More than 30 parents attended the Mathematics Program Open Forum at Oyster By High School on Thursday, Feb. 26. The idea of the forum was to get input from the community on the updated math program in the district. The program is aligned with the current state-mandated Common Core standards.
“It is an opportunity for community members to ask questions, voice their concerns or suggestions and receive feedback in regard to our mathematics program,” said School Superintendent Dr. Laura Seinfeld, who attended the community forum.
Some recent changes in the program include the Common Core Algebra 1 Regents becoming a required test for all students as of June 2014 and the Common Core Geometry Regents becoming a requirement as of this June. The Integrated Algebra Regents is scheduled to phase out after this June and the 2005 aligned Geometry Regents is scheduled to phase out in January of next year.
In algebra 2 and trigonometry courses, the Common Core Algebra 2 Regents will be required as of June of next year, meaning students will take both the traditional 2005 aligned Algebra 2 and Trigonometry Regents and the Common Core Algebra 2 Regents next year.
Oyster Bay High School Principal Dr. Dennis O’Hara, who gave a Powerpoint presentation at the forum, said that data from last year’s algebra 2 and trigonometry Regents exams show an average score of three points higher than on the 2013 exam results for all students. He also noted that last year’s Regents exam results in geometry courses were five points higher compared with 2013 exam results.
The supervisor of mathematics, Dr. Linda Esposito, said that students take what is called “honors credit option” courses in algebra, geometry and pre-calculus. The courses are filled with both Regents level and honors students.
“The courses have differentiated instruction to meet the needs of the honors students by letting them take more challenging tests, but not penalizing the Regents level students,” said Esposito.
Some of the parents who attended the forum were concerned that the classes were too slow for some students. They asked what the school was doing to enhance the curriculum and make courses more rigorous and challenging, especially for honors level students.
Another parent wanted to know why the school doesn’t set up courses like this in other subject areas, such as social studies or ESL.
O’Hara responded by saying that the high school offers an honors level earth science course where the teachers have their own curriculum.
“We will take the data we received tonight and from an anonymous survey in which we interviewed students on how they felt about the curriculum and reflect upon it,” said O’Hara. “From there, we will look at possibly revamping the master schedules for next year and looking at Teacher Assistant (TA) schedules.”
The next Oyster Bay-East Norwich Board of Education business meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 17, at 8 p.m. in the high school library, followed by a work session on Tuesday, March 31, also at 8 p.m., as the board and administration finalizes the budget for 2015-16.
The budget vote and trustee election will take place on Tuesday, May 19. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the high school.
