ACS, BES and PMHS working to coordinate curriculum

Teachers and administrators at Alton Central School (ACS) and Barnstead Elementary School (BES) are in discussions about ways to coordinate curriculum at the two elementary schools so graduating eighth-grade students start out on approximately the same academic level when they become freshmen at Prospect Mountain High School (PMHS) in the fall.

Talks between teachers at the two elementary schools began last year but it’s only been in recent months that the principals and superintendents from all three schools started talking about getting together regularly.

“It doesn’t make sense having the teachers talking and not have the leaders of the buildings talking,” said BES Principal Tim Rice.

The idea of working to coordinate curriculum was suggested originally by Mike Tocci, who served as interim superintendent of the Alton School District two years ago, according to Rice.

The teachers at the lower grade levels began meeting during the 2007-08 school year, said ACS Principal Bonnie Jean Kuras.

“Last year each school focused on reviewing and reflecting on the state Grade Level Expectations and Grade Level Spans as determined by the state Department of Education,” she explained.

“The teachers at the different schools’ grade levels started meeting to say, here’s what the state (Department of Education) requires,” said Rice. “In many different cases we use different textbooks but they (the teachers) wanted to say, what are the big ideas so when they (the students) leave each school (for PMHS) they have a framework, a background that’s similar.”

PMHS Interim Principal Jay Fitzpatrick, said the idea has been working well.

“It’s a process because both elementary school have their own identity and are keeping their own identity but at the same time they (the educators) want to make sure they’re doing similar things, preparing kids the same for when they hit the ninth grade,” Fitzpatrick said. “The most important thing is that the elementary school students are reaching the next point with similar skills.”

Alton Superintendent Kathy Holt said the separate meetings with the three school administrators and the three school principals are being done “with an eye on what issues there are that are central to all of the schools and how we wish to address those issues.”

For instance, each student’s “electronic portfolio,” which contains information about their academic experiences and educational skills, could someday be shared among the educators at the elementary schools and the high schools, she said.

Kuras said the hope is the administrators’ meetings will eventually “revolve around what it is we want our students to know and be able to do in each content area, stating the specific skill and content that they cover along with the materials that they use.

“While we have different programs of instruction, the goal is to ensure equity of opportunity for students to be exposed to similar information needed to prepare them for entering Prospect Mountain High School,” she added.

Unfortunately the nasty weather that’s forced the cancellation of activities at all three schools this year has also hampered the administrators’ meeting plans. The first two scheduled for this school year were postponed and have not yet taken place, Kuras said.