The first meeting of the Scarsdale Board of Education in 2012 included a discussion by Superintendent Michael McGill on an upcoming seminar at Columbia University in which facility and students from Scarsdale’s A-school will participate. The seminar, to be held January 23, 2012, is entitled Kohlberg’s Baby All Grown Up and Thriving: The Just Community School in Scarsdale after 30 plus years. The presentation and panel discussion will demonstrate the way the A-School utilizes its structures--Community Meeting, Agenda Committee, Core Group, Advisor Meeting, Fairness Committee, and January Internship--to foster a just community and to promote growth in a suburban college-bound population of 80 students, grades 10 through 12. The director will provide a brief historical review of the school’s journey to its current status as a school-within-a school that elicits more 100 applications for the 26 spaces available in its sophomore class. Then, staff and students will present a portrait of how this very structured approach to character education, civic education, and academic education looks to those who “own” their education. Challenges faced by the school and research describing how the program affects its community members will be presented and referenced as part of the session.

Dr. McGill also reported that a number of staff members recently participated in presentations to the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents on the advancement of critical creative thinking through the use of technology. The overall feedback was very positive with one audience member stating ”… I wish I could send my son to a district like yours.”

Presenting his annual report on technology in the district, Director of Technology Jerry Crisci, highlighted that faculty continue to further their understanding of technology in education by attending conferences, including one held in September by The New York Times entitled “Schools for Tomorrow.” Mr. Crisci relayed that there has been a lot of “connecting” going on with our partners, such as the East-West Center in Hawaii. Also, teachers are receiving staff development using technology. For example, he showcased a recent meeting held over the Internet with a literacy expert discussing a program that teachers would be using. Furthermore, the Middle School was visited recently by a group from Taipei who came to see and hear about the work that students and faculty are doing with technology in the classroom.

Board of Education president Jill Spieler reported that thea discussion that the Board had prior to the meeting with several high school students about the use of technology in their lives at the High School. The Board learned first hand how helpful technology has been in students’ daily lives and how they use webtools to interact with other students and their teachers, organize themselves for the day-to-day demands of high school life, and better study and conduct research. Ms. Spieler was extremely impressed by the group, calling them very articulate and knowledgeable.

On another note, work continues on the Global Learning Network. Lynne Shain, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction, recently had a meeting with the head of St. Mary’s School in Perth, Australia, which is part of the Network. She is also in communication with the head of an institute in Singapore that will be hosting a world colloquium next August. The head of the institute will be in the US in May and Dr. McGill and Ms. Shain look forward to talking with him on joint endeavors.

Linda Purvis, Assistant Superintendent for Business discussed long-term projections for facilities needs. Her approach is facilities “triage,” first taking care of immediate needs. For example, the Fox Meadow school stage needs new electrical wiring and the rigging at the Middle School stage doesn’t meet safety standards. Next, she seeks to improve building usage; and “optimize what we have.” Ms. Purvis would like to have all buildings handicapped accessible and bring current buildings up to code. She highlighted overcrowding in the High School cafeteria. Her next priority is long-term planning for educational programs. Ms. Purvis discussed what schools will look like in 2025 and suggested that teaching and learning will be more personalized. Second, in the future, students’ learning (at home, in school and outside) will blur into a seamless process. And finally, there will be more cross-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary learning.

The Board also approved a SEQRA resolution concerning the Fox Meadow gym mechanical ventilation project.