CASD School Board committees are designed to divide the labor of the board into manageable categories. As such, board members are better prepared for full board meetings. This ultimately improves the quality of board decision making.
CCAP has decided to take a different
approach to writing recaps. Instead of just offering a summary of the board meetings in their entirety, we will be focusing on what we believe to be significant agenda items. We will include context and information to promote discussion. It is our hope that this will allow our community members to engage more in the district’s decision making process by voicing opinions on current school board topics.
The board meeting in its entirety can be found on the District YouTube channel. The agenda, documents, and recording of all votes can be found on board docs.
Region 1 Board Opening
Coatesville Area School District Board Member James Bookman has informed the Board and Administration that he is resigning for personal reasons, effective August 10, 2021.
The Board will make every attempt to fill Mr. Bookman’s unexpired term which ends on Monday, December 6, 2021.
Information to apply can be found on the District website at this link .
ELA Program to be replaced: Lucy Calkins Units of Study
Recent research confirms what the community has been declaring: that it is "failing kids." The nonprofit educational consulting group Student Achievement Partners (SAP) released a report which asked prominent reading researchers to review Calkins' Units of Study, more commonly known as "reading workshop."
David Paige, an associate professor at Bellarmine University and one of seven researchers who conducted the review weighed in: "This is in direct opposition to an enormous body of settled research and even runs contrary to the Units of Study foundational skills materials that support the teaching of phonics." He explained, they don't provide children with the kind of explicit instruction and practice time that research has shown is needed for all students to develop good reading skills. "The materials are contradictory," Paige said in an interview. (SOURCE:APM REPORTS)
- Open Court, a research-based comprehensive K–5 reading, writing, and language arts curriculum that aligns with the science of reading.
o Open Court Reading uses systematic, explicit instruction with a carefully designed instructional sequence and built-in scaffolding. The program builds on prior learning, builds from simple to complex, and covers all five components of literacy: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Lessons are divided into Foundational Skills, Reading and Responding, and Language Arts. Each part is supported by differentiated strategies for students at all levels of ability, as well as English language learners.
- Amplify CKLA K-5, Skills Strand and Knowledge Strand (CCAP note: this is a program that will need a curriculum)
o CKLA was built on decades of literacy research often referred to as the science of reading. The program emphasizes the development of foundational reading skills (phonological/phonemic awareness, phonics, etc.) and the development of language comprehension skills (vocabulary, background knowledge, etc.) to support reading comprehension. Staff will pilot the foundational skills and knowledge components of the program.
- Amplify ELA (6-7) is standards aligned, includes differentiation to support all learners, and contains embedded formative assessment to guide/inform instruction.
o The program also addresses key shifts in the Core Standards including close reading, text-based evidence, writing from sources, and an emphasis on academic vocabulary. Lessons/units reflect increasing text complexity, the development of content knowledge over time, and a balance of texts (fiction and non-fiction). Select staff will pilot all components of the program.
- Wit & Wisdom (6-7), a comprehensive English Language Arts program aligned to the PA Core Standards.
o
Within the program, reading,
writing, speaking, listening, academic vocabulary, and grammar are taught in an
integrated, holistic fashion through authentic texts. Wit & Wisdom consists
of content-rich modules of study. Each module centers on the study of rich and
engaging texts, curated to build student knowledge of important ideas in the
liberal arts and the sciences. The program is designed to maximize student
engagement, includes built-in differentiation to meet the needs of all
learners, and contains supports for English language learners.
ELA Programs to be piloted by teachers (Under the direction of Cassandra Jones, Administrator on Assignment)
CCAP note: Again, kudos to the District for seeking the input from our teachers who know our children’s needs best, and we have much confidence in Cassandra Jones's leadership.
High School Spanish Curriculum Proposal - Submitted by high school campus Spanish teachers- Levels 1 to 4
- Textbook adoption
Music Curriculum Programs (K-5) to be piloted by teachers
CCAP Note: The district’s commitment to the arts in order to continue to promote well-rounded students is greatly appreciated.
- Quaver provides a comprehensive set of curriculum resources that is built on a foundation of standards-based lessons full of interactive elements. Access to ready-to-use lessons aligned to standards and a growing library of over 6,500 individual resources with powerful customization functionality to suit various student learning styles.
- GamePlan is an all-encompassing elementary music curriculum written by Randy DeLelles and Jeff Kriske. The curriculum is packaged by grade level and follows much of the Orff process through a sequential lens like the Kodaly Method. Game Plan is a program with specific lessons and activities to cover a whole school year per grade level with a well-planned sequence of engaging activities. GamePlan also has a heavy focus on movement and creative play.
CCAP Note: We look forward to seeing the same diligence from the District in replacing the CPM (College Preparatory Math) Program.
CCAP leadership would love any input on the programs that the teachers are piloting. If you know about their use in other districts or have any information to help inform the community about them - please comment on this post.
INFORMATIONAL ITEM(s) AND/OR IMPORTANT ATTACHMENTS
Enrollment Report - The District has 107 less students than last year, and the District has 52 less students attending charter schools than last year.BRIEF OVERVIEW | ITEMS OF CONCERN
Financial Statements passed with no discussion. Statements can be found at the following links Treasurer's Report, Bill List, Expenditures, Revenues
CCAP Note: Could more of the covid relief funds be used to help avoid additional future costs? For example, updating and replacing old technology.
Human Resources Report passed. Mr Fisher recognized Mrs. Sullivan for 16 years of service. The full report can be found here Enclosure
INFORMATIONAL ITEM(s) AND/OR IMPORTANT PRESENTATIONS
2021-2022 School District Budget Update - Lori Diefenderfer (Enclosure)
Actual received funding from the state was $619,590 more than estimated. This will help balance our 2021-2022 budget.
Reminder that 2022-2023 scheduled budget debt payments will increase by 9.3 million. This is in addition to continued charter school enrollment increase and special ed costs rising.
Discussion:
Finkbohner – We continue to see enrollment decline in Elementary levels. It would be good to see a presentation about efforts to counter enrollment decreases in Elementary including education and special education components.
Hanna – As a team we have been working to recruit and retain students. Look forward to being more public about that effort.
Fisher – Education committee passed multiple motions that move us in the right direction. We need to promote those things.
CCAP Note: The board again discussed the need to improve enrollment and the importance of sharing and promoting it. When will the community see the strategies that the paid consultant presented at a recent board meeting?
BRIEF OVERVIEW | ITEMS OF CONCERN
Approval of 2021-2022 Bus Runs
A few months ago CASD partnered with Kraft to help oversee and support with the routing. Mr. Hanna explained that he has been pleased about the outcome and has been looking more long term to see what other types of savings and efficiencies can be build into the routing system, to have a better experience for our students. Mr. Hanna also said that CASD should be able to get out the routes to families by the end of this week.
Mr. Hanna also gave us an update on the bus driver shortage. Kraft is still looking to fill 10 bus driver positions for the school year, however they're confident they'll be able to fill them. This year, bus routes are structured, there is an opportunity to be able to consolidate if needed.
CCAP Note: This was a nightmare for the community last year and a terrible look for CASD. The District must not have a repeat situation with a busing problem. Will the consolidated routes solve the problem? What are the concerns with that consolidation? Does the District have a plan C if the consolidation doesn't work or the consolidation is going to again cause mass confusion and concern?
Mr. Pelegrin recently delivered about 1000 masks to the to the bus company to assist when a student is at the bus stop without a mask in order for bus drivers to be able to provide one.
CCAP Note: As we are looking at a new Covid variant and the likelihood of mandatory masking again, we appreciate the reflection on a problem from last year and a solution to help prevent the problem in the future.
Provident Energy Consulting
Last Tuesday, Mike Lang, Principal of Provident Energy Consulting gave a presentation about how their company finds energy savings for the district through building improvements. In the process they find companies to do those improvements that would partner with the district to provide stem incentives. This aligns with the districts goals for building improvement, learning environment enhancement, and incorporating stem.
BRIEF OVERVIEW | ITEMS OF CONCERN
Mr. Hannah briefly explained that the district has been updating their board policies and aren't making any significant changes. You can see all these new board policies in the Agenda link above.
CCAP will do a separate blogpost regarding the plan for the reopening of schools. There has been no decision made as to masking in school.
You can watch the entire board meeting on CASD's YouTube
No comments:
Post a Comment