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Board setting a course for the future
(by Kathryn A. Burger - June 24, 2008)
Before considering another multi-million dollar referendum, the Park Ridge Board of Education will take time to analyze what is best for the education of the students, without regard, initially, for the physical space needed to provide it.
In a move that could be described as not putting the cart before the horse, the board has given Superintendent Patricia Johnson the task of first identifying what the district needs to do to provide the optimum educational experience for the students. Once the board, with the public’s input, has decided upon the district’s educational course, it will then set about re-structuring the district – literally and figuratively.
This plan of action came as a result of a lengthy discussion at the June 9 board meeting, prompted by the agenda item: “Future Educational Structure in Park Ridge: Middle School and Full-Day Kindergarten.”
Creating a true middle school, as defined by the state, would entail moving the sixth grade to the high school building. This would ostensibly free up space in the elementary schools for full-day kindergarten.
Johnson said that as the district contemplates its future, the decision has to be made about whether or not the district wants to “commit to establishing a true middle school and/or full-day kindergarten.” She told the board, “You need to decide what you want and then figure out how to do it.”
The establishment of a self-contained middle school as well as instituting full-day kindergarten have been discussed at length at previous board meetings over the years in connection with bond referendums. The district now has two elementary schools that serve students through sixth grade. The current “middle school” is housed in the high school building and consists of seventh and eighth grades. Changes previously discussed included physically separating the middle school students from the high school population as comprehensively as possible in the existing structure, as well as renovating one wing of the building to minimize the cross-over of these students into the high school environment.
Board President Joseph Bruno echoed Johnson, saying, “Before we decide on facility changes we need to decide if we want a grade six to eight middle school, not where we would put it. We have to look at it seriously. It’s the same with full-day kindergarten, but that’s a no-brainer. It’s wanted by the community.”
Board member Katherine Tendler said the board needed guidance from the administration. “What is educationally sound? That’s what we need to know.” Peter Montalbano, another board member, said, “Where we want to be five to 10 years from now is what we have to look at. We can’t do it all at once; we need to build it over time.”
Fellow board member Robert Sileo, who is an elementary school principal, said, “Why full-day kindergarten? Why a six-eight middle school? We need to know the educational benefits. We need scenarios.”
Board member Frank Church said what the board needed from the administration was the “optimum way to educate kids. Why all day-kindergarten? Is there research that identifies the benefits?” He said he wasn’t interested in extending the kindergarten day without providing academic enhancement. “We don’t need morning classes and then lunch, a nap and playtime.” He suggested that Johnson, “build a model school system” – the optimum configuration of grades as well as academic offerings. Block scheduling, wherein the school day for older students is divided into periods lasting as long as 90 minutes, will also be considered.
Johnson is expected to present her findings to the board this fall.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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