Tuesday evening, Board of Education member Erin Stewart sponsored a happy hour at the Whinstone Tavern at Stanley Golf Course to bring together some current and former community leaders to meet with our new Superintendent of Schools, Kelt Cooper to hear his vision for the future of the New Britain School District.
It was an intimate gathering which provided the opportunity for a round table discussion on moving our district forward.
Cooper was cool, calm, and collected listening to the residents’ concerns. One thing on which all in the room agreed, we need to concentrate our efforts on putting our students first, because they are the ones who are suffering the most from a uncoordinated educational program.
Cooper talked at length about his vision for the district, it included:
Improving test scores
Re-organizing the English Language Learning program with a goal of reintroducing students into the regular ed stream as soon as possible
Stricter enforcement of truancy policies
Cleaner and safer schools
Cutting down Kaizen Thursdays (staff development) to once a month; too much precious classroom time is sacrificed
Cooper also discussed the importance of keeping an open relationship with the community on changes in the district.
Ms. Stewart said one of her main concerns since becoming a Board member had been the lack of information available to the public as to business conducted at regular BOE meetings. “I have discussed this issue with Mr. Cooper at length, and we are prepared to change that, I believe that if we keep people informed and include them in on this process, we will be even more successful in the end. That includes e-mailing or otherwise publicizing BOE regular meeting agendas (posting them at all the schools, printed in the newspapers, and perhaps even taking our meetings on the road, to different areas of the city)."
If there was one thing that was clear from Tuesday’s get together – it’s that there’s a new boss in town, and he’s ready to make necessary changes to enhance student learning.
Erin Stewart, BOE Member
Thursday, July 26, 2012
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12 comments:
Nothing new here. All of these plans were successfully implemented years ago, before Kurtz!
Try something new and allow other BOE members or parents to make suggestions for the agenda. It should not be just the Superintendent and the BOE Chairman.
Neighborhood schools, no more social promotions, principal and teacher support, accountability of parents and students, get back to the basics in the elementary schools. Gee where did I hear that from?
Mark Bernacki
Maybe Mr. Cooper can clean up the mess that Kurtz, Kochol, Wolski, and "flip flop" Saavedra have made.
Lets not forget the pinch hitters of Ayalon abd Pina, the two yes men.
Gee where did I hear that from? Mark Bernacki
Yes, mark, go ahead, pat yourself on the back. You're a genius. A mediocre candidate but a public policy genius.
Bernacki would be Mayormif Bozek ego and Pawlek stupidy did not stick their nose into an election that they had ZERO chabce of winning.
Cerainly he would be doing a job better the=an DUMB AND DUMBER are doing now.
Old school, common sense approach to education isn't new. This isn't "genius". Holding people accountable may be foreign to the super majority political class. The problem with many New Britain liberals is that they think it's "genius" when it comes from them but not others.
Mark Bernacki
by now this Texan must be wondering if he fell asleep and is dreaming that he is in Fantasyland.
My goal mark to referring to you as a genius was poking fun at how you are so far out of relevancy now that you feel the need to remind people of previous positions you once took...
Great "poke" Annon. Was on the floor laughing. First President O'oneterm says all small business owners didn't create their own business now you can't accept it when others don't drool the liberal big government, more money we-know-better mantra.
I didn't know you could only be relevant in the community if you are only in government?
Mark Bernacki
Nothing will change as long as we have board members who are more concerned with making sure students have condoms than making sure they can read the warnings on the package.
It is common knowledge in the Hisanic that Carlos Pina is pushing to have handing out condoms in school will be happening this comng school year.
It is common knowledge in the hispanic cmmunity that Xarlos Pina is pushing to have condoms out at the high school and middle schools this coming schoolyear,
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