District 13 strengths -- physical fitness and meeting the needs of students with disabilities

During the Nov. 12 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Susan Viccaro presented startling facts from a Chamber of Commerce meeting earlier that day surrounding the decline in affordable housing in Connecticut that translates into concerns for the BOE. Among the statistics was the worrisome prediction that Connecticut can anticipate school enrollment to fall 16 percent from 2004 to 2020 because of lack of affordable housing for young middle income families. Viccaro noted that District 13's enrollment is already down by 10 percent.

"What's even scarier," Viccaro said, "Is that 40 percent of teachers in the state are over 50 years old so we'll need teachers in a very short time." Teachers are among those groups of middle income workers that often cannot afford the state's high housing prices.

Strategic school profile

In reviewing the strategic school profile, Viccaro discovered several "very interesting" areas in the district profile that she brought to the board's attention. One number being that District 13 students are significantly more physically fit than their counterparts at other schools. Fifty percent of kids in District 13 pass all four physical assessment tests compared to 36 percent in the state overall.

Similarly, Viccaro found it interesting that District 13 classrooms are running two to three more students per class than their counterparts in the same District Reference Group (DRG, formerly Educational Reference Group, or ERG), and the district has roughly five percent more teachers and instructors with a Master's degree or higher form of education than both the DRG and the state.

Viccaro was pleased to see that District 13 has remarkably higher percentages of students with disabilities meeting the state goal on the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT). Twenty-seven percent in the district, compared to 20 percent in the state, have reached the reading goal; 28 percent compared to 19 percent have met the writing goal; 31 percent compared to 22 percent have met the mathematics goal and 40 percent compared to 22 percent have met the science goal.

"Even the number for the most challenged students are higher than across the state," Viccaro said. "This shows we are finding ways to get to them."

Coginchaug Site Plan

During Wednesday's meeting, Coginchaug principal Steve Wysowski presented the high school's new site plan that establishes new objectives, tactics and a mission statement. During his site plan presentation, Wysowski said changes are taking shape at the high school involving the use of technology to facilitate communication among students, faculty and even parents. Wysowski said Coginchaug now has a Building Use Calendar via technology that "saves time and confusion" by showing what areas of the school property are being used by clubs, groups and classes at all times. For instance, it shows that the cheerleading team has reserved time in the gymnasium for certain days of the week. "We want people to know what's going on," Wysowski said.

While talking about technology enhancements, Wysowski said many teachers have expressed interest in having access to their students' schedules to find the best times to meet with them for extra help, for example.

"A component of technology can do this for us," Wysowski said.

His staff has received training, but Viccaro added that there is still a long way to go. She agreed that there is a district-wide interest in learning more about educational uses of technology, citing that some schools have introduced iPods in foreign languages as a learning tool.

Additions to the baseball fields 

BOE member Bill Currlin said two projects were approved by the Durham Planning and Zoning Commission that will enhance the athletic complex in Durham. The Coginchaug Little League has offered to repair the dugouts to the varsity softball field and will build a press box equipped with a sound system.

Additionally, the Babe Ruth Baseball League will build behind the varsity baseball field for storage, a concession stand and a press box. Currlin said both projects are no cost to the district and, weather permitting, construction will start as soon as possible so the fields can be used in the spring in time for baseball season.

Other

The BOE was happy to announce that Coginchaug vice principal Andre Hauser accepted the award for Assistant Principal of the Year two weeks ago.

"Out of all of the schools in the state, only a small number of administrators are honored," said Wysowski. "We're proud of Andre's recognition and believe it is well-deserved."

Another award, this one handed over during the BOE meeting, was given to Barbara Olsen from the Garden Club for the work she's done in the community, especially the work she did with the new garden at Coginchaug. The Friends of Education Award she received is given to people and organizations who have made outstanding contribution to the district on their own free will.

The BOE also welcomed Rich Fielding, in attendance, as the district's new IT director.