NEWTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Systemwide Goals 2001-2002
Approved by Newton School Committee on October 9, 2001
The Newton Public Schools strives to meet the learning needs of all students by ensuring that the K-12 curriculum offers a coherent course of study yet remains flexible enough to allow for differentiation according to children’s needs; by recognizing the diversity that exists within the school population; and by respecting teachers’ judgment in making sound instructional decisions for the students they meet every day. The school system’s core value of respect for human differences should permeate all of our work (see attached mission statement). With the cooperation of all members of the school community, the system seeks to hold true to its values while it sets out to accomplish the goals specific to 2001/2002 as outlined below.
1) To strengthen the quality of K-12 education by continuing the process of
aligning Newton’s curriculum with the state frameworks and creating an academically challenging standards-based learning environment—Curriculum revision is an ongoing process in our school system, with adjustments and improvements being implemented in content areas every year. Still, with the advent of the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, it is important for the system to document its progress and continued improvement on a coherent, logically sequenced curriculum. The standards-based curriculum we advocate balances the ideal of individual, professional decision-making by classroom teachers with agreements among teachers about the sequencing and coherence of subject matter.
To achieve this goal we will:
• continue the review/revision process in science and fine arts;
• institute a citywide approach to improving student literacy;
• commence planning to integrate health and physical education curricula;
• review the elementary world language program and prepare
recommendations for the FY03 or FY04 budget;
• collect broad-based teacher input on grade level/content area
expectations;
• produce clearly written materials for parents regarding grade
level/content area expectations in the middle schools;
• review/revise elementary school student progress reports;
• provide professional development related to standards-based instruction;
• communicate MCAS results and use the data to inform curriculum
revision and instructional practice;
• continue technology planning, with an emphasis on integrating
technology as a tool for improved teaching and learning, noting
specifically the implications of the high school renovation project; and
• support the system’s commitment to full inclusion of special education
students through increased training for teachers and support staff.
2) To develop a capital plan for meeting the needs of Newton’s school buildings— A safe and comfortable school environment is a key factor in helping staff and students do their best work. With many of Newton’s school buildings approaching an age when major rehabilitation work may be required, it is important to put into place a thoughtful, long-range plan for renovating and maintaining the physical plant. Collaboration between school personnel and City agencies will be essential as we build a culture of shared responsibility and develop procedures to improve the upkeep of the schools.
To achieve this goal we will:
• work with City officials to implement the first phase of construction at
Newton South High School;
• complete Tier One improvements to Memorial-Spaulding;
• develop a meaningful five-year capital plan that recognizes spending
limitations deriving from the funding plan for the high school project;
• create a comprehensive, long-range plan for renovating elementary and
middle schools, driven by programmatic needs;
• build upon recent successes to continue to improve the management
and delivery of charter maintenance services; and
• work with City officials to determine future utilization of the Carr
Elementary school building
3) To determine how the core value of Respect for Human Differences is incorporated into classroom practice—For the past several years there has been some misunderstanding and resulting controversy about the ways in which Newton implements this core value in our daily practice. While to a great extent the core value represents a set of attitudes and behaviors, it is also true that, at certain grade levels, direct instruction occurs. This goal sets out to document what actually happens in our schools and also to point a direction for meeting future challenges.
To achieve this goal we will:
• convene the citywide faculty Human Differences Committee to lead a
year-long conversation on issues related to the goal;
• direct school-based staff/parent committees to discuss and document the
learning activities that take place in each of the twenty-one schools in the
areas of anti-racism, gender equity, sexual orientation, disabilities,
ethnicity, etc;
• analyze the ways in which instruction in these areas conforms to the
Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks as well as Newton’s grade-level
benchmarks;
• clarify the process by which texts and other instructional materials are
selected for use in the schools;
• hold one or two public hearings on the subject so that citizens may offer
opinions and insights on the ways in which the core value is
implemented in the schools;
• support the district’s participation in the EMI Collaborative as part of a
larger effort to embrace active anti-racist education;
• decide how the concepts of disability education can be included under
the umbrella of Respect for Human Differences; and
• report to the School Committee in the spring about the progress of this
effort.
4) To improve the system of student transportation in the Newton Public Schools—Following both the Oak Hill bus tragedy and the citywide redistricting process last year, a number of important transportation-related issues surfaced for public deliberation. This year, we propose to take an integrated approach to resolving a number of standing questions in the area of student transportation so that the School Committee may provide a safe, effective and efficient system of transporting students to and from school as well as to destinations outside city limits.
To achieve this goal we will:
• review and revise, as necessary, the citywide out-of-state field trip policy,
including the use of chaperones;
• study the research on the use of seat belts on school buses and
determine the extent to which safety belts will be used in Newton;
• develop consistent procedures, practices and contracts for utilizing
outside bus companies;
• analyze current busing policy and decide upon acceptable walking
distances for students;
• analyze effects of a possible fee structure for school transportation
services;
• ensure the transportation system supports equitable educational
opportunities for all secondary school students; and
• use the above policy decisions to inform the bid process for securing
new transportation contracts with busing companies.
5) To improve the management systems of the School Department—In order to deliver educational programs in the most effective way, it is critical for the School Department to make certain that various management systems provide a solid foundation for decision-making. Improved practice is required in financial management, operations, and data management, in particular.
To achieve this goal we will:
• develop and implement a comprehensive financial management
improvement plan, designed to give timely notice of potential budget
deficits and to provide ongoing, systematic oversight of all school
spending;
• make better use of existing and new technology for state reporting and
systems management purposes;
• review the existing food services program and recommend changes if
necessary;
• develop an effective and efficient system for providing custodial services
to the schools, including the use of overtime;
• collaborate with the City Building Department to institute a well-planned
delivery system for charter maintenance services; and
• explore best practices from other school districts and private
organizations and apply these where possible in Newton.
The Newton Public Schools will provide a climate that actively promotes social justice where children perform at the highest levels. To that end, the Newton Public Schools will work:
§ to provide—and be self-reflective about—authentic, effective, challenging and creative instruction that is responsive to different learning styles and improves student achievement. Respect for human differences places the learner at the center of the teaching and learning and fashions instruction that builds upon the learner’s unique strengths and addresses his/her needs;
§ to encourage the broadest understanding and acceptance of human differences (including differences in socio-economic class, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, language, learning styles, special needs, physical appearance, disabilities, sexual orientation, etc.) while affirming fundamental similarities of the human community;
§ to recognize our role in fostering high expectations and maximum challenge for all students and our responsibility for consistently examining our practice and our expectations for students with differences of race, gender, socio-economic class, language, learning styles;
§ to continue to work through Empowering Multicultural Initiative (EMI) to make Newton an active anti-racist school system and community, through system-wide coordination of our commitment to respect for human differences.
Approved by School Committee: October 9, 2001