Instructional rounds at Boynton, DeWitt and homework policy resurfaced in curriculum committee meeting
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Summary
Committee members reviewed findings from short classroom visits and listening circles at Boynton and DeWitt, identified immediate professional-development needs including literacy coaching, and agreed to locate and review the district homework policy that a member said was last updated in 2000.
Presenter (S4) reported on instructional rounds at Boynton and DeWitt — 20-minute classroom visits followed by listening circles — and summarized the collective findings: strong teacher collaboration and student engagement in some classrooms, but concerns that student needs are outpacing current structures and that coaching and PD gaps remain.
Presenter (S4) listed top concerns surfaced in listening circles: scheduling constraints that limit co-teaching and intervention time, the need for targeted professional development beyond decoding and fluency, and requests for more opportunities for teachers to collaborate across schools.
A committee member (S6) said building representatives reported stress related to EL implementation and that prior sessions with EL instructors "have not met the needs of our teachers," a critique that prompted staff to describe changes: a teacher advisory group, co-planning/co-teaching coaching days, and scheduled literacy coach time.
On homework policy, Chair (S2) noted an educator mentioned homework and that the board’s policy appeared to have last been revisited in 2000. Presenter (S4) committed to locating and sharing the correct homework policy document and to adding it to follow-up items for the committee.
Immediate PD actions announced included scheduling BOCES-supported coaching time (Angela Levy assigned scheduled days at Boynton and DeWitt) and allocating paid department time for curriculum work; Presenter (S4) said some items can be implemented quickly rather than waiting for budget cycles.
Ending: Committee members agreed to follow up on the homework policy, summer PD scheduling and shared data from regional accountability visits; the Chair adjourned the meeting.