BOE prepares for new school year

PINE PLAINS — As the district prepares to open for classes on Wednesday, Sept. 5, the Board of Education approved the district’s goals during last Wednesday night’s meeting.

School board president Helene McQuade said that while goals in student achievement and enriching staff development are the same as last year, the board set new goals in literacy and writing.

“We wanted to improve math and reading skills in middle school, but we felt that writing is an important part as well,†McQuade said. “In terms of being an important skill to have, the board felt that writing is important as the school prepares students for life.â€

Superintendent Linda Kaumeyer said that, as part of the goals for this school year, the district will strengthen its math and writing program for special needs students, and will also expand services for students who speak English as a second language.

“I think there is an increase in students in the district whose first spoken language at home is not English,†Kaumeyer said. “Expanding services to these students is required due to the federal No Child Left Behind Law, so this is what is mandated both by federal law and the state.â€

A copy of the board’s goals for this year is located on the Web site at www.pineplainsschools.org/PDFs/BOE_Notices/08-23-07BoardEducationGoals20....

In other business: The board approved new faculty and staff for the new year, including language teacher Lillian Cedarno, part-time elementary art teacher Jennifer Blackburn, physical education teacher Nicole Vitale, reading teacher Thomas Richard Turner and substitute English teacher Patricia Audenino.

The board appointed Karen Lindsay to the Audit Committee and appointed Brian Croghan to the Facilities Planning Committee.

Kaumeyer told the board that the district is still looking for a coordinator for this year’s annual musical production. The search is being conducted because drama teacher Sarah Combs has not applied for the theater arts director position this year. However, Kaumeyer told the board that Combs will be assisting the board in the search process.

During the public comment period, Henry Staats, board member of The Stissing Theater Guild, said that the $5,000 stipend for the theater arts director position is not enough compensation.

Near the end of the meeting, the board went into executive session to discuss employment history of district personnel.

According to the district’s Web site, for security reasons, bus routes will no longer be published. For information, call the Transportation Department at 518-398-3000, ext. 115.

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