Synopsis Of Nov. 18 Westfield Board Of Education Meeting

A synopsis of the Westfield Board of Education meeting provided by Superintendent Margaret Dolan.

2014 TESTING REPORT

Assistant Superintendent Paul Pineiro provided an overview of the results of state mandated tests which were administered in spring of 2014. The Westfield Public School District exceeded the state proficiency and advanced proficiency rates in all grades (3 - 8 and 11) in Language Arts and Math. The same was true in Science, which was administered to grades 4 and 8. In addition, Westfield again performed at or above its District Factor Group (DFG) peers with very few exceptions. (The DFG describes the socioeconomic characteristics of the local district.)

In examining the test data from grades 3 – 8 (NJASK), and grade 11 (HSPA), Mr. Pineiro explained that the District looks for trends over time and analyzes student results to facilitate student growth.

Mr. Pineiro stated that there are several ways in which the District supports the needs of students, including academic support for students and professional development for teachers.

In 2015, PARCC testing will take place which requires all districts to implement student testing via computer rather than students using pencil and paper. Westfield was a pilot for this testing in several of our schools earlier this year.

In addition to state mandated testing, Mr. Pineiro provided examples of how Westfield students excel in Advanced Placement testing and SAT and ACT tests. A total of 68 perfect SAT and ACT scores were achieved, with Westfield’s averages well above the state and the nation. Our students’ AP results well exceeded state and global comparisons.

Details of Mr. Pineiro’s entire presentation are available on his web page.

LONG RANGE PLANNING

Long Range Planning Chair, Ginny Leiz, reported on the committee’s recent meeting in which they discussed the issue of a later starting time for the school day. This discussion resulted from a parent’s inquiry as well as a study that is being considered by the NJ Legislature. Mrs. Leiz, her committee members and administrators who attended the LRP meeting, concluded that the issue is greater than the Westfield community can tackle alone. The committee will monitor what the results of the state study will be as well as actions, if any, by other school districts.

POLICIES

The Board approved for first reading, the following policies:

2412 Home Instruction Due to Health Condition (Program); 2417 Pupil Intervention and Referral Services (Program); and 2481 Home or Out-of-School Instruction for a General Education Pupil for Reasons Other Than a Temporary or Chronic Health Condition (Program).

The Board approved for first reading to abolish the following policies which are consumed in Policy 2460. These were subsections of 2460:

2460.2 Special Education – Full Educational Opportunity (Program); 2460.3 Special Education – Location, Identification and Referral (Program); 2460.4 Special Education – Individualized Education Program (IEP) Reevaluation and Related Services (Program); 2460.5 Special Education – Placement in Least Restrictive Environment (Program); 2460.6 Special Education – Procedural Safeguards (Program); 2460.7Special Education – Evaluation Procedures (Program); 2460.10 Special Education – Requirements for Services for Nonpublic School Pupils (Program); 2460.11 Special Education – Private School Pupils Special Education and Related Services (Program); 2460.12 Special Education – Personnel (Program); 2460.13 Special Education – In-Service Training (Program), and 2460.14 Special Education – Participation in Statewide and Districtwide Assessment (Program).

The Board approved for second reading, the following policies:

2531 Copying Copyrighted Materials (Program); 2560 Live Animals in School (Program); 5611 Removal of Pupils for Firearms Offenses (Pupils); 5612 Assault on District Board of Education Members or Employees (Pupils); 5613 Removal of Pupils for Assaults with Weapons Offenses (Pupils); and 9270 Home Schooling and Equivalent Education Outside the Schools

(Community).

The Board approved for second reading to abolish the following policy:

2480 Alternative Programs (Program).

The Board affirmed my decision on an HIB incident.

CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION & PROGRAM

The Board approved curriculum-aligned student field trips.

The Board approved the following curricula for first reading:

Gifted Program: Advanced Topics in Mathematics, Grades 3, 4, & 5; Life Science Exploration, Grade 3; Living Together in Communities under the Law, Grade 3; and Countries of the World, Grade 4.

The Board approved the following curricula for second reading:

Mathematics: Geometry/Geometry Advanced/Geometry Honors.

FINANCE

The Board gratefully accepted the following gifts from the Westfield Coalition for the Arts: $1,250 to Westfield’s Music Department for staff members to attend a conference; $330 to Roosevelt Intermediate School’s Art Department to purchase two hire wire cutters and supplies; $2,530 to Westfield High School, Roosevelt and Edison Intermediate Schools to purchase three drum sets with hardware and cases; and $830 to Roosevelt Intermediate School’s Music Department to purchase three amplifiers.

The Board gratefully accepted a gift of $5,000 from an anonymous donor to Franklin School to purchase books, supplies and classroom materials.

LIAISON REPORTS

Ginny Leiz reported that she attended PTC/PTO Presidents meeting on November 13, at which several topics were discussed.

NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING - will be held Tuesday, December 9. The complete agenda will be available for viewing on the district website on November 14.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BOARD OF EDUCATION ELECTION

Board Vice President Rosanne Kurstedt congratulated the new incoming members of the Board -- Peggy Oster and Christopher Langhart -- as well as current board member, Mark Friedman – who will be sworn into office on Tuesday, January 6. At that time they will begin a three-year term of service in the school district. Mrs. Kurstedt acknowledged that we are fortunate that other community members were ready to volunteer for a position on our Board, including Michael Bielen and David Sexton, who also demonstrated their commitment to our schools. We welcome their continued interest and support.

WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

· On Saturday, November 29, Westfield High School will host a FIRST Tech Challenge Robotics Competition. FTC is designed for students in grades 7-12 to compete head to head, using a sports model. Teams design, build, and program their robots to compete in an alliance format against other teams using sound engineering principles. The Westfield Robotics Team has two robots competing in this year’s tournament season. The local November meet is the first time WHS will host this event. The matches begin at 10:00am and continue until approximately3:00 pm in the High School gym. The public is welcome to attend. There is no charge for admission. Advisors for the team include Science teachers Valentino Scipioni and Marie

· Congratulations to Westfield High School sophomore, Alex Jackman, on the most recent and perhaps most prestigious award she has received for her video on autism awareness. She was awarded the top honor at the Boston International Kids Film Festival, The Peggy Charren Award for Excellence. This award is given each year to a young filmmaker who is using the medium of film to change minds and change lives - to make the world a better place. There were over 300 films submitted for consideration.

· This weekend Westfield High School will present its fall drama, “The Laramie Project” A cast of 21 Westfield High School students will play more than 80 characters. Performances will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20; and at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21; and Saturday Nov. 22. Tickets for “The Laramie Project,” which are general admission seating, are $12 each. Tickets also will be on sale at the door on the evenings of the shows.

· Congratulations to the Westfield High School Girls Volleyball team, who raised $40,000 for Breast Cancer Research during its PINKOUT fundraiser on October 17.

· Congratulations to the following 7 students who achieved perfect scores in September on ACT standardized tests widely used for college admission criteria. They include Jessica Whang – Reading; Jason Liu – Mathematics and Science; Mary Meyo – Science; Helen Mizrach – Science; Caroline Stocking – Mathematics and Science; Dhruv Tikku – English; and Eli Wirtshafter – Mathematics.

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS

· This fall, Roosevelt Intermediate School choral students were invited to accompany the New Jersey Festival Orchestra in a classical composition during performances held in both Westfield and in Basking Ridge. Taught during the school year by vocal music instructors, Sabino Losco and Karen Romero, the students included: Alison Brown, Meridith Case, Rachel Hammelburg, Brianna Hatch, Caitlin Haviland, Emma Herber, Sarah Laide, Abby Jarecki, Savannah Stewart, Lauren Triarsi and Stephanie Xiao. Three eighth grade teachers -- Stephanie Kwiatkowski, Liz Scheuerer and Daisy Lemos -- rounded out the sound and made connections with the students. The teachers and students were grateful for the invitation by Music Director David Wroe and agreed that it was a great weekend which always will be remembered.

· Last week, students in Roosevelt and Edison Intermediate Schools honored military veterans during School-wide assemblies held at both schools. World War II veteran, Dr. Frank Freer, addressed the filled gymnasium at Roosevelt and received the school’s “The Heroes Among Us award.” The Edison student body and staff heard from two guest speakers – Mr. Patrick Tuohy, former US Marine, and Dr. Derrick Nelson, Reservist in the US Army. Both schools included Musical performances and speeches by students and their principals in the Veteran’s Day programs.

GIRLS LEARN INTERNATIONAL

37 students from the Roosevelt, Edison, and Westfield High School chapters of Girls Learn International attended the United Nations International Day of the Girl on October 11, at which WHS junior, Isabella Gelfand was one of the speakers. GLI started in Westfield in 2003 and there are now 129 chapters partnered with 47 schools in 12 countries in a global movement for girls’ access to education.

On October 24, a total of 27 Roosevelt students in the GLI chapter skyped for three hours with their partner school in Kabul, Afghanistan. Our students shared information about their favorite classes and what they are studying. They used props as they explained their favorite hobbies and sports and showed a map of the US and described where Westfield is located. Our students also sang A Song of Peace accompanied by Roosevelt vocal teacher, Sabino Losco. Students from the high school in Afghanistan read a poem that they had written in English about what peace means to them. GLI advisor, Karen Lust described the experience as truly magical.

On December 10, which is International Human Rights Day, our RIS Girls Learn International Chapter will host a free community event in the RIS Auditorium from 7:30 – 9:00 PM. It will feature keynote speaker Suraya Sadeed, author and founder of “Help the Afghan Children.” The event also will include other inspirational speakers, poetry, music and presentations from the RIS & WHS Chapters of Girls Learn International.

THANKSGIVING RECESS

All Westfield Public Schools will hold a four hour session on Wednesday, November 26th. Schools will be closed on Thanksgiving, November 27th, and Friday, November 28th.

I wish our entire community a wonderful and safe holiday.

Margaret Dolan, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools