Superintendent's Message
As we begin to close the door on this school year, we immediately focus on the start of another. Highlighting this year to date is Morrisonville Elementary’s State validation as a “Model School for Excellence”. Parallel to this honor are the improved ELA and Math student performances in grades K-8 as well. High school regents exams begin June 16th.
The following information outlines the progress made toward the achievement of our District goals. Please take a moment to review our work to date.
2008-2009 District Goals:
Increase literacy and math achievement for all students, particularly for students in identified subgroups.
- The 2008 school report card information relative to the students’ English Language Arts and Math performances on the State examinations has arrived. The District is in the process of evaluating individual/group student performances and formulating action plans in an on-going effort to enhance student learning.
Create a systematic approach for providing student interventions to decrease the number of struggling students, in so doing, reducing the number of classified students.
- The Response to Intervention (RTI) Committee has drafted a District plan. This guide outlines the purpose of RTI, lists screening items that must be used at each of the three service tiers and provides standard practices for grades K-12. The committee will review and revise this document throughout the 2009-2010 school year. Staff development will be provided to assist staff implementation.
Update Five Year Plan for ongoing facility improvement including technology.
- At the February 2nd meeting, the Board of Education secured SEI Design Group to provide architectural and engineering services to conduct a facilities, energy and technology study. The energy and technology components should be completed over the summer and the space study should be finalized by October. A findings report is scheduled for the fall, 2009.
Enhance a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.
- An informational school safety guide for parents has been printed and will be distributed to all parents by this summer.
2008-2009 Board of Education Goals:
Establish Future Action Plans for the Dannemora and Cadyville Schools.
- CDC Real Estate Inc. continues to market the Cadyville and Dannemora properties. Marketing updates will be provided at regular Board meetings and by newsletter.
Initiate systematic and continuous policy review.
- A Board of Education subcommittee continues to review District policies in collaboration with the New York State School Boards. The timeline for a complete update of all policies is January 2010.
Collaborate with District officials to keep District in sound financial condition.
- The Board of Education and administration wish to express their appreciation for the support of the 2009-2010 school budget. Long range planning strategies are being worked on and will be an item of discussion at future Board meetings.
Increase communication.
- Articles like this one and the newly created email site, board@saranac.org, are examples of the items employed to date. Our District web site saranac.org has also been recently modernized and updated.
The District values and appreciates community feedback. We encourage you to contact us at the email address listed above with any information or questions you may have. The items will be forwarded to the appropriate department for review and consideration.
Sincerely,
Kenneth O. Cringle
Superintendent of Schools