mmilliken@heraldsun.com; 419-6684
DURHAM -- Durham school administrators spent more than two hours Monday evening laying out a comprehensive plan for elementary education.
The presentation covered four core instructional areas -- English, math, science and social studies -- as well as six supplemental areas -- programs for kindergarten readiness, English as a second language, academically and intellectually gifted students, school libraries, technology and Title I, which addresses economically or academically disadvantaged students. Multiple quantitative goals have been set for all 10 areas, with an annual 10 percent improvement expected in most categories.
School board members -- four of the seven witnessed all the complete blueprint review, while two more attended parts -- embraced what they heard and saw.
"This has been a fabulous presentation," board Chairwoman Minnie Forte-Brown told administrators. "You all are doing great work in Durham Public Schools. I could not be more proud."
Her remarks prompted one of several rounds of clapping Monday night during a lengthy committee session that at times took on aspects of a revival meeting, at times of -- appropriately enough -- an elementary-school classroom.
Although the scorecards presented Monday will be updated annually, every subject director will get feedback on a weekly basis through "learning walks" -- school visits -- and on monthly and quarterly bases through testing data.
The educational blueprint follows the approach that Superintendent Carl Harris and his staff have worked to install: one which is aligned to state standards, heavily reliant on interpreting student test scores and intended to produce incremental improvement that, over the long haul, should add up to substantial academic advances. The plan also includes propagating standard curricula throughout the system, often using the district's online Rio database.
Some of the new steps administrators are taking this year to boost student academic performance include:
- Creating after-school science kits and a science newsletter for families.
- Testing "electronic field trips" in collaboration with Colonial Williamsburg at Y.E. Smith Elementary, which could become part of the district's social studies curriculum.
- Compiling results from a survey of parents of gifted students to guide future plans for that group.
- Renewing a focus on basic academics in order to raise the percentage of gifted students who pass end-of-grade reading and math tests. Currently 2.3 percent of such students perform under grade level on math; 7 percent are below grade on reading.
- Establishing teacher surveys and focus groups to evaluate and improve how the district is implementing new initiatives.
Ruth Thomas, the elementary literacy director, became emotional at one point as board member Kirsten Kainz praised the district's work on reading instruction.
"We're a team," Thomas said. "We don't do anything in isolation. We're a team." Her comment prompted applause.
