AUBURN - Following last month's state directive to improve the scores of students with disabilities in math and English Language Arts, schools chief John Plume updated the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education Tuesday night on efforts to target middle school intervention strategies in those areas.
In October, the New York State Education Department cited Auburn among 75 school districts that failed to meet state expectations in a number of areas. Auburn was named a district “in need of intervention.”
According to the state's analysis, 21 of 59 (35.6 percent) Auburn students identified as having disabilities in 2001, who were scheduled to graduate in 2005, dropped out of high school. Thirteen students in that group (22 percent) graduated.
State officials gave Auburn from March 2007-March 2008 to show improved graduation rates.
Laura Owen, the district's director of special education, is meeting with teams of middle school teachers and administrators who are reviewing current data, as well as nine compliance areas that define special education services.
These include Individual Education Plans (IEPs), teacher certification, student behavior and parent involvement. Owen is conducting classroom visits as well as interviews to learn the root of existing problems. Owen anticipated completing her review by mid-January.
Plume reminded board members Auburn was singled out because it is the only school in the county with at least 30 students identified as having disabilities. The state generated its own numbers based on the size of student populations it reviews.
In other news:
* Members who attended the Nov. 8 meeting on district diversity at the Booker T. Washington Community Center deliberated the outcomes of that gathering. It now falls to the district to form an action plan based on forthcoming feedback and a tally of priorities those present identified. Plume said the district has not outlined any timeframe to implement changes, though a calendar for follow-up is still in the works.
Member Kent Brandstetter initially said changes to the cafeteria menu (to include more culturally diverse foods or meals) would require the least effort to implement. He suggested the district move to make those changes, but Stearns was adamant that making single, isolated changes were neither in the district's nor the students' best interests.
“I'm not interested in quick fixes,” he said, and reminded the board of similar challenges the district had attempted, unsuccessfully, to take on in the past. The cafeteria menu, members were reminded, fell low on the list of priorities identified at the Nov. 8 meeting.
“They'd rather we take the time, and put... resources in place to address the big picture,” he said.
Brandstetter countered that the district was in a position presently to move on some of people's main concerns, like hiring more African-American teachers. Member Joe Leogrande bolstered Brandstetter's opinion. Leogrande, an executive committee member of the NAACP representing Auburn/Cayuga County, said Stearns could expect a letter from that group pressing for the hire of more black and other minority teachers in the district.
“They want action,” said Leogrande. “Whatever it takes to hire people of color, it will show a big step forward. Those kids need role models.”
* The district will pay roughly $4,000 to install shatter-proof glass in existing doorways and display cases in four schools. The district must do so to satisfy requirements in its energy performance contract with the state. Plume said he was notified last week of the state's concerns.
The largest job will take place at East Middle School, where the district must replace the glass in 117 classroom doors as well as in some display cases. Plume said these are the same doors identified for replacement in the upcoming capital improvement project. The project is now contingent on replacing the glass in those doors first. Other targeted facilities are: West Middle School, Genesee Elementary and Owasco Elementary.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 235, or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net
According to the state's analysis, 21 of 59 (35.6 percent) Auburn students identified as having disabilities in 2001, who were scheduled to graduate in 2005, dropped out of high school. Thirteen students in that group (22 percent) graduated.
State officials gave Auburn from March 2007-March 2008 to show improved graduation rates.
Laura Owen, the district's director of special education, is meeting with teams of middle school teachers and administrators who are reviewing current data, as well as nine compliance areas that define special education services.
These include Individual Education Plans (IEPs), teacher certification, student behavior and parent involvement. Owen is conducting classroom visits as well as interviews to learn the root of existing problems. Owen anticipated completing her review by mid-January.
Plume reminded board members Auburn was singled out because it is the only school in the county with at least 30 students identified as having disabilities. The state generated its own numbers based on the size of student populations it reviews.
In other news:
* Members who attended the Nov. 8 meeting on district diversity at the Booker T. Washington Community Center deliberated the outcomes of that gathering. It now falls to the district to form an action plan based on forthcoming feedback and a tally of priorities those present identified. Plume said the district has not outlined any timeframe to implement changes, though a calendar for follow-up is still in the works.
Member Kent Brandstetter initially said changes to the cafeteria menu (to include more culturally diverse foods or meals) would require the least effort to implement. He suggested the district move to make those changes, but Stearns was adamant that making single, isolated changes were neither in the district's nor the students' best interests.
“I'm not interested in quick fixes,” he said, and reminded the board of similar challenges the district had attempted, unsuccessfully, to take on in the past. The cafeteria menu, members were reminded, fell low on the list of priorities identified at the Nov. 8 meeting.
“They'd rather we take the time, and put... resources in place to address the big picture,” he said.
Brandstetter countered that the district was in a position presently to move on some of people's main concerns, like hiring more African-American teachers. Member Joe Leogrande bolstered Brandstetter's opinion. Leogrande, an executive committee member of the NAACP representing Auburn/Cayuga County, said Stearns could expect a letter from that group pressing for the hire of more black and other minority teachers in the district.
“They want action,” said Leogrande. “Whatever it takes to hire people of color, it will show a big step forward. Those kids need role models.”
* The district will pay roughly $4,000 to install shatter-proof glass in existing doorways and display cases in four schools. The district must do so to satisfy requirements in its energy performance contract with the state. Plume said he was notified last week of the state's concerns.
The largest job will take place at East Middle School, where the district must replace the glass in 117 classroom doors as well as in some display cases. Plume said these are the same doors identified for replacement in the upcoming capital improvement project. The project is now contingent on replacing the glass in those doors first. Other targeted facilities are: West Middle School, Genesee Elementary and Owasco Elementary.
Staff writer Olivia Goldberg can be reached at 253-5311, ext. 235, or at olivia.goldberg@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
There are 4 comment(s)
Jerry Morgan wrote on Nov 15, 2006 3:12 PM:
a white teacher wrote on Nov 15, 2006 12:03 PM:
Dave wrote on Nov 15, 2006 11:35 AM:
Chris - Throop wrote on Nov 15, 2006 10:48 AM: