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Schools

Woodbridge Board of Education, April 25

The search for a new principal, language arts skills, and teacher behavioral supports.

A brief summary of what was discussed at last night’s Woodbridge Board of Education meeting for those who want to know what's happening, but can't make it to the meetings.

  • Superintendent Gaeton Stella reported that students had a smooth transition back to school after a week off. He toured the classrooms and was pleased that it was back to business as usual so quickly.
  • The  search for a new principal has begun. Advertisements are in local newspapers, online employment sites and in national education publications. So far, 22 resumes have been submitted. A new principal should be in place by the end of June.
  • The board heard a presenation from language arts coordinators about the reading program. The district is transitioning from the DRA (developmental reading assessment) to the Teachers College reading assessment program, since it's more in line with how teachers are teaching reading. The new program purely assesses reading and doesn't rely on writing skills in the assessment.
  • The board then heard a presentation about behavioral supports for teachers.  The resources are tied in with the responsive classroom function. The program is based on the recognition that the social skills that children need to learn need to be taught, modeled and reinforced. The behavioral supports for teachers focus on bullying, discipline and even positive behavior.
  • Superintendent Stella presented a report entitled the 2009/2010 Strategic School Profile created by the State Department of Education. The study compares Woodbridge to other towns' demographics, student performance, resources and expenditures and special education. (The entire report is # 3.1.5 here: http://meeting.cabe.org/public/Meeting.aspx?PublicAgencyID=23&PublicMeetingID=1113&AgencyTypeID).
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