By Ashley M. Casey
Associate Editor
Baldwinsville Central School District Superintendent Matt McDonald kicked off his Coffee & Conversation meetings Oct. 10 at the Baldwinsville Public Library. Coffee & Conversation is an informal quarterly gathering in which the school community can learn about various topics in the district and ask questions.
Last Thursday’s meeting focused on curriculum and instruction, technology, and athletics. Here are the highlights:
Introduction
While Coffee & Conversation met monthly during its first year (the 2017-2018 school year), this year meetings have been scheduled quarterly. McDonald said the monthly sessions were not well attended, and next year he hopes to host a mix od daytime and evening events to accommodate more families’ schedules.
“I tell myself if things were bad, the room would be filled, so things must be OK,” he joked to the handful of parents, school board members and district personnel who attended the Oct. 10 meeting.
McDonald announced that former school information officer Kelly Cary has left the district, and Sarah Moses Buckshot starts this week in her place. Buckshot previously was a reporter for Syracuse.com/The Post-Standard.
“I’m thrilled because she is going to take us to a whole other level on what public relations is,” McDonald said. “She has so many wonderful ideas on what we can do with this position and get our message out to the community.”
Curriculum: K-6
“To say our curriculum is ‘done’ — that will never happen,” said Tony Cardamone, the district’s director of curriculum and instruction for kindergarten through grade 6.
Cardamone said the district has been working on implementing new learning standards over the past few years. The district has three learning coaches to help teachers incorporate the new standards, with plans to hire a fourth. This is especially important for teaching math, as college is very literacy-focused, so teachers need support in math.
“It’s not so much about memorizing facts as being fluent in how to use that mathematical thinking and those mathematical concepts,” Cardamone said.
The earlier grades are focusing on foundational reading skills, Cardamone said, as brain-based research has found that confidence in the K-2 levels is key for a student’s success later in their academic career.
BCSD has adopted the Smithsonian Science curriculum through BOCES. Elementary teachers go through two days of professional development for each unit. The district continues to use the engineering-based Project Lead the Way, which complements the Smithsonian units.
In social studies, students are learning to “read like historians” and use critical thinking to distinguish facts and reliable sources from “fake news.”
Curriculum: 7-12
Renee Burnett, director of curriculum and instruction for grades 7-12, said the district is making adjustments to the ELA curriculum and aligning material between grade levels. There are shifts in math content as well. Concepts that used to appear in 8th grade could appear in the 6th or 9th grade curriculum.
In social studies, the Global History II framework exam is slated for 2020, with U.S. History to follow in 2021.
The district is implementing New York state’s new science learning standards. Burnett said her own child has lamented about having to work harder with the new standards, saying, “We constantly have to ask questions and we have to figure it out” instead of being given the answers right away.
“That’s what scientists do … they have to follow the wrong answer for a while,” Burnett added. “Our high-achieving students say, ‘Tell me what I need to know and I’ll spit it right back out for the test,’ but that’s not what we want.”
Changes are coming to the world languages curricula, Burnett said. The focus will shift from grammar to an increased emphasis on speaking and listening. The district is also rebuilding its Latin program. The board of education is also discussing the possibility of allowing students to start learning languages in 7th grade.
Technology and data
R.J. DeLisle, director of instructional technology, said the district’s motto when it comes to technology is “Communicate, collaborate and be creative.” He stressed the importance of “not getting lost in the cool factor” of the newest gadgets but focusing on software and hardware for each child’s learning style.
While the district has iPads for elementary student use and enough Chromebooks for every student, B’ville students are also learning how to be good “digital citizens.” This curriculum focuses on internet safety, privacy, cyberbullying and the importance of creating a responsible “digital footprint” for the job search down the road.
Danielle Nahorney, who previously served as principal of Van Buren Elementary School, introduced her new position of director of academic services and accountability.
“When you have a brand-new position, what’s often nice about that is you’re figuring it out as you go and what you bring to the table,” Nahorney said.
Nahorney is in charge of reporting to the state and federal governments how the district uses Title I, II and IV funding (response to intervention, learning coaches, and safe and healthy schools, respectively). She uses student performance and demographic date to help administrators make curriculum decisions.
Nahorney also manages the Basic Educational Data System (BEDS), which contains data about the district staff’s educational experience, employment history and salaries.
Athletics
Chris Campolieta — director of athletics, physical education and health — highlighted a few initiatives in the district’s sports programs. BCSD has implemented a new athlete concern procedure for student-athletes to document and address issues they are having.
The goal, Campolieta said, is to “get the student-athlete to advocate for themselves” by discussing issues with their coach before involving administrators or parents.
Speaking of parents, the district is cracking down on misbehavior among moms and dads in the stands.
“It has gotten — across the nation, I think — unruly,” Campolieta said.
BCSD has instituted a spectator sportsmanship policy within its athletic code of conduct, which can be found at bville.org by navigating to Athletics.
Campolieta said the policy has already been invoked at Baker High School events, and one parent who demanded to see where his violation was outlined in the code of conduct actually owned up to his behavior.
Next meeting is Jan. 16
The next Coffee & Conversation takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020, at the Baldwinsville Public Library. The guest speakers will be the district’s school resource officers, Director of Special Education Rocco Nalli, Director of Pupil and Personnel Services Karrie LaMacchia and David Kilcourse of human resources.
