WATERFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2004-05 ANNUAL REPORT

Educational Program Changes

Curriculum revisions occurred in Mathematics K-12 that brought the math program in line with new state frameworks and changes at the national level in math instruction. This curriculum focuses on developing students who will have facility in basic math skills as well as quantitative literacy in numbers, measurement, algebra, geometry and statistics. The format for the math curriculum follows that of other disciplines in the use of Understanding By Design. This format begins with the Enduring Understandings that we want all students to have after a course has been completed. These are the lasting elements of a subject that students will remember for many years. Following that, Essential Questions are developed around the topics that will get students to that level of understanding. Knowledge, Skills, and Assessments are finally put into place to round out the curriculum format. This method of writing curriculum is sometimes referred to as Backwards Design because it begins with the end result; what we want students to take away from the subject long after the book is closed. The end result is a curriculum document of 392 pages for grades K-12 that is a model for math instruction.

This was the second year of implementation of a new administrator evaluation plan for the district that has already been used in other towns as a model for their evaluation plan. Our administrators are very pleased with the system and it does a good job of improving their skills in the areas of leadership. No Child Left Behind legislation continues to have major impact on the district. New requirements in the area of highly qualified teachers and paraprofessionals make it more difficult to hire staff in all areas of need. However, we have been fortunate in the district that we maintain our criteria in our hiring practice and hire only the best teachers for our classrooms. Changes brought about in testing through the legislation will continue to challenge us to revise our various curricular areas to align with ever-changing test requirements.

The Professional Development Committee continued its work in bringing high quality professional development to the school system and assisting individual teachers with the means to develop their own learning plans for improvement. Discussions began in the committee about developing an academy for professional development that would establish classes for teachers after school and in the evening for professional development purposes. This concept will be further researched in the next school year by the committee.

Technology continued to be strong for the District as the joint IT Department services with the town entered its second year of operation. This organization has been successful for both entities as the service provided by the IT Department is of a high quality and the staff hired in the group is of high caliber. This has proven to be a positive combination of school and town services.

Plans continued for opening The Friendship School in Waterford as a magnet school for early childhood education between Waterford and New London. This will be the first school of its kind in the State and already has received much interest for its novel concept. This will house over 500 students in Pre-K and Kindergarten classes as well as including a component for special needs children. Staffing plans are nearing completion during the latter part of the year that will allow for a good teacher-student ratio in the school.

Board of Education Leadership

The Board of Education received a Connecticut Association of Boards of Education award for Leadership for the second year in a row. This award represented the spirit and cooperation the Board exhibits in its work on the school building plans as well as the commitment to education in general. This award is a distinctive honor as only a few are presented each year by CABE.

Building Plans

The Board of Education and School Building Committee were busy with school construction projects during the 2004-05 school year. The Early Childhood Learning Center officially began construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 23, 2004.

The architects, project managers, and contractors worked feverishly to get the building ready for its fall 2005 opening.

Clark Lane Middle School also underwent renovation during the 2004-05 school year including renovation/addition of the sixth grade wing and separate traffic lanes for busses and parents.

The Waterford Board of Education continued meetings during the year to review elementary school building plans for construction at Oswegatchie, Great Neck and Quaker Hill. On September 30, 2004 the Board of Education approved educational specifications for submission of the grant application ED-049 for a new Oswegatchie Elementary School, the first step in a year-long process. The Board was petitioned to investigate the feasibility of renovating four elementary schools rather than three, but after careful consideration opted to proceed with plans for three schools. A schedule of meetings and other forums was developed to allow for input from parents, teachers and residents regarding elementary school construction and the Oswegatchie plan.

A video was taped for Channel 22 and the plans that were posted on the school district website included links for feedback and comments. After dozens of meetings, the plans were revised as a result of public input and presented to the Board of Education again. During the revision process it was decided to delete the auditorium to reduce the square footage and include instead a raised platform area between the gym and cafeteria for use during school assemblies, etc. The amended education specifications were approved on December 16 by the Board of Education. Design development was completed by end January.

The budget estimate was reviewed by the School Building Committee and subsequently by the Board of Education. The plans for the 71,100 square foot project estimated at a total cost of $27 million ($21 million after state reimbursement) were presented to the Board of Selectmen and approved on May 10. The Board of Finance granted its approval on May 11. The project failed by a tie vote at the RTM meeting on June 6, just a few weeks prior to the June 30 deadline for submission to the state for funding consideration. On June 15, the Board of Education met to review plans for renovation/addition at Quaker Hill School, still hoping to make the June 30 deadline for funding an elementary school project. The prototype design was modified to retain and renovate the original 1914 structure, a contributing factor in Quaker Hill’s historic district, and demolish and rebuild a new architecturally-pleasing addition to the original building. The project totaled 71,096 sq. feet at an estimated total project cost of almost $28 million. After factoring in previously appropriated architectural/engineering fees, $26,251,375 would need to be bonded. Net cost after state reimbursement was estimated at $22 million. Educational specifications for the renovation/addition of Quaker Hill Elementary School received approval by the Board of Education on June 15, 2005. The Board of Selectmen granted its approval in a special joint meeting with the Board of Finance on June 21, 2005; the Board of Finance granted its approval also on June 21, 2005. At a special meeting on June 28, 2005, the RTM approved the appropriation of $26,251,375 for addition/renovation of Quaker Hill school.

Staff Turnover

Retirees at the end of the year represented many years of service to the children of Waterford. Gail Prentiss, Oswegatchie Elementary School, Bonnie Gray, Cohanzie Elementary School, George Wagner, Clark Lane Middle School, Pat Devanney, Pat Kennedy, Richard Messina and Jim Cushner all from Waterford High School, retired at the end of the year. We wish them well in their much-deserved retirement. Additionally, at the end of the school year, Bruce Thorndike, Principal at Clark Lane Middle School, left the district for another job in a different town. Leanne Masterjoseph, Assistant Principal was named Interim Principal while the search process began for the new Principal. As enrollment continues to decline over time we have downsized teaching positions where possible through attrition. Since 2002 we have reduced the elementary teaching staff from 69 teachers to 63. In that time our enrollment in the elementary schools has declined from 1352 to 1214 students. The projection is that the number will continue downward over the next few years.

Waterford Education Foundation

The Waterford Education Foundation was very active this year in giving out grants to the teachers and children in the district. They handed out checks for over $5750 to applicants who developed projects that would serve the youth and the community in some way. The school community is very pleased to have the availability of funding through this organization of volunteers who are interested in the children of Waterford. One program funded at Southwest School involved peer mentors who are students trained to work in the school to assist younger students with academic and social issues. This has been very helpful in creating a positive environment in the school.

Healthy Choices Initiative

The district began the Healthy Choices initiative the previous year and made great strides with it last year. The concept is to promote healthy students through a program of education about making good choices in their daily routines including exercise and eating habits. We began a committee of teachers, administrators and the Food Services Director to meet regularly and discuss activities and make decisions that would benefit this program. Last year the concept spread to other districts in the area and a larger committee was created that met as a regional board on a monthly basis. The group consists of seven school districts. Recently they have agreed to pilot a Health Index to monitor how much progress they are making in the area of health and nutrition.