Holly Concannon (Elem math & K-8 Technology Coordinator) and Marilyn Decker (K-12 Technology Coordinator) presented the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum program to the committee. The program is being offered for students enrolled in the English strand only. Initially it will be part of the Grade 1 curriculum with the intent to expand up the grades going forward.
The administration is introducing the program as a way of distinguishing the English program in the school. Ms. Concannon illustrated the rapid changes in technology and their impact by discussing how she would plan for a vacation by taking hundreds of book and thousands of songs on e-devices. She asked what it might be like for 1st graders 10 years from now. STEM is intended to engage students in looking forward and engaging them early on in these disciplines. in the 1st grade the program will look at having students use an engineering design process, apply science and math to solve a problem, and depend on teamwork and creativity to develop solutions.
When asked by SC member Ms. Bagley-Jones why a parent would opt for this over French Immersion, Ms. Concannon replied, “It’s an opportunity to learn another way of looking at the world.” Sheridan was one committee member who voiced an opinion when she stated, “I’m a huge advocate.”
SC member Kelly asked what it would cost and whether it could be sustained. While specific costs were not given, it was noted that the materials for delivering STEM instruction are flexible and can be used in multiple grades. It is the specific activities and lesson plans developed around the materials that become more challenging. Concannon and Decker said that while some of the Gr 1 teachers were apprehensive about it initially, they all became quite excited and that the experience of going through the training on the program “really unified the district [and] formed a bond that will continue through the year.”
The STEM initiative is intended in part to stem the flow of enrollments in French Immersion and provide a compelling reason to enroll students in English. There has been an increase in enrollments in French. This year as of 8/30 enrollments in the respective programs were:
| School | Gr 1 English | Gr 1 French |
| Collicot | 18, 19 | 25, 26 |
| Cunningham | 19 (CT) | 25, 26 |
| Glover | 20, 13 (CT) | 23, 24, 25 |
| Tucker | 17, 16 (CT) | 26 |
Thus, there are 122 enrolled in English and 200 enrolled in French (38%, 62%) per memo from Superintendent Gormley dated 8/30.
It is this disparity and the parent concerns expressed regarding it along with a statistical analysis that led the Superintendent to recommend capping the French Immersion program going forward. The School Committee had not acted on that nor was any action taken at this session. However, it was discussed. Ms. Kelly said they needed a plan to drive it and asked if there was consensus that French should be capped. “We are treading water.” The committee did not answer that question.
Chairman Pavlicek noted that capping French meant 93 different things to 93 people. There did appear to be consensus that developing a plan to cap French would uncover unforeseen complications. They asked the Administration and its leadership team to do more work. Gormley agreed to collect requested demographics across the grades comparing English and French and a possible timeline for rolling out for their meeting on the 19th.
At the second Citizen Speak (there is one in the beginning and one at the end of the meetings) Nathan Sitkoff said he felt disappointed about the offering, that “it was not additive but substitutive” and that it was not planned past the first year. He was referencing the STEM initiative which he inadvertently referred to as Stem Cell, an understandable misspeak given the late hour.
Other items included but were not limited to:
- The Lorden family of the Tucker School donated a software system to assist with safety in the schools
- The committee is looking at how to conduct the Superintendent’s evaluation. The state has a model for evaluation that they will look at
- Ms Gormley said that there is a finalist for the elementary Social Studies and Language Arts director which she expects to announce shortly