Jason Scheer
Every new school year brings with it new challenges, and changes, not only for the students but for school districts themselves. Both the Malverne and West Hempstead school districts have experienced significant changes over the summer.
Malverne
Last year was the first for new Superintendent Dr. Mary Ellen Freeley and Assistant Superintendent Diane Scricca. Both hope to continue along the path of success that the district has been traveling, which includes a higher percentage of students receiving Regents diplomas and better performance on standardized tests.
In order to accomplish the goal, a number of new academic programs have been initiated. Scricca said that the district would put a strong emphasis on reading during the 2005-06 school year. For those in grades K through two, a new, uniform phonics program called Fundations will be used. Scricca explained that the approach will allow students to enjoy a more streamlined, and comfortable, environment as they progress in age and grade.
"It's one approach to how to teach [phonics] so that when students move from one grade to the next, the teachers and the kids will speak the same language," Scricca said.
The district has also adopted a Reading Recovery program for students in first grade who are struggling with learning how to read.
Teachers have undergone extensive training to get the best results out of these new programs. "We want to make sure kids don't struggle for their lives in reading," Scricca said.
In order to meet the needs of a more diverse student body, teachers have undergone training in differentiated instruction, which is designed to provided optimal instructional methods for all members of the classroom. Third- and fourth-grade teachers have undergone English as a Second Language training as well.
For older students, the district has added a reading intervention program, called Read 180, at the high school and middle school. The program combines teacher-led instruction with adaptive instructional software in order to motivate students with materials that engage and take into account the ability of the individual.
"I would just say that the first year was very positive," Freeley said about her first year at the helm of the Malverne schools. "I discovered, as I knew, that we had an outstanding staff, a strong administrative staff, and we have parents who are very willing to participate with us in the whole learning venture."
West Hempstead
The West Hempstead district also made significant strides in academic performance last year. Superintendent Dr. Carol Eisenberg is confident the trend will continue.
The 2005-06 school year brings with it significant changes in personnel. Richard Cunningham will take over as the assistant superintendent for business and operations for Dr. Christine Grucci, who left the district. Cunningham is the former director of business for the Kings Park School District.
Al Escobar, former director of physical education and athletics, is now the principal at the high school. "They will be great assets to our staff," Eisenberg said.
The board will be meeting in September to discuss the position of director of social studies, which is currently vacant.
With regard to curriculum, fourth- and fifth-graders will participate in an "Everyday Math" program. Eisenberg said the program offers a hands-on, constructivist approach that allows students to see math used in real-world situations. She said the new initiative will also help meet the federal No Child Left Behind mandates.
NCLB requires students in grades three through eight to pass standardized tests, whereas in the past only students in grades four and eight were required to take exams. "The philosophy is that children even in primary grades can learn concepts of geometry and algebra," Eisenberg said, "and this [program] can help them do that."
The district will also employ the use of data analysis, which allows student performance to be analyzed over a long period of time in order to identify strengths and weaknesses in instructional techniques and curriculum formats.
In addition, the district has instituted a new student-management system that Eisenberg said will improve programming for all students. As per state regulations, each student will be assigned an ID number. The system will make for better record-keeping in terms of schedules, attendance and demographic information.
There have also been physical changes. One of the computer labs in the high school has had all computers upgraded, and a new handicapped-accessible bathroom has opened in the high school.
The administration realizes that entering high school can be as intimidating as it is exciting. Thus, entering freshman participated in a two-day orientation program designed to introduce them to the curriculum, policies and places that will be their home for the next four years. "It was a very worthwhile event," Eisenberg said. "Hopefully, it would take away all the fears of entering high school."
Comments about this story? JScheer@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
