Curriculum Takes Center Stage at BOE

While curriculum issues took center stage at Monday’s Board of Education meeting at , one hot topic was the Glen Cove School district's Curriculum Committee.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Dr. Shari Camhi – who led the discussion – said she met with the Curriculum Committee twice to review course of study for the 2011-12 school year.

Two classes were presented: Entrepreneurship and Financial Algebra, which could provide an extra high-level business and math course for students, respectively.

The BOE approved both courses.

It is not a decision-making committee, said Camhi, but rather the role is defined by the district plan. 

“It accepts information and makes recommendations forward [to the district],” she said. WEA (a teacher evaluation tool) and Springboard were two programs moved forward by the committee.

“I think the way we’re handling this is illogical, said board trustee Joel Sunshine, who was curious as to why meetings were being held without the board’s knowledge.

“Curriculum is arguably the primary purpose of a board of education; we educate and how we educate is our curriculum,” he said. “We should know what’s going on and change the way the Curriculum Committee is reported.”

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Laria concluded the discussion.

“I think it’s an excellent suggestion to have some curriculum issues discussed at every board meeting,” he said, agreeing with an idea proposed by Sunshine. “That is something that could be parcel of a revised district plan.”