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District weighing dyslexia screener, reassigns library duties to fund full-day kindergarten
Summary
The curriculum committee reviewed Governor Murphy's directive to adopt a universal dyslexia screener and discussed two screening tools. The board also decided not to replace a retiring K–2 library media specialist and will rotate existing staff, reallocating savings to hire middle school library staff and offer tuition-free full-day kindergarten.
The School District of the Chathams curriculum committee reported to the full board that it is evaluating screening tools to comply with Governor Phil Murphy's directive that New Jersey school districts implement a universal dyslexia screener by the start of the upcoming school year.
"We are currently considering two tools: MAP Reading Fluency, which is the one currently utilized in the district, and another called Imagine Learning's Early Bird program," said Miss Ross, who summarized the committee's April 9 meeting. Both tools are computer-adaptive and would be administered in homerooms three times a year (fall, midyear and late spring). The district plans staff training during professional development days in August and a follow-up session in October on interpreting screener data.
The committee also reviewed library-media staffing at the K–2 schools after the announced retirement of a long-time specialist at SBS, Michael Deloia. After discussion of schedules and the impending removal of third grade from elementary buildings, the board decided not to fill the K–2 specialist position. Instead, the district will rotate the current media specialist across K–2 buildings so students receive library instruction every other week, with homeroom teachers covering book selection on the off weeks and specials teachers filling slots when available.
The board said the staffing change will yield cost savings that the district will redirect to add library staff at the middle school and, notably, to offer full-day, tuition-free kindergarten for the first time. "The cost savings will allow us to redirect resources, including adding library staff at the middle school and most notably offering full day tuition free kindergarten for the first time," Miss Ross said. The committee and board said they believe the plan balances support for youngest learners with broader district priorities.
Committee members said they will inform the board as they finalize the district's choice of dyslexia screening tool and timelines for implementation and staff training.
