Officials Earmark Portion of Additional Aid for New Language Arts Program

Members of the unanimously approved a resolution Thursday to allocate additional state aid funds to pay for a new elementary language arts curriculum program and increase the district's capital reserve.

Governor , which increased the amount the Westwood Regional School District received by $455,099 for the 2011-2012 school year, totaling $1.36 million.

Board members decided to spend $120,000 of the additional aid on the new elementary language arts curriculum Treasures, which it also approved Thursday, and earmarked the remaining $335,099 for capital reserve.

Director of Elementary Education and District Technology Rory McCourt explained that Treasures was the unanimous recommendation of a committee made up of more than 20 district employees, including general education teachers from every grade level, special education teachers, ESL teachers, gifted and talented teachers and principals.

Treasures is a product from McGraw-Hill, which McCourt said also produces math and science programs used in district elementary schools. The program is for two full periods per day, encompassing reading and writing. McCourt said there is strong test preparation embedded in the curriculum so it will prepare students for exams without being too test prep heavy.

He added that the curriculum is structured enough to help new teachers put together plans and open ended enough to allow veteran teachers more flexibility.

"We felt that the program really met the needs of teachers and students in our district," McCourt said. "We unanimously support it."

School board member Lee-Ann Schaadt said she reviewed the curriculum program in depth and agreed with McCourt. "I think it has a lot of different components and I feel like we're moving forward with this program in the district," she said.

With the vote Thursday, board members authorized the purchase of Treasures, but it won't be implemented right away since the district needs to receive materials and train teachers.

"We might be able to do some things in the second half of the year, but implementing a brand new curriculum project at the elementary level doesn't happen immediately," Superintendent Geoffrey Zoeller said. "I may not even have the materials until November."