“The fact that they’re not scheduled properly for respective classes is one of the definite indicators,” he said. “Not coming to school is another definite indicator with regards to that.”

Marin and other board members expressed the need for a plan of action in order to help the failing students graduate, a problem that is currently being addressed, according to Leon. School counselors will be on hand this summer to provide social services, a program initiated two years ago, but was put on hiatus last year. Attendance counselors and a selective group of teachers, who will form a HSPA Academy, have been hired to pitch in. Students also have the option of attending virtual high school this summer.

Juniors who did not perform adequately on the state test this school year are required to attend summer school to prepare them to pass come fall, said Leon.

For the rest of the article, go to Nearly 300 High School Seniors At Risk of Not Graduating

Manville Board of Education candidates were asked a three-part question for their views and opinions about the school budget that was proposed for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year.

Second part of the question: “What more/less would you like to see for the children in this school district?”

”With guidance from the experts we have in our district, one thing I have learned is that throwing money at our problems is not necessarily the right answer when working differently can accomplish the same goal. The Virtual High School is a great example of that theory in action and I am a big fan.

For the rest of the article, go to MANVILLE: School board candidates provide budget views

Among its new programs for 2011-12, the district will join the Virtual High School, which offers more than 200 online courses; provide expanded Supplemental Educational Services at the high school, particularly for basic skills and the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA); partner with the county Special Services to give internships to high school seniors; and establish an afterschool instrumental program with Bogota Recreation for elementary students, Pantoliano said.

The district will also undertake various facility projects using the local share in the budget, including paving repairs at the high school, sidewalk repairs at the Steen and Bixby schools, and locker replacement and repair at the high school. Using a grant from the Schools Development Authority with a local match, the district will replace windows and make electrical upgrades at the high school. In addition, a grant from the district’s insurance cooperative with a local match will pay for high school security improvements, such as telephone systems in classrooms that connect to the main office, Fredericks said.

“I feel it’s a very fair budget,” Pantoliano said. “It’s fiscally responsible, but by no means do I feel we’re shortchanging students.”

“It’s a wise budget,” Fredericks said. “It’s not wasteful in any area. It’s lean, and yet it enhances the quality we’re striving to deliver to residents and students. I don’t think you’ll find any frivolous spending there.”

For the rest of the article, go to Bogota school board adopts budget

As director of curriculum, Pantoliano oversaw the district’s 5-year curriculum plan, which is student-centered in its approach to education. Courses on the elementary level, such as the writers’ and readers’ workshops, along with high school electives, including financial literacy, math and art, general business and forensic science, were developed to offer students a more active role in their learning, Pantoliano said.

“We’re on year three of the five-year plan,” she said. “We’re absolutely on track and exceeding expectations in some areas.”

Pantoliano said some of the additional programs in the works next year for the school district include joining the Virtual High School Global Consortium, which offers an expansive array of online courses, and participating in dual enrollment credit courses at Bergen Community College (BCC). Following the BCC curriculum, courses in financial literacy, pre-calculus and possibly theatre arts would be taught at the high school for both high school and college credit, she said.

For the rest of the article, go to Bogota schools chief contract approved