Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Curriculum And Instruction topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Locust Valley highlights literacy, CTE and arts investments tied to next year's budget
Summary
District leaders and building principals described K–12 instructional priorities supported by the budget: multi‑sensory phonics and MTSS at primary levels, expansion of CTE/media offerings at middle school, and IB/AP/dual‑enrollment and applied pathways at the high school, plus investments in arts and film programs.
District instructional leaders and building principals used the budget presentation to showcase program priorities that the proposed budget would support.
Primary and intermediate schools: Mr. Simon and primary team members outlined a coordinated literacy effort built around a multi‑sensory systematic phonics foundation (Wilson program), aligned curriculum maps across grade bands, and intensive professional learning for teachers. Principals described classroom libraries, writing celebrations and MTSS interventions for students needing additional support.
Middle school: the middle‑school principal described plans to expand CTE and elective offerings for eighth graders that could yield high‑school credits (computer science, culinary arts, art courses, personal finance), along with a proposed film/media studio and project‑based learning to support media literacy and financial literacy.
High school: presenters highlighted IB and AP course offerings, dual‑enrollment experiences (98 cited ‘occasions’), off‑site technical and arts pathways, and growing electives in core areas designed to create pre‑professional pathways. The high school also emphasized EMT training and a driver‑education program that enrolls community members.
Arts and technology: the arts and instructional-technology teams reported rising participation in visual and performing arts and continued investment in film and digital arts equipment, auditorium lighting, and modern band instruments. The district’s instructional-technology coordinator described adaptive learning tools, ClassLink single sign‑on, software vetting for state compliance, and plans to pilot embedded AI at the secondary level.
Special education and transitions: the executive director of special education described inclusion practices, in‑class supports, out‑of‑district placements oversight and increased partnerships for vocational transition supports and unified sports.
What next: district leaders framed these program descriptions as the rationale for several proposed staffing and materials investments in the 2026–27 budget; board members thanked staff for the presentations and noted the district's cross‑building alignment.
Representative quote: "students have authentic books in their hands" — a primary principal who emphasized classroom-level materials as central to literacy work.
