Valley Stream education leaders come together

The Interdistrict Curriculum Council, with representatives from all four Valley Stream school districts, held its first meeting on Jan. 5.

Courtesy Central High School District

Proponents of school district consolidation in Valley Stream tout the benefits of a uniform curriculum. Absent a merger, educational leaders from the four districts have come together to try and create a unified curriculum in the elementary schools.

The Interdistrict Curriculum Council held its first meeting on Jan. 5, specifically charged to strengthen education in the fifth and sixth grades. The group is being led by Dr. Thomas Troisi, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Central High School District, and Dr. Lisa Conte, principal of the Robert W. Carbonaro School and curriculum coordinator in District 24.

Troisi said that officials in the high school district want to be able to accelerate more students in math and science. However, students don’t enter the district until seventh grade, meaning that the district has no control over their education until that point. That’s the reason for forming the Curriculum Council.

Math and science are the two subjects in which students can be accelerated. While Advanced Placement courses are available in English and social studies, students can actually take high school level math and science courses, as well as the corresponding Regents exams, as early as eighth grade if they are prepared for the advanced work.

“It is challenging in that we are four different districts,” Troisi said. “The challenge is to work toward supporting each other.”

The long-term goal, he said, is to prepare all students to be able to take accelerated courses in math and science by eighth grade. Rockville Centre accelerates its eighth graders in math, Troisi explained, but also has control of its curriculum starting in kindergarten.

Troisi said the first meeting was very productive, and it has him optimistic about the future of the group and the future of education in Valley Stream. Besides choosing its leaders, the Curriculum Council also developed a mission statement.

Conte said that the group will first focus on science before moving on to math.

Linda Roth, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in District 13, said the group provides a venue for educational leaders in the four districts to communicate with each other. She said that the goal will be to provide common academic experiences for students in the three elementary districts, specifically in the grades leading up to junior high.

The elementary leaders, Roth said, can hear from the high school officials about what skills students need to be successful in seventh grade and beyond. It’s not only about the content, she explained, but how that content is taught. “We all follow the state standards,” she said, “but don’t, many times, use the same books or materials.”

District 30 Superintendent Dr. Elaine Kanas said another goal of the group is to look at curriculum in Valley Stream from kindergarten through 12th grade, not as separate elementary and high school teaching plans.

Kanas said that leaders from each district must keep an open mind, and shouldn’t be married to their way of doing things because that’s the way it’s always been done. “It’s always good to get new ideas,” she said.

Troisi agreed, and said that the school officials can share best practices with each other.

District 24 Superintendent Dr. Edward Fale, though not a member of the Curriculum Council, said he is excited about the potential for a positive outcome. Accelerating more students and easing the transition from sixth to seventh grade are just some of the possible benefits, Fale said. And, he expects that teachers will see results from this collaborative effort.

Dr. Bill Heidenreich, superintendent of the high school district, said while results won’t happen overnight, it will eventually create more educational opportunities for students. He noted that the idea for the Interdistrict Curriculum Council grew out of the high school district Board of Education’s desire to improve student achievement.

Kanas, who said the four superintendents have always met on a regular basis, said she likes having even more educational leaders involved. Each district has two representatives on the Curriculum Council.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Kanas said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to collaborate and share ideas.”

The group will meet monthly on Monday afternoons. The next meeting is Feb. 13.