Verona School Board Discusses Curriculum Update

The Verona Board of Education focused an administrative team’s presentation on a curriculum update for the district for the 2012-13 school year Tuesday night.

Superintendent Steven Forte said the curriculum update is discussed twice a year —once in the fall and once in the spring. 

“We look at what we have accomplished and what we need to do for the upcoming year,” Forte said, adding, “We are in the process of rewriting all of the curriculum for the district.”

The teachers and staff, he said, do the actual updating with the students.

“This is a team effort by everybody,” Forte said. “We will share the data and talk with the staff about how we can improve the curriculum.”

Sixty-one items have already been updated in the plan, which will also evaluate teachers.

The update is part of a five-year plan and the plan has one more year left, he said. After the five years are completed, the results are evaluated and then a new five-year plan begins.

For example, in mathematics, the district plan will introduce several new math skills to the lower grades that were previously taught in later years.

Algebra I students in grades 7 through 9, for example, will study the subject using a new scope and skills, while Algebra II students will get more training to prepare them for the High School Proficiency Exam.

In addition to the math changes, language arts, science, reading and writing curriculum will all see new programs and initiatives.

In other news, the board: 

• Approved the College Courses for College Credits Agreement with NJIT courses for the 2012-2013 school year.
• Accepted the following grants through the Verona Foundation for Educational Excellence: 

     • $758.89 to Robert Hill for K-4 anti-bullying program
     • $905.89 to Dr. Larry Siegel for “Doc Rocks” Geology Fair for FN Brown                School
     • $1,500 to Jean Hughes for the Musician in Residence program for                     Laning and Forest

• Approved teacher of culinary-arts at Verona High School Christopher Santhouse, at a salary of $2,810 pending a criminal background check.
• Approved Jacqueline Iannucci as a volunteer track coach for the remainder of the spring 2012 season.
• Approved the contract with Pomptonian Food Service for the 2012-2013 school year.  Pomptonian will receive, in addition to the costs of operation, an administrative/management fee of $.059 per meal. This fee will be billed monthly as a cost of operation.

The next board meeting will be on May 8 at 8 p.m. in the library at Verona High School.