Eastport South Manor adds two student board members and unveils expanded K–6 schedules

The Eastport South Manor Board of Education on Aug. 27 recognized two junior–senior high students as ex officio, nonvoting members and received a presentation from elementary principals on new K–6 schedules that add a weekly Every Student Matters (ESM) block, full-time library media specialists and social workers, expanded STEAM time and more Spanish instruction.

Board President Mr. Goldhammer formally introduced the students and noted the intended role: “While this position is nonvoting, your voice and perspective represent the heart of our mission,” he said during the meeting.

The district’s elementary principals told the board the K–6 schedule changes were developed over multiple years and are intended to increase targeted support and enrichment. Key changes include a daily 20-minute “what I need” (WIN) time in lower grades, a dedicated 45-minute weekly ESM special in K–2 and larger weekly ESM allocations in grades 3–6 (principals described 150–180 minutes per week at some upper-elementary grade levels), restored isolated STEAM blocks, two library/media periods per week in K–2, full-time library media specialists at South Street and Tuttle Avenue schools, and a full-time social worker in each K–2 building.

Principals characterized ESM as a rotating, centers-based period meant to serve three groups simultaneously: targeted remediation, on‑grade practice, and enrichment/work that challenges advanced students. The board and principals described instructional resources that will support differentiation, including the I‑Ready diagnostic and First in Math, plus an online curriculum package for targeted tasks.

The district is expanding Spanish instruction: principals said Spanish is provided twice weekly in K–2, offered three times weekly for some 3–4 grades and increased to five times weekly for fifth grade to prepare students for the middle-school sequence. Principals said science and social studies blocks are being lengthened to 45 minutes in grades 3–5 to allow deeper investigations.

Board members asked how enrichment will be ensured for students who exceed grade-level work. Principals said teachers and support staff will use assessment data and tiered lesson materials to differentiate during ESM and WIN times. One principal noted that digital tools such as I‑Ready tailor tasks to individual student performance and that teachers may prescribe extended work in ESM for students demonstrating higher readiness.

The board also acknowledged the appointment of Peyton Friede and Sarah Benson as the student representatives for the 2025–26 school year. The board explained the students will meet with building principals and periodically report on student perspectives and school climate during regular monthly board meetings.

Principals said the schedule materials and sample day-by-day master schedules will be posted to the district curriculum website and shared with families at open house. Several board members requested that teachers and principals use open house to explain ESM and how it serves both remediation and enrichment.

Less critical details discussed included logistics for recess and lunch timing, confirmation that breakfast and lunch are free for all students this year, and planned public communications (presentation materials posted to the district website and social media).