Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-January 26, 2011 Issue

January 26, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 9 Franklin Lakes Six-month study of school district to be conducted by Frank J. McMahon Over the next six months, the Franklin Lakes K-8 school district will engage in an efficiency study that will investigate the quality, efficiency, consistency, and equity of the demographics, school processes, student learning, and perceptions of the district. In a letter to parents, teachers, administrators, and community members, Superintendent Frank Romano announced that the investigation will be non-biased and scholarly. He explained that the purpose of this work is to make recommendations to the board of education for further review and/or planning for 2011-12 and possible implementation in 2012-13. Romano will serve as the facilitator to the committee of four board of education trustees, four administrators, four teachers, six parents, two community officials, and two general community members. The committee of 22 will gather as a whole for five two-hour general meetings, several smaller task group breakout sessions in between the general meetings, and a community forum at which it will present its findings and take input from audience participants before making its final recommendations. According to Romano, the committee will use an adaption of Victoria Bernhardt’s multiple measures model as it considers demographics, school processes, student learning, and perceptions in isolation and then in combination in order to inform them if a school change of any kind in necessary. Bernhardt is the author of several data analysis books and is the executive director of Education for the Future, a not-for-profit initiative located on the campus of California State University. She also conducts workshops and institutes about data analysis, the school portfolio, and using data to improve student learning from the local to international levels. “Through careful consideration of the evidence,” Romano stated, “the committee will get to matters such as finance, facilities, enrollment, and program as is struggles with various questions. Those questions include: What are the financial and operational challenges that face us and how will we deal with them? What are the least disruptive and most sustainable ways to equalize school population differentials and what do they mean for us and to us? Is it necessary to provide more specialized instruction to students in grades four and five and, if so, how? and How Peace through Music: A Concert for Darfur, will take place Jan. 29 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Barnert Temple, 747 Route 208 South in Franklin Lakes. The coffee-house style acoustic concert will feature amateurs and professionals of all ages. The event will include prize baskets and contests. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under age 13, and may be purchased Temple to host ‘Concert for Darfur’ at the door or in advance. To obtain tickets in advance, contact Amanda Kroll, Glen Rock High School sophomore and the concert organizer, at alkviolin@verizon.net. Anyone interested in performing at the concert, may also contact Kroll. For more information about the event or about joining Barnert Temple, contact Alice Berdy, membership liaison, at (201) 848-1027, or go to www.barnerttemple.org. might we limit existing scheduling conflicts within and among the buildings? “If you are looking for an opportunity to serve and are willing to commit to the full extent of this study as it is defined, please take the time to complete an and return and it to the Franklin Lakes Public Schools Central Office.” Romano provided additional information on the application form that was filed by those who applied to serve on the committee. “While quality, efficiency, consistency, and equity are on our minds, we need to study the factors that contribute to these areas in transparent and highly communicative ways,” Romano said. “We have programs that currently run well, despite structural limitations such as scheduling and enrollment. However, we have buildings and classes that vary quite substantially in occupancy and class size. We have talent that is spread thin and taxed by logistics that we may not be able to resolve without significant organizational change, and we are faced with current and impending financial restrictions that may substantially erode our system.” Romano pointed out that the committee’s challenge lies in planning for effective, efficient program delivery that continues to serve students well while remaining responsible to the greater community. The first committee meeting will take place on Friday, Jan. 28 at 9 a.m. General monthly meetings will alternate between mornings and evenings. SAT LAST DITCH? Your SAT Verbal-Writing-Math scores can go up 100 points or more before the cut-off. We’ve been doing it for years. Verbal-writing $60 per hour. Math $70 per hour. References from Princeton, Cooper Union, Cornell, NYU, many from Rutgers �� & FLOORING �� But STILL can’t lose that Tummy or Cellulite? 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