William O. Schaefer and Cottage Lane outline graduate profile, UPK growth and capital upgrades

Unidentified speaker opened the evening's presentations by naming district priorities and introducing school leaders from William O. Schaefer and Cottage Lane Elementary who summarized classroom and program updates. "It was calm. It was orderly. It was efficient," the speaker said of a morning evacuation and then turned to instructional work and student supports.

Sheila Beglin, William O. Schaefer principal, and colleagues described a year that began with outdoor meet-and-greets while construction continued, welcomed 15 new first- and second-graders and highlighted a new UPK class. Beglin noted local media coverage: "photojournalist Peter Carr" visited the classroom and the story was posted online.

Presenters described a two-year effort to develop a "profile of a graduate" rubric for early grades and said they will introduce one rubric indicator per month through character-education assemblies and morning meetings so students, teachers and families can adopt shared language for expectations. "We plan on sharing this work out at our school leadership team and then sending out another survey to staff and running student focus groups for feedback at the end of the school year," a presenter said.

Both schools reported expanded enrichment offerings. Cottage Lane leaders said 438 students had signed up for at least one enrichment, listing gardening, poetry and flag football among the new options. William O. Schaefer reported nearly 350 enrichment sign-ups. Presenters emphasized partnerships—Stage Left, Rockland Green and the PTA—and student-led projects such as recycling, gardening and school media productions.

On literacy and assessment, presenters said the district is reviewing reading and word-work programs with literacy coaches and external partners to refine assessment timelines and curriculum alignment. The presentation also outlined device distribution and digital-citizenship instruction: kindergarten and first grade receive iPads while second graders receive Chromebooks, paired with lessons on account management, app use and online safety.

Both schools identified challenges alongside accomplishments: transportation hurdles limiting after-school enrichment participation, space constraints at Cottage Lane and modest increases in class size this year. Presenters said they are monitoring enrollment, using RTI and co-teaching models to support learners, and planning continued capital improvements next summer funded by the district's bond.

The presentation closed with an invitation for ongoing community feedback and additional school leadership presentations scheduled for future board meetings.