It's All About The Kids

Addressing the Middle Grade Issues

2009-05-07T17:42:00.002-05:00

A major transformation is about to take place in the North Adams School District, and in my view, it will represent the most significant and most important change in the academic and social environment for children in North Adams in several decades.

I am not naïve enough to think that everyone agrees with me on this. But let me tell you, both as a parent and as a member of the school committee, why I feel this way.

Let me first say that North Adams has had a very good middle school with many great teachers. There are established middle school “best practices” in the world of education, and Conte has adopted all of them. And as evidenced by the over 400 students in Wednesday night’s “North Adams Arts Jamboree” at MASS MoCA, middle school students contribute to the creative talent in the North Adams School District.

My two children attended Conte several years ago and both did just fine; in fact, they did very well. Some of their best teachers in the North Adams School District were at Conte, and are still there.

I attended the parent meetings as we considered the closing of Conte Middle School. I heard some impassioned commentary from elementary school children’s parents who felt sadness that their children would not get to benefit from the increased socialization environment of a middle school. And many expressed concerns of losing many of the middle school programs that could only be provided in a middle school. Both concerns are genuine by those who expressed them. But in my view, neither is justified.

For the past two years, I have had the benefit of looking at substantial research and anecdotal evidence regarding middle schools and other grade configurations. The new North Adams School District grade configuration will be K-7 and 8-12, instead of the original plans of a K-8 9-12, a change that the current economic challenges have forced the school district’s hand to move forward on. But whether converting a school district grade configuration to a K-8 or K-7, the benefits supported by the research are the same. And I believe the new K-7 8-12 has several benefits for the 8th grade students over the original K-8 plan, but that discussion is left for another op-ed, if given the opportunity.

Converting from middle schools to K-8’s has been happening throughout the country, including many cities and towns in New England. Holyoke, Boston, Everett, Malden, Somerville, Hartford, Providence, Bristol, CT, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Denver, San Diego are some of those.

Headlines in national newspapers have noted the growing move away from the middle school, including the Wall Street Journal (“Middle School Goes Out of Fashion”), the Boston Globe (“Boston Shifts to K-8 Schools to Help Students In Middle”), USA Today
(“Middle School Getting Edged to the Back -- Low Scores, Parents' Concerns Propel a Move to K-8 Model."), the New York Times (“Taking Middle Schoolers Out of the Middle” and “Why Middle Schools Are Being Questioned”) and ABC News (“Do Middle Schools Face ‘Bermuda Triangle”).

According to the Mass Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, the 2008 MCAS Adequate Yearly Progress Reports show that 75% of all Massachusetts middle schools are identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring. This compares to 25% of high schools and 45% of elementary schools. I share the view of many that MCAS should not be a sole indicator of our children’s education, but those numbers are supported by many other indicators of academic performance of middle school students.

Whether converting a school district grade configuration to a K-8 or K-7 the grade configuration offers many research-supported and real-life benefits to children, including:

Parental involvement continues strong. Families develop strong and continuous connections to the school. Parents of younger kids tend to be a lot more active than middle school parents, and the schools retain the benefit of experienced, active parents as younger siblings come in. I cannot overemphasize the importance of a parents influence in a child’s life. You cannot expect any school system, public or private, to take the place of a parent. Your child’s social and academic development is a team effort.

With the kids having long-term relationships with teachers & the school, students experience less anxiety about entering the middle grades.

Middle grade students in a K-7 or K-8 school behave differently than in a middle school. Many older students develop leadership skills and responsibility, and experience the value of helping others, being mentors for the younger children. Many take on the role of protector and role model as opposed to having to establish new reputations upon entering a middle school.

Students have a more seamless transition between their primary, intermediate, and middle grade programs. The continuity of K-7 or K-8 schooling reduces feelings of anonymity that may be experienced in middle school, which in a middle school can lead to negative coping mechanisms including fighting, bullying, displaying a "don’t care" attitude, or self-destruction.

Research indicates that in many cases, students in a K-7 or K-8 environment at each grade level achieve higher levels of academic growth over time.

K-7 & 8-12 models eliminate one transition and student achievement levels do not drop as is typically seen during transition years.

K-7 schools can give at-risk students, in particular, greater opportunities at success by building relationships with staff over a longer course of time. Research shows that at-risk students are the most to benefit from eliminating the extra transition of a middle school.

A K-7 school can incorporate a distinct, rigorous, and developmentally appropriate middle grades curriculum. In North Adams, the laptop initiative, physical education, foreign language, band, chorus & after-school programs can and would continue in the new grade configuration.

Research indicates students in a K-7 or K-8 school show higher self-esteem, less victimization by other students, greater levels of participation in extracurricular activities, and healthier adolescent development.

K-8 schools across the country display higher attendance rates and fewer disciplinary problems.

I could give several specific examples of families choosing to live elsewhere to avoid having their child go through the middle school experience in North Adams. I feel this was more a perception issue than anything specific about Conte, but unfortunately perception is reality for many people.

I am also well aware that there are many who looked forward to the middle school experience for their children. Many children do fine and often thrive in a middle school environment. There are cities and towns throughout the state and the country that have successful outcomes with their middle schools. Yet, in spite of a quality middle school with adopted “best practices” and a whole host of quality programs and quality teachers, for whatever reason – and I’ve listed several – North Adams and a middle school has not been a good fit.

The new grade configuration is not a magic bullet. But it is a major step in the right direction. Change in grade configuration has been in discussion for nearly two years. We have outstanding school administrators, exceptional principals and incredibly dedicated and professional teachers that have the ability to make this new grade configuration the best that it can be. Trust them. Support them. And parents, be there for your children, all the time.

In addressing the middle grade issues, we address the overall student academic performance of the school district, the transition issues, the behavior issues, the attendance rates, and the dropout rates. In short, we give a child the best opportunity for strong academic and social growth and give them the chance for a better future. Help make it happen.

Regulatory Overkill for Massachusetts Schools

2009-02-04T19:15:00.005-05:00

Massachusetts has established the nation’s most regulatory climate for public schools. According to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, there are 15 separate elements to the state’s set of regulatory, assessment, accountability and accreditation systems . Superintendents in each district must submit to 106 reporting deadlines every year.

Here's what Massachusetts School Systems are faced with each year: (note that MCAS is only one of fifteen):

1. No Child Left Behind where, right now, there are 54 ways (minimum) for every school and district to be declared “underperforming.”
2. MELA-O (MA English Language Assessment- Oral), and
3. MEPA (Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment).
4. MCAS General Testing in Math and Language Arts at several grades and on several topics.
5. Audits from the successor entity to the Education Management Audit Council whose functions have been moved to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
6. Department of Education Assessment/Accountability Implementation (described in regulations rushed to approval two weeks before the 2006 election). Coordinated Program Reviews which include seven audits:
7. Special Education Program Audits to measure compliance with the Massachusetts special education statutes (“Chapter 766”) and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provisions.
8. Civil Right Audit
9. English Language Learners Audit;
10. Safe and Drug Free Schools Communities Act;
11. Nutrition and Food Services;
12. Title I Program Review (General and NCLB).
13. Chapter 74 Vocational Program Audits
14. Accreditation (an 18 month process) by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges
15. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).

School Committee's Position on the GIC

2009-01-31T16:28:00.000-05:00

With all the concerns and confusion in regard to the GIC (Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission) over the past few weeks, the North Adams School Committee feels it important to make clear its position on the GIC, specifically as it relates to health coverage for the North Adams School District’s faculty and staff. A letter detailing our position was sent on January 22 to the North Adams Teachers Association and all school district union presidents with a request that they share this information with their board members and their membership.

The North Adams School Committee has independently reviewed the GIC current and anticipated health insurance offerings, and after having done so, it is our opinion that the GIC alternative is worthy of consideration in evaluating its health insurance coverage and the costs associated with this coverage. However, it is the position of the North Adams School Committee that this is not the right time to make a change to the GIC. The reasons for this position are the following:

There is a direct correlation between the premium charged by a health insurance plan and the out-of-pocket costs. The greater these out-of-pocket co-pays and deductibles, the lower the premiums can be set. There is clear evidence that lower premiums of the GIC are offered at the expense of higher out-of-pocket expenses, in regard to co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles. This can potentially be of considerable expense to the individual and family.

There is a requirement to lock in a contract with GIC for either a three-year or six-year term. With GIC, you relinquish local control of health benefits and costs over a multi-year period.

Blue Cross Blue Shield, the current and long-time health insurance provider for the city and the school district, is not part of the GIC health insurance offering. One of the primary stated reasons Blue Cross Blue Shield has chosen not to be involved is because of the GIC physician tiered system of handling out-of-pocket insured expenses. The GIC rates individual physicians on a tiered rating system of excellent, good or “standard”. An insured will pay more if your physician is rated among one of the lower ratings (80% are within the lower ratings of the GIC). Even some of the insurance providers within the GIC refuse to abide by this tiered system, and the implications of this are unknown.

The GIC likely makes financial sense for some cities and towns and not for others. It cannot be ignored that there have been many cities, towns and unions that have chosen not to go with the GIC for their own reasons. This includes the Chief Financial Officer of the city of Lowell who has said that the GIC would cost the city more money to receive fewer benefits. The town of Nahant’s own analysis showed there would be no savings if it joined the GIC. The Hampshire County Insurance Group says they may lose between $12.8 million and $18.5 million over three years if it joined the GIC. In Newburyport, town officials determined that the GIC would cost $100,000 more than a comparable Blue Cross Blue Shield plan.

The GIC does not track claims experience by member community. Without access to municipality-specific claims experience, one cannot accurately assess how claims are running versus the rates being charged that municipality and its employees by the GIC. Even worse than making it impossible to make an informed decision as to whether or not the GIC is a good deal for a given municipality over time, the lack of specific claims data effectively will render it impossible for a municipality to obtain competitive price quotations, or perhaps any quotations at all, from outside insurance carriers as those carriers also will be unable to assess the risk. This may make it impossible for us to go back to Blue Cross Blue Shield or to another insurance carrier if we want to do so. There are independent insurance consultants that strongly advise caution in considering the GIC because of this claims experience-tracking issue.

The primary driver of health insurance rates is the claims history of the group. Contrary to Blue Cross Blue Shield and many other insurance carrier options, the GIC has no apparent wellness plan built into its insurance offerings. An estimated 80% of insurance premium rate changes for any insurance product are due to insurance claims. The fewer the claims, the lower the premiums. It is believed by some independent insurance analysts that with no wellness program, the GIC insurance premiums are destined for significant increases over time.

The GIC health plans do not offer an Employee+1 option; only individual or family plans. For those who have Employee+1 plans with Blue Cross Blue Shield (which is many of the North Adams faculty and staff), you would have to choose a family plan with the GIC or only cover yourself individually.

Next to wages, health insurance is the largest cost of the total compensation package of its members, and decisions to make significant changes to insurance coverage and/or insurance carrier offerings need to be made carefully and with all the independent information that is available. As Dolores Mitchell, Executive Director of the GIC, has stated publicly, the local option to join the GIC is not a panacea. It is the position of the North Adams School Committee that there are too many unknowns to make such a major move to the GIC.

AYP Results Confirm Middle School Concerns

2008-10-03T18:05:00.001-05:00

The release of the 2008 MCAS Adequate Yearly Progress Reports shows that 75% of all Massachusetts middle schools are identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring. This compares to 25% of high schools and 45% of elementary schools.

Boston Globe Reports on the Failing of Middle Schools

2008-10-03T17:59:00.002-05:00

(The following Boston Globe report refers to 2007 data - see the post above for the updated 2008 results)

Two-thirds of the state's middle schools are not meeting federal standards for raising standardized test scores, about twice the rate of elementary and high schools, according to a Globe analysis of state data.

The findings are raising questions about the best teaching practices for students wading through the turbulent years of puberty, first crushes, and short attention spans.

More broadly, the data suggest middle schools may have been largely overlooked as the state has focused on other education priorities such as ensuring all elementary students can read and helping high school students pass the MCAS, a series of tests required for high school graduation.

According to the Globe's analysis, more than 200 of the state's 305 middle schools have fallen short of performance goals established under the federal No Child Left Behind Act for at least two years.

Last fall, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education designated about 80 middle schools for restructuring, up from about two dozen middle schools the previous year. Restructuring, the most dire designation for schools under federal law, could set the stage for a state takeover, although Massachusetts has generally partnered with schools to improve achievement.

The afflicted middle schools are not only in Boston, Lowell, and other communities, but also in a host of suburban districts such as Stoneham, Plymouth, and Newton, bewildering school leaders, even as they change teaching methods, textbooks, and staff.

"Middle school students' motivations are different, and the MCAS is not high stakes for them like it is for high school students," said Theresa Craig, coordinator of curriculum and professional development for Middleborough Public Schools, which has a middle school in restructuring. "If middle school students are having a bad day, it totally throws off their test scores."

State Education Secretary Paul Reville said improving middle schools is a significant issue confronting the state, especially as it tries to address the state's high school dropout problem. Students having difficulty in high school, he said, generally begin falling off track in middle school.

"The state should pay more attention to the middle school level," Reville said. "Often, middle school is a critical transition for students from the more protective environment of an elementary school to the more complex social and academic challenges of a secondary school."

Class of 2008

2008-09-10T17:31:00.002-05:00

Of the one hundred and thirty-six seniors who graduated from Drury High School in June, 2008, one hundred and thirteen went on to higher education. That's 83% of the graduating class. Three students will enter the military and thirteen will enter the work force.

In the North Adams School District, success in learning and moving forward to higher education is achievable for those who make the effort and have the all-important support at home.

Now We Know - It's A No

2008-06-14T15:57:00.004-05:00

The word from the Department of Education is that eight schools out of 37 applicants have been approved for funding for the Extended Day Initiative - and North Adams is not among the eight. There's only $4.5 million in additional funding this time around. Our submitted plan alone for three elementary schools and Conte Middle School would require $1.5 million in funding.

This is what we feared and what we warned about the first time around. Now, we wait until next year. But our time may have passed. We will probably see the Extended Day in North Adams someday - but it may not be until it's mandated and underfunded.

We Don't Know Yet

2008-06-04T07:41:00.000-05:00

May 23rd came and went. That was the date we were to hear whether North Adams would be included on the D.O.E. recommended list for funding of the Extended Learning Day. There were conversations but no commitments made. So we don't know yet. What we do know is that the available funds this time around are much more limited than last year - and the number of school districts applying for funding is much higher than last year. Getting ELT funding for all four schools (Brayton, Greylock, Sullivan and Conte), given the limited funding, is an increasing concern. For the elementary schools, it has to be all three. So it may come down to the elementary schools - or the middle school - or no school. We should hear something within the next couple of weeks. Final word on funding may not be until July.

Teachers Say Yes to Extended Day

2008-05-09T06:47:00.002-05:00

On May 5, the North Adams Teachers Association voted by a large margin (~85%) in favor of the Extended Learning Time (ELT) for the 2008-09 School Year. The next step in the process is notification from the Mass Department of Education of which school districts will be recommended for ELT funding - on May 23. Then, if included in this group, we will await the final word on which school districts will actually receive state funding. This time around, there are many more school districts submitting proposals and the expected funds available will be much more limited that that offered a year ago.

Extended Learning Time Initiative

2008-04-18T15:35:00.008-05:00

The North Adams School District Administration, the North Adams Teachers’ Association and the North Adams School Committee are recommending an Extended Learning Time Initiative for the 2008-09 School Year. We believe that the proposed Extended Learning Time would provide a better opportunity for our students to reach their academic goals, expose them to more enrichment activities and provide our teachers with much needed additional planning and professional development opportunities.

The plan incorporates more time for core subjects, extracurricular activities, lunch and recess (for the elementary students), as well as more professional development and cooperative planning time for teachers, and more opportunity for community partnerships.

The plan also develops considerable quality time by providing time for hands-on learning, more teamwork, individual teacher-student engagement, and time to accelerate the students who are doing well and support the students who are struggling.

This initiative is a cooperative effort of the North Adams School District Administration, the North Adams Teachers Association and the North Adams School Committee. We have been working together over the past several months to put together this plan. Ratification of a collective bargaining agreement between the North Adams Teachers Association and the North Adams School Committee is pending.

We welcome and encourage your input. Our plan will be submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Education on April 25, 2008 and the approved districts will be selected on May 23, 2008.

Click on the following links for more information:

Frequently Asked Questions

Extended Learning Time Video

The School Experiment That's Paying Off (From the Boston Globe)

Parent Forums

2008-04-14T16:16:00.002-05:00

(Sent to the Parents from the North Adams School District)

Dear Parents/Guardians:

You are cordially invited to attend a public forum to discuss and explain an initiative to extend the school day at the middle and elementary schools for the 2008-2009 school year. Administrators, the North Adams Teachers Association and School Committee members have been diligently working to develop a proposal to submit to the Massachusetts Department of Education. We are seeking parent input and have scheduled a series of parent forums on April 16th and 17th.

The forum schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, April 16, 2008 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Sullivan Elementary School
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 6:45 - 7:45 p.m. Conte Middle School
Thursday, April 17, 2008 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Greylock Elementary School
Thursday, April 17, 2008 6:45 - 7:45 p.m. Brayton Elementary School

We are excited about our proposal and look forward to sharing the details of our expanded offerings. Your attendance is strongly encouraged.

Things Are Happening

2008-03-09T13:56:00.002-05:00

The Massachusetts School Building Authority is now actively communicating with the North Adams School District – in regard to school facility needs assessment and eventual funding support. It is hoped that their Feasibility Study will get underway within the near future. It is expected to take six months to complete.

As mentioned in a previous communication here, North Adams is in the first group among MSBA’s selection of those districts being considered for funding.

K-8 Educational Space Needs Assessment Underway

2008-03-09T13:42:00.002-05:00

The North Adams School Committee, in February, authorized the hiring of an independent professional consultant to do an educational space needs assessment of the proposed K-8 grade reconfiguration. This consultant is NESDEC (New England School Development Council). NESDEC represents approximately 400 cities and towns in the Northeast.

Specifically for the North Adams schools, NESDEC will analyze and appraise the present and future educational space needs in relation to PreK-8 school facilities in the school district. There is a detailed, multi-page, description of exactly what they will be doing – too much to outline here. Community input will be part of the process.

Their work has begun. They recently met with the Mayor independently, followed by a group meeting with the Superintendent of Schools Jim Montepare, other school administration and myself. The School District and the City of North Adams are gathering historical demographic information and historical enrollment numbers that NESDEC will use to begin their facility space assessments.

They’ll be back later this month spending two days touring and analyzing the three elementary school facilities and Conte Middle School.

The complete process is expected to be done within four months, and the final report will be presented to the School Committee.

Second-Graders Making a Difference!

2008-02-16T11:13:00.004-05:00

Rockwell to become official state artist
By Scott Stafford, Berkshire Eagle
Article Launched: 02/16/2008 03:12:45 AM EST

NORTH ADAMS -- He was an artist, husband, father and, by many accounts, quite the character. But soon, Norman Rockwell also will be the Official Artist of the Commonwealth.

A bill first advocated by a Sullivan Elementary School second-grade class last year was introduced in the House by Rep. Daniel E. Bosley and in the Senate by Sen. Benjamin B. Downing. It passed both houses easily and landed on Gov. Deval L. Patrick's desk Thursday morning, where it awaits his signature.

It will not be waiting long.

"We expect the governor will sign this bill in short order," said Rebecca E. Deusser, a spokeswoman for Patrick.

"I shared the news with my class this morning (Thursday), and they're very, very happy," said Anna Saldo-Burke, second-grade teacher at Sullivan. Because the students now are all third-graders, she called them to her room to give them the news.

She said that last year her class of 12 students proposed the legislation as a class project. Writing the letter took several months and included lessons in social studies, reading, writing and spelling.

"I think it's great that the proposal came from a second-grade class," Downing said.

"It's always fun when the kids get involved in the process. We were talking about the symbols of the state, and we wondered why there was no artist listed as a symbol," Saldo-Burke recalled.

When the project was begun, she added, "we talked about how it may not get anywhere but would still be a valuable learning experience. And, now, for it to actually get this far -- it shows that they can have an impact. It adds value to what they're learning."

It may add value to the region as well.

Downing noted that now that the bill will soon become law, the region and the state can publicize the new official state artist as a way to attract more visitors "to the state and to the region. And the Norman Rockwell Museum can use it in the same way."

"It's a wonderful honor and an absolute thrill for everyone here in the museum," said Kimberly Dawson, associate director for marketing and communications at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge.

"We're especially grateful to the kids for taking this on as a project and to think so highly of Norman Rockwell and his art," she added.

"Whether conveying America's core values through his 'Four Freedoms,' or making political statements about the racial realities of the 1960s, Norman Rockwell knew how to capture the American spirit and experience," Downing said, while advocating for the bill on the Senate floor. "Rockwell reached across the lines that divide and brought a nation together through his depictions of American life. It is fitting that he be named Official Artist of the Commonwealth, and I am proud to advocate for this special designation."

Rockwell moved to Stockbridge in 1953, where he painted many of his classic Saturday Evening Post and Look Magazine covers.

Parent Survey on Extended Learning Time

2008-01-28T19:30:00.000-05:00

To find out what parents of students in Expanded Learning Time (ELT) Schools are thinking about the redesigned and expanded school day, Massachusetts 2020 contracted with JEF Associates to survey parents at three of the 10 ELT schools: the Jacob Hiatt Magnet School in Worcester (K-6), the Kuss Middle School in Fall River (6-8) and the Umana/Barnes Middle School in Boston (6-8). They reached about 250 parents overall in these schools.

FINDINGS

A summary of the results of the survey:

_ 75% of parents believe that the expanded schedule is much or somewhat better for their child

_ 77% of parents report that their child is performing better in school as a result of the expanded schedule

_ 72% of parents believe the quality of their child’s education has improved

_ 79% of parents agree, with 48% of parents strongly agreeing, that more schools in the state should expand their schedule

In addition to the three schools surveyed by Massachusetts 2020, the Martin Luther King School in Cambridge – a school with approximately 225 students – conducted its own survey of parents, using similar questions as those in the Massachusetts 2020 survey.

A summary of the results of that survey:

_ 87% of parents feel that their children are achieving more academically this year as a result of the expanded learning time

_ 88% of parents felt their children came home with positive statements about school

_ 92% of parents feel that we have met our objectives for the expanded school day

_ 77% of families felt the expanded day had a positive impact on their families’ lives

_ 81% of families work the same hours and less this year, as a result of the new school hours, while 17% work more and 1% work fewer hours

_ 71% felt that their children were not too tired as a result of ELT

Source: www.mass2020.org

Review of Meeting with the Mass School Building Authority

2008-01-24T08:24:00.000-05:00

Superintendent Jim Montepare and I recently met with officials of the Massachusetts School Building Authority at their offices in Boston.

At this meeting, Joseph Buckley, Chief Engineer of the MSBA, gave a detailed review of the processes involved with school districts requesting state funding, and more specifics regarding how this applies to the North Adams School District.

The North Adams School District has made the “first cut” in the MSBA’s selection of those districts being considered for funding (as has the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District). Officially, we are in the “pipeline” for funding of a feasibility study. This feasibility study would take approximately six months to complete.

The process from beginning to end is full collaboration between MSBA and the North Adams School District. They would work with the school district and the city through the entire process, with the focus to design and implement a construction project that meets the education program goals of the school district. Stated in the meeting, “We want your buildings to accommodate your education program.”

The entire process timeline from the signing of the Initial Compliance Agreement to the start of construction is estimated to be 12 to 18 months.

K-8 Reconfiguration Update

2007-12-06T09:07:00.000-05:00

What we are not doing:

· There is no “exploratory committee” as yet formed.
· K-8 is not a foregone conclusion.
· The addition of 6th grade to the elementary schools will not take place in September 2008.

What we are doing:

· The School Committee is proposing a grade reconfiguration to K-8 for the district’s elementary schools. Much work needs to be done if this continues to implementation.
· The School Committee is looking at the feasibility of the K-8 model through the following efforts:
- Application for funding for school facility upgrades through the Massachusetts School Building Authority
- Advanced fact-finding by the school district administration

What we will be doing:

· School district administration is and will continue to be visiting successful K-8’s in the Northeast with similar demographics to North Adams.
· We expect to be hiring a third party, out-of-district, facility-planning organization to fully assess educational space needs.
· A School Committee exploratory K-8 sub-committee will be formed that will include school committee representation, a teacher and parent from each of the elementary schools & Conte, a city councilor, and a community representative. I will be chairing this committee, which will be receiving for our review all of the advanced fact finding of the district administration, all funding information provided by the Mass School Building Authority, and the details on the in-process and completed assessment of educational space needs by the facility planning organization. This committee will make its recommendations regarding K-8 grade reconfiguration to the School Committee.

Why are we looking at a K-8 grade reconfiguration:

There is considerable research and anecdotal evidence that this is the best and the right choice for the education & social development of children in the middle grades. We know it is not a magic bullet for solving all the challenges of educating the kids, but reasons include:

Families develop strong and continuous connections to the school over 9 years together. Parents of younger kids tend to be a lot more active than middle school parents, and the schools retain the benefit of experienced, active parents as younger siblings come in. With the kids having long-term relationships with teachers & the school, students experience less anxiety about entering 6th, 7th & 8th grades. K-8 schools can give at-risk students, in particular, greater opportunities at success by building relationships with staff over a course of nine years

Older students develop leadership skills and responsibility, and experience the value of helping others. Middle grade students in a K-8 school behave differently than in a middle school. They take on the role of protector and role model as opposed to having to establish new reputations upon entering a middle school.

Students have a more seamless transition between their primary, intermediate, and middle grade programs. The continuity of K-8 reduces feelings of anonymity that may be experienced in middle school, which in a middle school can lead to negative coping mechanisms, including fighting, displaying a "don’t care" attitude, or self-destruction.

Research indicates that, in many cases, students in a K-8 environment at each grade level achieve higher levels of academic growth over time.

K-8 models eliminate one transition and student achievement levels do not drop as is typically seen during transition years.

A K-8 school can incorporate a distinct, rigorous, and developmentally appropriate middle grades program within a K-8 grade span – what’s frequently called an “Ellemiddle” school. Best practice middle grade implementation can be successfully incorporated within the K-8 model.

Research indicates that by the end of eighth grade, students in a K-8 school show higher self-esteem, less victimization by other students, greater levels of participation in extracurricular activities, and healthier adolescent development.

K-8 schools across the country display higher attendance rates and fewer disciplinary problems.

The School Committee is well aware that there are great things happening in the North Adams School District, thanks to the extraordinary dedication of the faculty, support staff and administration, in spite of the many pressures put on them by the requirements of No Child Left Behind, AYP, MCAS and so on. There are tangible and significant improvements occurring throughout the district, including at Conte Middle School. K-8 isn’t being considered because the School Committee is unhappy with the academic improvements or lack thereof in the school district. The look at K-8 addresses many issues beyond educational improvement, as outlined above. If these issues could be addressed successfully with K-8, this would enhance the good things that are happening in our current grade structure.

The exploration of K-8 grade reconfiguration also exposes in a more significant light, the issues of school facility deficiencies and declining enrollments. These two issues add to the interest in the K-8 conversion as a way to make better use of educational space in the district.

K-8 Information

2007-12-06T08:47:00.001-05:00

I know there may be many questions, concerns and ideas regarding the proposed K-8 grade reconfiguration in the North Adams School District. For many of the questions you have, we may not have answers yet. But I welcome your input and your questions. I intend to use this blog as a vehicle to keep the parents and the community informed as we go through the process. I also hope you will take advantage of this medium to provide your input, your thoughts and your ideas on the proposed K-8 grade reconfiguration. If you would prefer to do so more directly, you can email me at newa@adelphia.net.

Teacher Raises Concerns

2007-05-31T17:32:00.000-05:00

A Letter to the Editor in The Transcript from Susan Chilson, a veteran teacher in the North Adams School District, addressed concerns she has with cuts being made to staff and programs.

A local blogger (who has long-time issues with the administration of the North Adams School District) supports her views by saying that he has "had conversations with dozens (yes, dozens) of teachers who have voiced frustrations over many different subjects in the past couple years." He goes on to say that "I do not think I know Susan Chilson, at least not by name." I find it curious that for someone that has talked to "dozens (yes, dozens)" of teachers, this local blogger does not know Susan Chilson; a North Adams School District teacher for 20+ years - and a former member of the NATA board. How is it possible that someone so close to so many ("dozens") North Adams teachers does not know of Susan Chilson?

I know Susan Chilson; I like Susan Chilson; I respect Susan Chilson as a great teacher & a great parent. I share her concerns and frustration with any cuts made to staff and programs. But let's set the record clear on staff and program cuts.

Staff and program cuts are not exclusive to the North Adams School District. It's unfortunately happening everywhere - locally, regionally and state-wide - for a variety of reasons. In North Adams' case specifically, decisions for cuts to staff and programs proposed in the FY2008 budget are driven by decreased enrollment in the school district. As a result of declining enrollment, cuts to staff can be made without impacting the integrity of the programs. Decreased enrollment has led to, in many cases, very small class sizes - under 15, some under 10 students. For those programs (class subjects), the same students can be served with fewer teachers while continuing to hold class sizes under 20. In regard to Susan Chilson's reference to specific programs that have been cut or reduced, again this is driven by enrollment - (French will be offered at Conte Middle School in 2007-08).

Regarding declining enrollment, some of this is due to declining population in the city - much of it is due to negative perceptions (& in some cases, negative realities) of the middle school - some of it is due to the charter school. Declining enrollment is not a new phenomena. It has been going on for many years.

We will be addressing declining enrollments in part by examining the feasibility of grade reconfiguration. More specifically, converting to K-8's and eliminating the middle school. This will not be a magic bullet - but if implemented (and done so correctly), will likely provide a significant improvement in the academic and social experience of the students in the North Adams schools.

And let me add - the city of North Adams contributes to the school district close to $4 million dollars over the state "required minimum local contribution". If that was not the case, you would obviously see much deeper cuts.

A Bump In The Road

2007-05-25T20:44:00.000-05:00

The middle school concept, in my opinion, creates a bump in the road to the academic and social growth of the children the schools are educating. It disrupts the flow of the social and academic growth of the developing child. Research and anecdotal evidence all over the country shows that doing this is perhaps doing the opposite of what it was intended to do – instead of helping the kids through the rapid changes they’re going through at this age, the middle school is adding to the challenges the kids are facing. Moving to a new unfamiliar environment at 6th grade – to a larger school with teachers they don’t know, with kids they don’t know, with more demands and stress heaped on them – is not the way to make their lives a smooth transition during this difficult time.

The answer in my opinion and in the opinion of many across the country is the conversion back to K-8 Schools. The North Adams School District will be considering the feasibility of this conversion over the next few weeks and months. Your input is welcome.

Thirty Advantages (There's Others) of K-8 Over Middle School

2007-05-18T17:55:00.000-05:00

1 Better student academic performance

2 Greater parental support

3 Smaller class size

4 Reduced drop-out rates

5 Lower absenteism rates

6 Lower transportation costs

7 Better student behavior

8 Higher student self-esteem

9 Better continuity & stability (one less transition)

10 Reduced sexual activity

11 Longer term student & teacher relationships

12 Mentoring benefits to younger students

13 Older student leadership role improvements

14 Decreased anxiety

15 Best practice middle grade implementation

16 Opportunuties for accelerated learning

17 Improved teacher collaboration

18 Reduced "falling through the cracks" issues

19 Greater opportunity for success for "at-risk" students

20 Improved internal accountability

21 Less anonymity

22 More opportunity for adult supervision

23 Decreased transfer out-of-district numbers

24 A more seamless transition through grades

25 Healthier adolescent development

26 Improved positive student attitudes toward school

27 Increased student motivation, less disengagement

28 A safer, more familiar environment

29 Less victimization by other students

30 Decreased peer pressure

Standardized Testing

2007-04-07T11:49:00.000-05:00

There are no teachers, no school administrators and no school committee members in North Adams (or likely any other public school district) that support standardized testing as a central focus of a student’s education.

NCLB federal mandates and Mass D.O.E.’s MCAS (a state mandated standardized test tougher than any other in the country) are something public schools (including charter schools) are required to live with.

It’s a double-edged sword – public school systems have improved (including North Adams) as a result of the assessment testing. Yet it has led to a serious drain on the students, teachers and administration in addressing the multitude of demands that the mandates from others puts on them. And it takes significant time away from providing the education it's supposed to be assessing.

Ongoing Concerns About Teen Pregnancy

2007-02-14T12:24:00.000-05:00

The North Adams Public Schools, through grant funding from the Department of Public Health, is providing a nationally recognized health unit to eighth graders. Quoting from the letter sent to eight-grade children’s parents, ” “Making Proud Choices” is an eight hour, research-based program that has proven to be successful in encouraging teens to behave in ways that reduce their risk of unintentional pregnancy and infection with HIV and other sexually transmitted illnesses.

The curriculum encourages participants to take pride in themselves and their communities, to behave responsibly for their own sake as well as for the sake of their family and their community, and to consider their goals for the future and how unhealthy behavior might thwart those goals.

The curriculum acknowledges that abstinence is the most effective way to eliminate the risks associated with sexual activity. It also provides factual information that will help students who do not choose abstinence to practice safer sex.

“Making Proud Choices” contains eight class lessons on topics ranging from setting life goals, to attitudes and beliefs about HIV/AIDS and condom use, to the consequences of sexual activity, to helping students build their refusal and negotiation skills to help them deal with the pressures that teens inevitably feel.”

Teenage pregnancy continues to be a serious issue in North Adams. The Pittsfied School District is also doing the “Making Proud Choices” program.

Anything that addresses teen pregnancy is a step in the right direction. What would you recommend the North Adams School District do to further address this important issue?

Sullivan Elementary School Receives High Marks

2007-02-14T12:06:00.000-05:00

In 2005-2006 Sullivan School was ranked in the top three schools of the Massachusetts Reading First project for its success in increasing the percentage of students who moved from the fall 2005 rating of "low average" to the spring 2006 rating of "average or above".

Cheryl Liebling, Ph.D., Director of Reading and Language Arts for the Massachusetts Department of Education, has informed the North Adams School District that Sullivan School was one of three schools selected to participate in the Reading First case narratives for 2006-2007.

This year's best practice sites were selected because of their expertise in using data from the Reading First assessments to inform instruction. The purpose of the 2006-2007 case studies is to highlight best practices in schools that are targeting instruction to meet the needs of students as identified by Reading First assessments.

N Adams District Out of Watch Status

2007-02-14T11:35:00.000-05:00

The North Adams School District received notification from Joe Rappa, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Office of EQA (Educational Quality and Accountability), that the Educational Management Audit Council, after reviewing the February, 2006 audit report - which indicated the scope and depth of the changes that have occurred in the past two years - the council voted to remove North Adams Public Schools from "Watch Status", despite some continuing concerns about Conte Middle School.

The North Adams School District was one of the first in Massachusetts to be placed in Watch Status and received a lot of negative publicity as a result - some warranted. Now you'll find a "Watch Status" school district in your neighborhood wherever you live in the state.

Charter School Teachers

2006-12-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

The percent of teachers licenced in their teaching assignment in Massachusetts is 94.4%. In the North Adams School District, the number is 85.8%. At our local Charter School, the percent of teachers licenced in their teaching assignment is 31.4%.

The percent of teachers "highly qualified" in Massachusetts is 93.8%. In the North Adams School District, the number is 89.8%. At our local Charter School, the percent of "highly qualified" teachers is 50.0%.

Does this seem okay to you?

(Source: Massachusetts Department of Education)

The Middle School Model vs The K-8 Model

2006-12-14T22:26:00.000-05:00

What do you think about the Middle School model? Is the K-8 model better? With all the changes they're going through at this age, are kids better off moving on to a middle school or staying in a K-8? What do you think?

Your Views on the Extended School Day

2006-12-14T22:03:00.000-05:00

The Extended School Day proposal is still out there and will likely be back for consideration in the North Adams School District soon. Where do you stand on extending the school day? Elementary School, Middle School, High School? If you're in favor of it, what would like to see added or changed to what we're doing now for the kids? Longer time devoted to core studies? More physical education? More time for recess and lunch? A change in the way we teach - quality instruction time - more applied learning, less lecturing at a blackboard - small group instruction? Do we include kindergarten in an extended day? And what about the teachers? More professional development, more planning time? Do you think 6 hours a day, 180 days a year is enough time (the current mandate)? Be part of the conversation.

5th Year in A Row for Drury Aca Deca!

2006-11-21T08:58:00.000-05:00

The Drury High School Academic Decathlon "A" team advanced to the State Competition by getting top scores in the Regional Competition at Pittsfield High School this past weekend. The regional competition (a national event)includes schools in the Central & South Berkshires and all of Western Massachusetts. During the daylong event, each team tries to score the most points on a series of 10 categories: art, economics, essay, interview, language and literature, mathematics, music, science, social science and speech.

The two highest scoring teams qualify for the state competition, and this is the 5th straight year that Drury has achieved this. My son & daughter both took part in two previous Academic Decathlon wins. It's a big deal for Drury and North Adams to come out on top at an event that measures academic performance against that of other school districts.

Congratulations to the Drury students who once again showed that a quality school education is available to all who put in the effort in the North Adams School District.

Attorney Raises Questions

2006-11-03T17:58:00.000-05:00

In a letter to the Editor of the Transcript, Attorney Richard Taskin questioned the legality of the police lockdown done at Drury High School. My guess would be that he has been hired to represent one of the students that were allegedly in possession of drugs or alcohol.

Would he prefer that drug possession and alcohol possession in the schools be ignored? I am sure there were stresses and anxiety that were felt by students and teachers during the lockdown. Seems to me to be a small price to pay for a drug-free, alcohol-free school environment. To my understanding the lockdown was done by the book. Much preparation went into it, and a very thorough, detailed plan was put in place.

I applaud the pro-active stance that the administration of the North Adams School District took in the undertaking of this lockdown. I would support it being done again – if and when it is deemed necessary by the school district administration.

An Endorsement for Governor Based on Education Views

2006-11-02T18:40:00.000-05:00

Deval Patrick wants to extend the school day, reduce class sizes, and raise teacher pay. He promises free, full-time kindergarton for all 5-year olds and an expansion of early education programs for 3 and 4 year olds. He proposes a new funding formula for charter schools so that regular public schools are not disadvantaged.

Lt. Governor Kerry Healy proposes raising the mandatory school attendance age from 16 to 18 to address dropout rates. She wants students to be tested at the beginning and end of every school year to better measure performance. She would lift the cap on charter schools.

I endorse Deval Patrick for Governor. His views on the extended school day, early childhood education and charter schools are the same as mine.

I do support Lt Governor Healey's view on raising the mandatory school age from 16 to 18, but I strongly disagree with her views on adding additional layers of assessments on an already over-tested student. Her strong support of charter schools is something I can't come close to agreeing with.

First in the State

2006-11-02T18:11:00.000-05:00

The Berkshire Wireless Initiative is alive and well in the North Adams School District. With distribution of more laptops to the 6th and 7th graders by the end of December, Conte Middle School will be the first school in the state to have a computer in the hands of every student. This, along with the very important increased professional development for the teachers to better integrate the use of laptops into the classroom, and with a top-notch director of technology in Matthew Mervis to expertly guide the full implementation of this initiative, spells great hopes for the current and future education of the 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in North Adams. And if the initiative proves its worth in the middle school, as I believe it will, the school committee and the district administration will likely pursue expanding the usage of laptops in other grades.

The major advantage to laptops, in my mind, is that it increases the level of interest in the student's learning. Anything that can get the kids to want to learn is a good thing. Apple has done a great job of linking the laptop curriculum to the state frameworks. The potential is unlimited, but it has to be supported by strong professsional development for its implementation.

D.O.E. Commissioner Resigning in 2007

2006-10-31T09:15:00.000-05:00

Department of Education Commissioner David Driscoll announced that he will be retiring on August 31, 2007. As the man who "shepherded" the MCAS through lawsuits, accusations of discrimination, and considerable criticism by many, he stated in his retirement announcement that "testing is beginning to take too much time out of the school day, and more work must be done to reduce the fear surrounding MCAS." He adds, "There's been too much focus on testing". This, at the same time that he successfully pushed forward a plan to raise the bar on passing the MCAS for the class of 2010. The passing grade remains at 220, but if you score below a 240, you will have to meet a whole regimen of additional assessments to qualify for high school graduation:

score "proficient" (score of 220) or higher on the Grade 10 ELA and Math exams
maintain at least a 3.0 Grade Point Average in grades 11 and 12
pass an Algebra II test that will be identified by the Department of Education
demonstrate proficiency in writing through an assessment that will be identified by the Department of Education
either complete a high school curriculum designed to prepare students for college and career readiness -or earn a Certificate of Occupational Proficiency

If these regulations went into effect this year, over 40% of the 10th-grade students statewide would need to meet these additional requirements.

What am I missing here? How does this reduce the time concerns and the fear concerns surrounding MCAS that the Commissioner is concerned about?

Comment Moderation Has Been Turned Off

2006-10-29T20:54:00.000-05:00

I've decided to turn off the blocking option on posted comments. However, the standards above still apply. Profanity, immaturity and personal attacks are not welcome here. Show some respect and join the conversation.

Drury Lock-Down

2006-10-28T08:22:00.000-05:00

On Friday, October 27, Drury High School was "locked down" for a safety sweep of the school. At no time was there any threat made directly or indirectly to the school or any student or staff at Drury. Students were informed that it was another measure to survey the school in an effort to provide a safe, orderly learning environment for teaching and learning. It should serve as a message to the students that the North Adams School District has a zero tolerance policy regarding drugs and alcohol. As a member of the school committee and as a parent, I'm glad to see this happen and I appreciate the well-organized fashion in which the lock-down and sweep of the school was carried out. Students, staff and administration all handled the lock-down procedures very well. I think students can expect to see more of this in the future.

The Extended School Day

2006-10-27T21:17:00.000-05:00

Contrary to some media reports, the North Adams School Committee and the administration of the North Adams School District continues their interest in the extended school day initiative. The North Adams Teachers Association has recently communicated the same interest. At some point, within the next few weeks or months, there is reason to believe that the collective bargaining negotiations on this between the teachers association and the school committee will go forward. This time around, we have the option to begin the extended school day initiative in the 2007-08 school year or the 2008-09 school year. The extended length of time requirement over the current schedule has been reduced from 30% more time (as required initially) to 25%. Our going forward with all this remains dependent on a collective bargaining agreement with NATA and on receiving the funding from the state for the initiative. There’s been much said about the extended school day in the media and elsewhere over the past few months. You may have views, ideas, concerns, or questions on the extended school day. Would appreciate you sharing them here.

A Clarification

2006-10-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

Posts to this site are open to everyone, including anonymous ones. You do not need to identify yourself (although I’d prefer you would) – just select “Other” or “Anonymous” when posting. The only posts that will be blocked are ones that contain profanity, immature comments and/or personal attacks on any individuals. Just show some respect, that’s all I’m asking for. Posts of opposing views to mine will not be blocked. Being that I am moderating the comments, there may be a significant delay in seeing your posts on the site, as I am away frequently due to family doings, work and various committee meetings. My apologies in advance for that. I will be out-of-town Sunday, Oct 22 through Tuesday, Oct 24, so any postings during that time will not be seen on the site until Wednesday. But please don’t just sit “in the weeds” – your opinions on our kids’ education are just as important as anyone else’s. Join the conversation!

Tough Times!

2006-10-19T20:37:00.000-05:00

Kids are going through tough times these days! We thought we had it hard when we were in school, but kids today are going through all sorts of stresses we never dreamed about when we were in their shoes. Incredible school safety concerns, No Child Left Behind mandates, MCAS, multiple assessment tests, non-supportive home/parent environments (for some), stressed out teachers and administrators trying to keep their focus on educating the “whole child” while trying to keep their schools from being labeled “underperforming”. Then after the kids get through the local school challenges, they get the opportunity for a college education that will likely leave them with huge loans after they graduate. These are all extreme challenges for the kids, and they deserve our support, encouragement and congratulations for succeeding in spite of it all. The teachers and the school administrators will tell you that one of the biggest challenges they face is the non-supportive and/or very low-income environments many of the kids are coming from. There’s only just so much the school system can do – there is nothing more important than the full support and encouragement from the parent(s). What do you think about this? And how can we get the parents more involved with their children’s education?

Welcome!

2006-10-17T18:48:00.000-05:00

The intent of this is to be a forum for healthy, constructive discussion on any issues regarding the education of our kids in the North Adams School District. If this turns into unhealthy, unconstructive discussion, then this forum will be shortlived. Remember that it's all about the kids.