This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Massapequa School Board Discusses New Course Proposals

Board also reaches out to Sen. Fuschillo on busing issue.

The Massapequa Board of Education heard a proposal to improve the 2012-13 curriculum with new and innovative classes for students in middle and high school levels at its meeting Thursday night.

The board listened to presentations from Lucille Iconis and Dr.Thomas Fasano, both assistants to Superintendent Charles V. Sulc, to introduce a revision of courses that would begin in middle school, extending to the high school to make Massapequa students more prepared for the next level of education.

“Everyone in this room will probably agree that the middle
level grades are probably some of the most critical times in the lives of
youngsters ,” Iconis said to the group of about 50 parents, teachers and
students who attended.

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“The New York State Department of Education said there are seven elements to making a really good middle school. One of them being to structure an educational program that is comprehensive, challenging, purposeful, integrated, relevant and standardly spaced.”

Iconis said the enhancement to the middle school would be in
English, Math, Social Studies and Science setting the stage for the students
advancing to high school.

Find out what's happening in Massapequawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This includes revamping the English department with “Shakespearing it Up” a course to prepare middle school students for learning about William Shakespeare in high school, and “CSI:Berner”, a  science-based course about forensics, crime scene analysis and DNA findings.

Fasano proposed similar curriculum changes for the high school in the following school year giving students the opportunity to progressively pursue areas of interests as well as working with more closely with local colleges for college credits.

The first step to focus this time of year with an eye on evaluating what we have and what we can do to make it better,” Fasano said. “Not
so much more [courses], but how we can do things better. That’s really what it comes down to. With that in mind, to focus on the goals of the Board of Education.”

The evening’s meeting also addressed the status of the
recent busing situation that disqualified over 80 families who were previously eligible for busing.

The reassessment of who qualifies for bus service in the district has left these families without safe transportation to and from school leaving students with the task of crossing Sunrise Highway on foot. 

Sulc said was in constant communication with Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, R-Merrick, in order to get the necessary state approval to deem that area a Child Safety-Zone.  The Superintendent also said he plans to present Fuschillo with a video of the traffic patterns of the intersection of Cartwright Boulevard and Sunrise Highway, to illustrate the danger this situation poses for students. Sulc is hoping this video can be reviewed by the State in effort to eventually declare this part of Sunrise Highway a Child Safety-Zone.

“I spoke to the Senator this afternoon and the school doesn’t
have any additional information,” Sulc said. “He said he promised we would get back to me as soon as he heard something, but he couldn’t give me a timeline though.”

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?