Northport School Notebook: Close Schools? Cut Electives? These Questions and More Asked at Board Meeting

Should Electives Be Cut?
That was the question raised by resident Joseph Stewart during the public session portion of the meeting. Stewart noted the large amount of elective classes he was able to visit during orientation night at Northport High School, and asked if the number of electives could be reduced to save money rather than tapping into reserves.

Trustee Donna McNaughton asked Stewart if he envisioned students spending a free period in a study hall.

Directing his question to McDermott, Stewart asked if it was indeed a fact that students would need to spend their time in a study hall, when they might be able to focus on an additional class in one of the core subjects.

McDermott agreed that students could double up in a core class.  Principal Irene McLaughlin noted that orientation was meant to simply show parents and incoming ninth graders the wide offering of electives available. She stressed that if there weren’t enough students in an elective, that class would not be offered. “We’re not running classes with empty seats.”

Stewart noted that other high schools have an eight-period day, and wondered why Northport has nine. “That’s what the community wants,” McDermott replied.

Stewart asked if the district would save money if the high school cut a period.  That prompted another resident to plead for a continuation of the nine-period day rather than the possibility of a study hall.

Waldenburg said it was up to the community to decide.

At What Point Does Declining Enrollment Merit the Closing of a School? 
While acknowledging that the issue was both complicated and emotional, resident Jim Pavilica asked the Board in a letter dated Jan 24, “At what point do you consider closing a school?” The letter cites data from the 2010-2011 Budget document showing a decline in enrollment totaling 72 students from the previous year. Pavilica's letter is attached to this article in PDF form.

McDermott clarified that those numbers were estimates. The only school that currently shows a decline this year is Norwood, which dropped from a projected 453 students to its current 437. Northport Middle School’s population was reduced by one to 823 but all other schools show an increase.

“The buildings are appropriately housed with students,” she said. “If we were to close a school, I don’t know where we could fit them.”  Trustee Joe Gannon  added that if the decline were ever significant enough, the district could entertain the idea of full-day kindergarten.

Update on LIPA Tax Certiorari
In response to a question from an audience member, Superintendent Marylou McDermott reported that the district continues to work with Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone to monitor the status of .  Trustee Joe Gannon reported that the planned was cancelled because Governor Andrew Cuomo’s new administration doesn’t have a Long Island point-person who would have been able to meet with the group.

An audience member pointed out that the information at www.stoplipataxhike.com hasn’t been updated recently.  McDermott said that she would get in touch with Frank Petrone and give an update at the next Board of Ed meeting on Feb. 28

Felicitaciones! World Language and ESL Students of the Month Honored
Jennifer Nesfield, District Chairperson of World Languages and English as a Second Language, introduced two students:

Samuel Kessler was recognized as the World Language Department Student of the Month for his outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements. An IB Diploma candidate, Sam is fluent in English, French, and Spanish.

Jessica Qiao, who came to the United States from Shanghai, China, in 2007, was recognized as the English Language Learner Student of the Month not only for her acquisition of English, but also for her pursuit of some of the most challenging classes offered at the high school.

Nesfield reported on some of the highlights of the World Language department, including the growth of the after-school foreign language program which has doubled in size since moving from SCOPE last year to the Norwood Avenue Elementary School. All sections of French, Italian, and Spanish are full; classes meet each Wednesday for 20 weeks, she said.

More than 75% of high school students opt to continue past Regents, the tenth grade level,  in the foreign language program.

The ESL program continues to flourish as well. At the end of May 2010, 21 out of 29 students who took the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test (NYESLAT) moved up one level. The balance of students moved up two or three levels.

Trustee Donna McNaughton asked about the status of German as a language choice. Nesfield said that there are currently two tenth grade level 3 classes and one IB4 class. No seniors are currently taking German. It is still being offered at the seventh grade level, even though no middle school students are currently enrolled.

Future Meetings
The Public Work Session on Board Policies was postponed at the Feb. 7 meeting due to the Board’s convening into Executive Session. It will be part of the Feb 28 agenda, along with an overview of the instructional initiatives for Art and Technology Education.

On March 7, the Superintendent will present the proposed 2011-2012 Budget.  Board meetings take place at 7:30 in the cafeteria.