New academic plan launched

The only way public-school students in the constantly evolving Lawrence community will succeed academically is to transform the school system, Superintendent Gary Schall said at a town hall meeting at the Number Two School on Sept. 15.

In response to reports of the district’s low scores on standardized state exams, the “new Lawrence” plan aims to help struggling students while challenging average students and maintaining Advanced Placement classes for high-achieving students. “We need to leave our differences aside, solve problems and come up with a solution,” Schall said. “This will take an elevated plan of discourse, but if we can come together as a school community, I believe we can solve the problems.”

Schall, along with Dr. Ann Pedersen, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction and the principal of the Number Four School, and Pat Pizzarelli, the assistant superintendent for student and community affairs and the district’s athletic director, presented the four components of the academic plan at the meeting: Data Driven Instruction, Social Emotional Learning, Response to Intervention and Common Core Learning Standards.

In Data Driven Instruction, teachers and administrators will determine where students are strong and weak. Data Inquiry teams will revise the curriculum and the way it is presented to meet students’ needs.

Social Emotional Learning will address social and emotional skills while teaching students responsible decision-making.

A state-mandated Response to Intervention initiative will help struggling students through several initiatives, such as the new Web-based platform, Moodle, which features digitized learning, including online discussion forums and lesson podcasts. Teachers can monitor students’ progress through printouts of their results. “The teacher will know if students are understanding the material or if they need to review certain topics,” Schall said.

Currently, the high school’s intervention program includes 90 students who have failed two or more classes. They are not able to start classes until they and their parents or guardians meet with an administrator.

The plan’s fourth component, the New York State Common Core Learning Standards, developed by the state Department of Education, focuses on measuring deeper levels of thinking through state assessments and aims to better prepare students for college and careers. “We want our kids to go on to college,” Pedersen said, “since it’s shown that they’ll be better at income-producing later in life.”

Pedersen said that administrators would support parents and teachers in any way they can. “We want to hear what you need,” she said, “and we want to keep you educationally productive while making this a pleasant experience.”

According to Pizzarelli, parents and administrators are the base of the “new Lawrence” plan. “This is not business as usual; we will work hard to make it different,” he said. “The only way you can succeed is by a team, working together. We are going to improve our scores and help our children succeed.”

Lawrence Board of Education President Asher Mansdorf said that the district is identifying the needs of every child. “If you don’t pay attention to each child,” Mansdorf said, “then you don’t have the appropriate path to move the group forward, and you’ll leave the rest of the kids behind.”

Schall stressed how important it is for the community to “be present,” and said he is already confident in the “new Lawrence” plan because of the dedication and commitment he has seen from parents. “Lawrence is a place where every child’s needs can be met,” he said. “If students feel the community is out there behind the school system, they will succeed.”

At future town hall meetings, Schall said, the topics of discussion will include budget development, celebrating diversity, drug and alcohol awareness, and developing community partnerships. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2, at a location to be determined.

To view the academic plan, visit the district website at www.lawrence.org.