Message from the Board President
 

The school year is well under way. In all of our schools we are off to an impressive start. Activity levels are high across the District. Each year the Board, working in conjunction with the superintendent, adopts a series of goals for the year.  This year the Board and Dr. Smith decided to direct the District’s efforts toward a narrower set of previously initiated multiyear goals, rather than begin new undertakings. We want this year to be one of consolidation and refinement of those initiatives already underway. With this in mind, considerable attention will be devoted to programs designed to improve our teaching staff’s ability to address the range of needs and learning styles that a diverse school system such as ours faces. These efforts will be directed particularly toward English language arts instruction and math instruction in grades K-8. In the middle school we will continue to lay the ground work for the implementation of a three grade (6, 7 and 8) middle school during 2009 when construction is completed at the middle/high school complex and the sixth grade moves from Washington Irving to our new middle school facilities. At Sleepy Hollow High School, the administration and staff will review a range of high school programs and activities as we respond to the mid-cycle Middle States re-accreditation process.

In addition to these curriculum and instruction goals, the Board will continue to review and monitor the state of our buildings and grounds. With the support of both villages, the District has established a community-wide committee to re-evaluate our athletic fields. The committee will report back to the Board with recommendations, ideally supported by both villages, about how to meet the growing demand for athletic fields in our community. We will also continue to oversee the building construction program at the middle/high school as it enters its second year. Later this year we anticipate receiving approvals from the state for the renovation work planned at Washington Irving Intermediate School.

Each year we struggle with how to communicate effectively with you about ongoing issues, trends and events. In addition to the traditional methods of communication, this year we want to improve two way communication. Each of our building principals has set up a series of coffees scheduled throughout the year that will permit parents and other interested parties to discuss building level issues. The superintendent and the Board are planning a series of informational meetings away from the administration building that we expect to foster a more robust dialogue than that which typically exists within the official context of citizens’ comments at Board meetings. Board meetings will also be more informative. During the course of this year, key District personnel will review with the Board the core aspects of our school curriculum. Presentations on the K-12 science program, the 7-12 English and social studies programs, the foreign language and ESL programs, the K-12 arts program, the K-12 math program and the guidance program have been scheduled. I encourage you to get involved and ask questions. Let us know what you think.  Only with your involvement can we make this District better and stronger. We look forward to hearing from you.

BOARD OF EDUCATION GOALS FOR 2007-2008
 

FACILITIES

• Ongoing management of SH construction project to keep it on track and minimize disruption students/staff
• Bid process and work schedule for beginning of WI project
• Continued pursuit of permanent, cost-effective solutions to bus garage and parking needs
• Fully operational early childhood center at Marymount
• Development of new WI and SH turf management/replacement plan for endorsement by the Board of Education

CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

• Ongoing professional development at K-8 levels in support of Balanced Literacy model for ELA and differentiated math instruction
• Full implementation of Science 21 program in grades K-6
• Ongoing promotion of technology use in support of instruction
• Development of research-based framework for middle school improvement
• Review of research-based best practices and development and implementation of a plan for advancing the theme of “personalization” in the high school
• Completion of mid-cycle Middle States reaccreditation process for the HS
• Review of K-12 music, visual arts, and dramatic arts programs and program recommendations in preparation for impending changes in grade level configurations

 DATA

• Conversion to new Infinite Campus student information system
• Improvement in use of data as an instructional tool

STUDENT CONDUCT

• Implementation of grant-funded expansion of character education program at WI and MS
• Continued focus on improvement of class attendance at HS
• Ongoing monitoring of infraction frequency as a measure of effectiveness of interventions

COMMUNICATION

• Use of all available resources to promote positive perceptions of student, school, and district accomplishments