S-W school board seeking results on program's success

SUSSEX BOROUGH — New Board of Eduction member Steven VanNieuwland was sworn in at the Sussex-Wantage School Board meeting Oct. 21 by Business Administrator Christina Riker.

His term will end on Dec. 31, 2016.

In addition, the director of curriculum and professional development Patrick Higgins gave a presentation regarding the 2015-16 curriculum goals at Sussex-Wantage School System; and Superintendent Jeanne Apryasz gave a presentation on the district's 2015-16 goals.

After Higgins' presentation, School Board Members Vice President William Bolella, Robert Heiden, and President Bob Maikis asked questions regarding available data and student score success regarding the new “Reading-Writing Workshop” program implemented last year.

Bolella asked about the potential payback anticipated in student test-score performance after implementing the new teaching methods.

Higgins said the main metrics the administration will use will be based on teacher performance, without tying the new teaching methods back to the student test scores at this point.

Bolella said although it was nice that the teachers were performing more efficiently, the school board needs to be able to gauge how effective the new teaching methods are and see results at the student level.

Heiden asked if the district is using the data from the pilot programs of the “Reading-Writing Workshops,” completed in grades K-2, to see if they are getting some success.

Higgins said that the pilot programs began mid-last year, and the data gathered would not have been solid.

Heiden clarified, “But right now we don't have any data to show that it is successful?”

Higgins answered that they will look at the Developmental Reading Assessment score growth from point to point since the beginning of the year.

President Bob Maikis asked if there was any data from the Wantage School and Middle School “Reading-Writing Workshop” from last year?

Higgins said, once again, they mainly have the DRA entry and exit scores.

Maikis followed up asking if the success of the “Reading-Writing Workshops” in Wantage School and the Middle School drove the administration to put it in the Lawrence School?

Higgins said yes and further explained that in addition to the “Reading-Writing Workshop,” they added the “Foundations” program in grades K-2, in order to provide a solid phonetic background.