Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • September 1, 2010 FLOW Area District may phase out three University Programs by Frank J. McMahon The Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education is considering the phase out of three of the regional high school district’s University Programs due to decreasing enrollment. Board Vice President Jane Castor, who chairs the Education Committee, presented to the full board the concept of phasing out the communication: television, audio, and film program; theater arts; and the information technology course beginning in the 2011-12 school year. The district’s existing University Programs include: science, medicine, and research; international studies and business; and information technology. These three courses are provided at Indian Hills High School. Ramapo High School provides the University Programs about communication: television, audio, and film; theater arts; and engineering and design. Castor told the board her committee reviewed the enrollment in all six University Programs with the directors of those programs and they found that, in three of the programs, enrollment was at levels that justified keeping the programs as they are. However, enrollment in the other three programs is lower than expected, and there is interest in finding another way to share the resources for these programs with more students. There are 14 students entering the district this year who are enrolled in the communication program, while 15 are enrolled in the theater arts program, and 13 are enrolled in information technology. That compares to 15 students in the international studies and business program, 19 students in the science program, and 21 students in engineering and design. The total number of students enrolled in these programs who will graduate between 2011 and 2014 number 46 in the communication program, 49 in theater arts, and 53 in information technology, while there are a total of 94 students enrolled in the international studies and business program, 66 in the science program, and 61 students in the engineering and design program. Trustee Ira Belsky, who is a member of the Education Committee, explained that the committee is recommending the expansion of the elective courses in the three UP programs with the lower enrollments to the entire student body, and not just to those students who make a four-year commitment to those programs. He emphasized, however, that any student who enters one of these programs this year will continue in that program, although eighth graders today would have just three University Programs to choose from. “We looked at the resources we’re putting into these programs,” Belsky said, “and asked if we had sufficient enrollment to justify the resources we are putting into them.” Board President Wayne Peterson also emphasized that the Education Committee’s proposal would not impact any student already in the programs or those who would be entering them this year. He said the change would take place in the 2011-12 school year, when all students would have the opportunity to take the elective courses from these programs. Several parents who attended the meeting voiced objections to phasing out these programs. One claimed that the incoming enrollments have almost doubled this year in the communications and theater arts programs combined. Others pointed out that the equipment used in some of these programs is very expensive and the students need to be trained to use it. Therefore, they said it would not be wise to open up the elective courses in these programs to students who have not taken the basic courses offered in those programs. Others pointed out that students from different grades intermingle in some of these programs and they questioned how that could continue if some students who have not taken the basic courses in the programs were permitted to take just the electives. At the end of the public discussion Peterson emphasized that the board was not taking a vote on the recommendation at that meeting. “This is an ongoing process,” he said. The district’s University Programs are specialized fouryear programs within a comprehensive high school and they provide selected eighth grade students who have expressed an interest and commitment to a particular type of specialized study, have an academic record of “B” or higher in the seventh and eighth grades, and who receive teacher and (continued on page 19) CIRINO LANDSCAPING Full Service Landscape Company Personal Service Personal Care Free Estimate ���������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������� Tom Cirino Second Hand Treasures ������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������� �������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������� Clean out your garage and trade in any adult bicycle in any condition for $25 off a new adult bicycle, one per customer. 396 Franklin Ave Wyckoff, NJ 201-891-5500 $25 Trade In Special 15% OFF ANY SERVICE New Clients Only • w/Coupon • Exp 9/30/10 • Not Combinable ������������ Across from Aldo’s Restaurant Wyckoff Cycle LLC Call 201-891-0955 For Information Bikes for the Whole Family and the Pros WE REPAIR ALL BICYCLE BRANDS ���������������������������� 8-18-10 pat/janine Cirino2x2(8-18-10) 2x2” KEANE FIT & WELLNESS ��������� HARDING WINE&SPIRIT Sheila Keane 7-21-10 janine\ SecondHandTreasures2x2(7-21-10) 2 x 2” ������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������� ������������������������ ��������������������� ���������������������������������������������� • EDUCATED - MA in exercise science • CERTIFIED - ACSM, NASM, Post Rehab Specialist, MAT Specialist • EXPERIENCED - 15 years one-to-one personal training WORTH THE TRIP! 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