Date: Fri 15-Mar-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

schools-NEASC-evaluation

Full Text:

Evaluation Report Gives NHS High Honors

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

A highly complimentary accreditation report has school officials at Newtown

High School beaming with pride.

NHS Principal Bill Manfredonia presented the New England Association of

Schools and Colleges' findings to the Board of Education Tuesday night,

calling the report one of the most exceptional reflections of a school system

he had ever seen.

The once-a-decade study takes a close look at schools to see if the quality of

their educational programs is up to their standards.

The New England accreditation reports aren't always positive ones, but in the

case of NHS, the 1996 study came back with high marks for the school's

academic programs. It did, however, fault the high school's facilities and

current financial state, as well as its need to improve the lines of

communication within the school system and community.

The school is currently looking to expand with a proposed $27 million

addition.

"I'm thrilled. I really hope the community is as pleased with the quality of

education as we are," said Mr Manfredonia, who became NHS principal in 1989.

"This report reflects what we're trying to do for the students of Newtown."

Much of the report's praise was directed at the high school's academic

programs, while the school's need for expansion did not go unnoticed by the

committee.

Though the high school has yet to receive official word on whether it has

received accreditation, the positive report is a clear indication that it

will. Mr Manfredonia expects to receive a letter of accreditation in April.

The 16-member accreditation committee, made up of administrators, principals

and teachers, visited NHS for four days last October to get a feel for

27-year-old school. As a guide, the committee used a self-study report

completed by staff members over the previous two years. That report was a

synopsis of the high school's programs and how they were implemented to

prepare students for life after graduation. The group toured the facilities,

observed teachers, met with students and parents, then made a judgment as to

whether the NHS self-study was accurate and correct.

The report credited the faculty for contributing at an "unusually high level

to the youngsters in the community."

All in all, the accreditation group found NHS to be a positive learning

environment with students having a good rapport with teachers and

administrators.

"Student morale is high due in large part to the safe learning environment

provided," read the report.

The staff was commended for the rigor and variety of its academic and

co-curricular programs and for its diverse means of assessing students to

address the various styles of learning. The report also notes the school's

efforts to push students to take more challenging courses.

Mr Manfredonia pointed out that many commendations, such as the quality of the

work done in the NHS library, were things that he takes for granted because he

expects it, but that other schools in the state do not provide.

The report recommends the school begin providing a fuller range of courses,

including additional elective for non-college bound students and more programs

on cultural diversity. However, Mr Manfredonia points out that such programs

are impossible to provide until the school addition is completed.

"Once we address our shortage of space, we'll expand programs to meet the

needs of all students," he said.

The committee had much to say about the school's lack of facilities and space.

In fact, 64 percent of its recommendations dealt with that issue. That came as

no surprise to school officials, who heard similar concerns in the 1985

accreditation report.

"The library needs room to expand. Classroom space is at premium. The

lunchroom and corridors are crowded. Rising class sizes are believed to

compromise the quality of the educational program," the report states.

The report went on to commend the staff for educating students at a high level

despite insufficient funds.

"The faculty's "energy, generosity, enthusiasm, flexibility and

resourcefulness has served to ameliorate the impact of less than desirable

financial support for instruction."

The committee recommended an improvement in the school's communication between

administrators and teachers to better the working environment.

The report states that the high school's current financial support is

"minimally adequate in most areas to supply the material and equipment

requisite to a basic curriculum," stated the report, noting that per pupil

expenditures continue to fall below state averages, despite the fact that the

town's ability to pay remains high.

Mr Manfredonia will meet with his entire staff later this month to discuss the

report and to present copies to each member. He also plans to provide copies

of the report to the PTA and the Cyrenius Booth Library.