.
"Those are expensive classes to run," said Aidala. "I understand the arguments on both sides."

He said a minimum enrollment of 10 students is needed and the course will probably be offered every other year.
Board member Richard Weisz said it may be time to review distance learning and "reach out to other Suburban Council districts" which may also have a handful of students wanting a particular advanced course.
"That’s a good point," said Aidala;

— Received copies of policies for review on the district’s code of ethics; on purchasing; on district-owned cell phones; on expense reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs while traveling for school activities; on meals and refreshments served at district meetings or events; and on wellness (covered in depth in last week’s Enterprise).
The code of ethics is now to include volunteers who serve on committees. Fraterrigo, who chairs the policy committee, explained, "There’s a disclosure element, so it’s up front, so there are no hidden agendas."
"I don’t think it’s necessary," said Vice President Linda Bakst. "These committees don’t make any decisions...It’s off-putting."
"We didn’t want to learn later on someone stood to financially benefit," said Weisz. "We’re pretty lucky in this district, we haven’t had a problem"; and

— Met in executive session for personnel review.