Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Curriculum Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears curriculum budget priorities and first reading of graduation requirement tied to service learning or cultural competence
Summary
The Curriculum & Instruction office outlined priorities and budget implications, and the policy committee moved a revised high-school graduation policy requiring 2.5 credits of service learning or cultural competence to second reading.
At the Hopewell Valley Regional Board meeting the Curriculum and Instruction Office presented priorities that include Responsive Practices (social-emotional learning), data-driven instruction, and strengthening Tier 1 instruction. Assistant Superintendent Vicki Politis said the largest anticipated budget item is a district K–5 ELA program the administration plans to roll out over three years, with an estimated $100,000–$200,000 annual cost for training and implementation.
Politis said the district has already invested in multiple reading and writing programs and is commissioning a program audit to streamline resources and avoid unnecessary duplication. "When we did the NVISION program I think it was like $300,000 over two years," a board member recalled during discussion, and Politis explained that much of the ELA estimate reflects publisher-provided training for staff.
Separately, the policy committee advanced Policy 5460 on first reading; the revision would require students to complete 2.5 credits that "promote either service learning or cultural competence" to graduate. Principal Riley told the board the district has a list of existing classes that would meet the requirement and estimated "about 60 to 70% of the student body" already complete qualifying coursework. Several public commenters asked whether some listed classes run only in alternating years and whether requirements would force students into extra out-of-school volunteer hours; administrators said most service-learning options could be satisfied during the school day and that only a small number of current classes require outside hours.
Public feedback at the meeting also stressed concerns about kindergarten class sizes and paraprofessional coverage; a speaker described a current kindergarten class of 23 with one paraprofessional and urged the district to restore broader paraprofessional support. Administration said state code triggers an additional paraprofessional at 25 students and that current largest kindergarten sections are at 23 with one para, which the superintendent said meets state requirements though she acknowledged community concern.
Ending: the board approved policies for second reading, will publish the comprehensive curriculum slide deck, and plans further committee review for budget trade-offs and program audits. The administration said it will provide the demographer's report and more detailed figures about pilot developments and student generation to the public when available.
