[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6637333,"mediaKeyId","2586878-ea0851e6d2638c58a30f246314989988","parentId",2586878,"title","Board adopts work-session agenda; approves consent items and reminds public of May 20 budget vote and elections","audioSeconds",869,"startMs",72000,"endMs",941000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2586878-ea0851e6d2638c58a30f246314989988&start=72&end=941","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2586878-ea0851e6d2638c58a30f246314989988/thumbnail_72000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6637333/New-York/Board-adopts-work-session-agenda-approves-consent-items-and-reminds-public-of-May-20-budget-vote-and-elections","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637333-abc4dacb4a1c5ebaba8f84a453d8e113/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046502&Signature=Ilzf4ptfVJ1Rdpx3ITq522dTy5AgiBvtgU-WKXhPXhua-~jyDfgK2bS8D3PHbwrokJeNMRqFjJG9PIV-k-k8uaPTCFhUCGDqHCzvVf2YmKYFV~NtS2Ho1Jf-nIwLQr9KMYPOG~lfVch3ouyRsr-zumPMlKEhRqCJ4RM~utpaV-mlm6G1hvT3JmapOn1Z993vQPBOHGPal3mp0ehLKLBmajYnglJq5O9ceBNrYTPxyfWUrMYWdL3OM0KQ6nMR5h200JWi-N--Vkh-2SAdg3wkTikMtJ0q5z2a5DJjiQecTbEKwl~yOejWWByW136FDUfFbcIk~deceIVGq4W4SS9H8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Schenectady City School District","date","2025-03-13T02:15:35.9Z","article","The Schenectady City School District Board of Education adopted its March 12, 2025, work-session agenda and approved the night’s consent agenda, the board said at the start of the meeting.

Board President Rivera opened the session by calling for adoption of the agenda. “Are there any corrections, additions, or changes? Hearing none, the agenda is adopted,” the president said.

The adoption cleared the way for two scheduled presentations about K–12 math curriculum and off-campus learning programs. Board clerk Michelle announced logistics for the district’s annual budget vote and school board election: the vote and election will be held Tuesday, May 20, 2025; two board seats are up; and nomination petitions are available from the board clerk’s office at 530 Liberty Street and on the district website. “You can email me at edenm@synecdocheschools.org or call (518) 370-8100 ext. 76907,” Michelle said.

Why it matters: The adoption and consent approvals move routine business forward without delay and set the schedule for public participation in the district budget and board elections. The clerk’s notice starts the formal window for prospective candidates and gives voters details about polling-location tools the district is adding to its website.

The board approved the consent agenda — routine items grouped for a single vote — after a motion by Board Member Amanda and a second from Nohalani. “All in favor? Aye. Opposed?” the president asked; the chair then announced the motion to approve consent agenda items 5a through 5g passed. The transcript does not record individual roll-call votes for those items.

Board President Rivera closed the business portion after the two presentations and the public Q&A. No other formal actions or ordinance adoptions were recorded in the work session minutes.

Looking ahead: The clerk’s office will accept petitions from prospective candidates; the district website will include a polling-place finder to help residents on May 20.

Votes at a glance

- Adoption of March 12, 2025 work-session agenda — Outcome: adopted. (Recorded by chair; no formal roll-call recorded.)

- Approval of consent agenda items 5a–5g — Motion: approve consent agenda; Mover: Board Member Amanda; Second: Nohalani; Outcome: approved. (Chair announced “Aye”; detailed roll-call not recorded in transcript.)

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Meeting: 3/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Schenectady City School District Board adopted its March 12 work-session agenda and approved the consent agenda, and the board clerk reminded the public that the annual budget vote and board election will be held May 20.","taxTitle","Schenectady City School District, School Districts, New York","taxId",14410,"location","New York","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":46,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6637322,"Board hears updates on City as Campus programs: Big Picture internships, Early College and a new smart‑tech pathway",2673,3614000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2586878-ea0851e6d2638c58a30f246314989988&start=3614&end=941","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2586878-ea0851e6d2638c58a30f246314989988/thumbnail_3614000.jpg","/articles/6637322/New-York/Board-hears-updates-on-City-as-Campus-programs-Big-Picture-internships-Early-College-and-a-new-smarttech-pathway","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637322-219f6f09f673c9104fb7fe585f4dd6e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046502&Signature=JzjEVWsy9FBYYsyMgZoqD9O41jJ478HQHSJf2keoABWdwxDK9G9fNXYNsFEPqraeKn9yd6YfJ4GEh9NqgFmfJylIhMGbjgYFSmDDz2-3yfEu1rNMNJ1X4osFBfrwFVwag~032WrcTchBlB3F42LAlvJWA4~DER5VpYXGrFnr55Kpmz39~~0uifMYtQ7vJb7x43dSITFiG4mOVmlEDF6WInbY3vteiqPEUdYTGo9b4QvcRKCNfpGSW~k~uGLYe5Tzk6W~WygzOC97A~qsTLzrrSulDRTS8Bt0Rijydb8VmMQRbNLVRDZktnTDqOxmblaMyxbuIsub9Ex2x4qNnibbeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Schenectady City School District leaders and students used the March 12 work session to showcase the district’s City as Campus programs — a cluster of off‑campus learning opportunities that includes Big Picture’s Leaving to Learn internships, an Early College High School partnership with SUNY Schenectady, a newly launched Smart Tech pathway, and performing‑arts partnerships with Proctors.

“Students are designing a life of their choosing,” Big Picture staff said, and students described how project‑based internships and “leaving to learn” experiences have changed their attendance and academic outlook.

Why it matters: The programs give students workplace experience, college exposure and alternative pathways to graduation — including opportunities to earn college credit, industry credentials or career certificates while in high school.

What presenters summarized

- Big Picture and internships — Big Picture leaders described a grade‑by‑grade progression: ninth‑grade “Leaving to Learn” focuses on community and trust‑building; tenth grade emphasizes employability and internships; 11th grade centers on college and scholarship exploration. Students create learning plans tied to a mentor and a real‑world project and can earn academic elective credit for documented internship hours.

Ninth‑grade student Cairo told the board the program changed his attendance: “My attendance in middle school was 61%, and now I’m at a hundred,” he said, describing a rise in engagement after participating in leaving‑to‑learn experiences.

- Early College High School — Presenters described a downtown Early College program that enrolls students in college coursework and a first‑year seminar during the summer before ninth grade and aims to let motivated students complete an associate degree by the time they finish high school. The district covers first‑ and second‑year tuition, fees and books through the program; SUNY Schenectady covers later years under grant arrangements discussed by presenters.

- Smart Tech pathway — District and SUNY partners launched a Smart Tech grant‑funded pathway in 2025 for underrepresented students in STEM and technology fields. The first cohort of 30 freshmen will follow a multi‑year plan that can include additional preparation years (grade 13 and 14 options) before students enter the workforce or continue postsecondary study.

- Proctors musical‑theater collaboration — The district’s partnership with Proctors Theater gives students access to professional facilities and artists for VPA (visual and performing arts) pathways and expanded performance opportunities downtown.

Logistics and student supports

Presenters and students described practical supports that make internships feasible: a work‑based learning coordinator screens and matches students with mentors and organizes preliminary interviews and job‑shadow days; the district provides buses that pick up students and route them to internship sites on Fridays and on a rotating weekly schedule; students receive breakfasts and lunches to bring to sites.

Board members asked how internships comply with labor laws and how transportation is managed. Presenters said working papers and district oversight ensure compliance and described flexible routing managed by the transportation office to meet weekly changes in internship destinations.

Direct quotes and student testimony

- “Leaving to learn have helped me try new things and let me trust friends and adults,” said ninth‑grader Kai. “My attendance in middle school was 61%, and now I’m at a hundred.”
- “We believe that students learn best when they engage in relevant, rigorous work in a culture of care, respect and belonging,” Big Picture staff said.

Clarifying details from the meeting

- Internship hours and credit: Big Picture students work toward the Career Development Occupational Studies (CDOS) credential; 216 total hours are required for CDOS, with some hours completed via tenth‑grade career and financial math courses and remaining hours via internship experiences and workshops coordinated with Schenectady Connects.
- Eligibility and safety: Internship students obtain working papers recorded by the district; presenters emphasized coordinator oversight and mentor matching, including pre‑placement interviews and job‑shadow days.
- Transportation: The district runs buses that pick up students in the morning and circulate to internship sites around 9 a.m.; return options include returning to school or going directly home depending on site schedules.

Next steps and expansion

Presenters said they are growing capacity, building employer partners (including Ellis Medicine and the Capital District Chamber), seeking to expand early‑college and Smart Tech cohorts and exploring college‑credit agreements for new pathways (the district is in talks with Siena College and SUNY Schenectady for articulation and college credit where appropriate).

","District leaders and students briefed the board on the City as Campus network of off‑campus learning: Big Picture internships, Early College at SUNY Schenectady, a new Smart Tech grant pathway and performing‑arts partnerships with Proctors.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6637327,"School board hears K–12 math curriculum rollout, coaching expansion and tutoring plans",425,978000,1403000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2586878-ea0851e6d2638c58a30f246314989988&start=978&end=1403","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2586878-ea0851e6d2638c58a30f246314989988/thumbnail_978000.jpg","/articles/6637327/New-York/School-board-hears-K12-math-curriculum-rollout-coaching-expansion-and-tutoring-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6637327-359909b96e08684dd83bbb29f5a09b75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771046502&Signature=MYLg5vehEfReARi-OO8mhm6~8lP9itS8ibLmT0d3SDtFXW3BA0n8OuDraD5xIU~-0Ol5c7fbDN9PR0QwZAsmbiGXe9JeNiVkipq3XDLDYv9TL-js2NM3UQxSl3MMnsGXWTI46i5EYqbAIXxPHQWprvPt7dwzXuPcg-uLYg-sKnyVJqMya2DFE4Fp6TxLDWrYuBkoPrctjMBwFBj6iDhABjHg6r0q8Ep1EGdW68TJXpugjDnqwDe1V4GwzZAm2BNnDpH0mNy46iHRdRs9enMXIowtTpn549l7tQEaax76HVw~OhZElUQ~U3XEW5aNM5JLLpsck~Qz3nIFq2NBhSnGFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Schenectady City School District leaders told the board on March 12 that the district is continuing to roll out a new K–8 mathematics curriculum and expanding supports at the middle and high school levels as part of a multiyear effort to strengthen student outcomes in algebra and higher mathematics.

“Last year, we adopted I‑Ready classroom mathematics as our tier 1 K through 8 mathematics curriculum,” Assistant Superintendent of Teaching Dr. Lauren LaChisholm told the board. She and Assistant Director of Mathematics Michael Coval framed the presentation around the district’s stated vision and four organizational pillars and said the work is intended to improve logical reasoning, critical thinking and problem‑solving across disciplines.

Why it matters: Algebra proficiency is a graduation gatekeeper in New York State. District staff said they have focused resources on the algebra pathway and on consistent K–8 instruction so students arrive in ninth grade better prepared.

What the board heard

- Curriculum adoption and pedagogy — Coval said the new K–8 program begins each lesson with a real‑world “Try It” prompt, emphasizes accountable math talk, and follows a concrete→pictorial→abstract progression for concepts. “Every single lesson, kindergarten through eighth grade, starts with an engaging real world prompt,” he said. Presenters stressed consistent lesson structure across buildings so students experience predictable routines as they move grades or schools.

- High‑school supports — Toby Valentino, department chair and math educator at Schenectady High School, described a range of high‑school offerings and supports, including the algebra lab introduced in 2023 and an expanding set of upper‑level electives (AP/CHS and project‑based options). Valentino said the algebra regents in ninth grade is a key milestone and that the school runs after‑school math support Monday–Thursday and Saturday review sessions before regents.

- Coaching and interventions — Staff outlined a coaching structure that has grown from two coaches in earlier years to five and then to nine instructional math coaches across the district. Coval and Jen Hart, middle‑school instructional coach, described tiered supports:
• Tier 1: I‑Ready as core instruction K–8 and e‑math at the high school.
• Tier 2: Reflex (fact‑fluency games) at elementary; IXL at secondary as a targeted practice tool.
• Tier 3: Paper‑based, manipulative‑rich interventions and AIS (academic intervention services) with shifting groups based on ongoing data.

- Family engagement and multilingual resources — Presenters noted that I‑Ready offers weekly family letters and multilingual math discourse cards (English and Spanish). Staff said the district is working on consistent distribution so families across buildings can access the materials.

- Early implementation observations — Staff described year‑one implementation patterns: classrooms observed using manipulatives and structured talk, and teachers editing and adapting the provided slide decks and materials to local pacing and student needs.

Board questions and responses

Board members raised questions on coach deployment across levels, how math vocabulary is taught, whether alternative high‑school pathways (non‑Regents project‑based geometry) are available to students who do not pursue the traditional Regents track, and diagnosis and intervention when students struggle with the digital diagnostic (I‑Ready). Coval and Valentino described efforts to increase communication with families about on‑ramps to advanced course sequences and said intervention groups are shifted in “real time” based on formative data.

Data and results

Presenters said some early signs are promising (for example, expanded algebra supports and increased student use of after‑school labs) but did not provide systemwide numeric outcomes in the work session; when board members asked for specific recent regents pass rates the presenters said the January results were low and that staff would provide detailed data after the meeting.

Direct quotes from presenters

- “What we know is that a strong foundation in mathematics can positively impact student achievement,” Dr. Lauren LaChisholm said.
- “Active and collaborative learning ... it’s looking at the students, having them justify their own work, critique the reasoning of others,” Michael Coval said when describing accountable math talk.
- “It is our main goal to have kids pass algebra in ninth grade. It is the one math regents that they are required to pass in order to graduate,” Toby Valentino said of high‑school priorities.

Clarifying details from the meeting

- Curriculum provider: I‑Ready classroom mathematics for K–8; district is using e‑math resources at the high‑school level (presenters referenced prior use of Eureka Math and a multi‑year transition away from it).
- Coaching: district increased coaching capacity over recent years (presenters described an expansion from 2 coaches to 5, and currently to 9 coaches distributed at elementary and middle levels).
- Intervention blocks: elementary core math allotment described as 60 minutes of core math plus a 30‑minute small‑group intervention period; middle/high schools described a 45‑minute core math block plus an every‑other‑day 45‑minute intervention period.
- Tutoring: high school math support runs Monday–Thursday after school, with Saturday review sessions before regents; presenters cited 25–30 students in intensive late‑year sessions in a recent cycle.

What the board asked staff to do

Board members requested more specific outcome data on regents and diagnostic assessments and asked staff to improve communications to families about pathways into accelerated middle‑ and high‑school mathematics sequences.

Next steps

Staff said they will continue to refine pacing and training during year one of implementation, circulate more complete achievement data to the board, and prepare a follow‑up budget presentation on March 26.

","District math leaders told the board they are rolling out I‑Ready as the K–8 core curriculum, strengthening algebra supports at the high school and expanding coaching and tutoring to improve student outcomes in algebra and higher mathematics.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board adopts work-session agenda; approves consent items and reminds public of May 20 budget vote and elections

Board hears updates on City as Campus programs: Big Picture internships, Early College and a new smart‑tech pathway

School board hears K–12 math curriculum rollout, coaching expansion and tutoring plans