Date: Fri 22-Mar-1996

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

school-principals-coordination

Full Text:

School Principals Seek Coordinated Guidelines For Student Assessment And

Performance

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Newtown's six public schools are working closer than ever to unite in an

effort to improve the academic performance of students.

The basic premise behind the integrated school improvement plan, according to

Newtown High School Principal Bill Manfredonia, is to create a school system

rather than a system of schools.

Making their presentation to the Board of Education earlier this month, the

six principals explained that by using common assessment as a bench mark,

schools will have a better understanding of what direction students are

headed. They believe becoming more coordinated with one another will help

improve cognitive learning and reinforce self-directed learning Ã two goals of

the school district.

"We want to come up with something whereby data are generated to show where

students are," explained Assistant Superintendent Bob Kuklis. "The key here is

to have common assessment. We need to know how good is good enough."

The principals say they will know better where to start teaching students if

they are more in tune with where the students' current learning levels are.

Middle School Principal Les Weintraub believes by analyzing the work and

assessment from each of the four elementary schools, he'll be able to better

direct his teachers.

Superintendent of Schools John R. Reed said the principals are realizing that

they must concern themselves with what is going on in all six schools, not

just their own, if they are to provide the best education for students during

their 13 years in the district.

The schools already have some common assessment with the Mastery and CAP

tests, which are given by the state to certain grade levels each year.

The school district recently set a new set of math standards at the elementary

school level. The four schools will need to develop a common guideline for

determining what quality is, according to Dr Reed. The same holds true for the

district's need for improved writing skills at all levels.

"With differing means of assessment at each of the schools, there's no way to

know how we are doing," the superintendent explained.

Dr Reed said parents have indicated in the past that the school system could

improve with better communication between schools.

The school leaders will be meeting regularly to share students' work with one

another to see if there are similar levels of achievement. They hope to smooth

the transition from the elementary schools to the middle school and to the

high school.

Mr Manfredonia said Newtown's school district may be better suited looking at

itself as 12-K, rather than K-12.

"The questions we have to continuously ask ourselves is, `Where do we want our

senior to be by the time graduation rolls around? What is the school system

doing for that senior to get him or her to that point?'" he explained.

Head O' Meadow School Principal Nancy Onarato told the school board that while

each school and classroom has a different means of teaching its students,

expectations and assessments need to remain the same throughout the district.

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 22-Mar-1996

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