Board of Education Update
December 2, 2022
Special Board of Education Meeting
NBC Nightly News Highlights Mindfulness Program
As reported in the last BOE update, an NBC News crew visited Massena High School on November 16th to highlight our Mindful Moment program. The program is a partnership that started in 2020 between the District, Holistic Life Foundation (HLF) and Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe. Its purpose is to support students and staff in managing stress in their lives and other social-emotional learning.
On Friday, NBC News posted the video segment to their webpage which can be found here. Congratulations to all involved with the program and the production of the video. It is a proud moment for Massena Central.
NYS Education Department Highlight Massena CSD MBK Native American Program
Recently, the NYS Education Department included a segment about Massena Central's My Brothers Keeper (MBK) program in their newsletter. Since its inception in 2017, the District's MBK program has used this grant funding to increase the academic achievement of Native American boys and young men at the Massena Central School District. This work includes:
- Creating a student leadership program that helps recruit, train and mentor students to take leadership roles in the school and community.
- Providing science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) activities aimed at promoting and strengthening career awareness and readiness through an extended day program.
- Establishing a K12 Cultural and STEAM (CaS) Coordinator who serves as the liaison between Massena Central School and the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe.
We greatly appreciate the work of Ryan Ransom, our MBK Coordinator and all of the tutors/mentors in this important program. Former Title VI Coordinator Stephanie Allen and current Title VI Coordinator Danielle Chapman have provided excellent leadership in writing the grants to fund the program and organizing the essential pieces including the summer learning opportunities highlighted in the NYSED article.
Here is a link to the NYSED article.
NYSCOSS Legislative Committee Meetings
Section X Spectator Policy
At the request of the NYS Public High School Athletics Association (NYSPHSAA), our local Section X has adopted a new spectator policy. The purpose of the policy is to set standards and consequences for spectator conduct while at sporting events. All schools in Section X including Massena will follow the policy. We encourage all people who attend our school events to have fun but be respectful to all participants.
Here is a link to the Section X Spectator policy.
Here is a North Country Now article about the policy.
Massena CSD In The News
Saturday, November 26, 2022
“COVID continuing to impact Massena Central School District absentee rate” - Bob Beckstead, nny360.com
Monday, November 28, 2022
“‘COVID disreality’ impacts Massena Central High School graduation numbers” - Bob Beckstead, nny360.com
Albany Update
Regents Review of Graduation Measures
The following information is from NYSCOSS Deputy Director Bob Lowry.
At its meetings last week, the Board of Regents received an update on its project to review and revise state requirements for a high school diploma. This included a presentation on a review of graduation requirements in other states and nations, research on the relationship between graduation requirements and student success, and input from stakeholders at regional meetings conducted by the State Education Department. The review was produced by the Region 2 Comprehensive Center (R2CC), one of 19 such entities around the nation funded by the U.S. Education Department to provide capacity-building services to state, regional and local education agencies.
Superintendents Survey Finds Mission of Schools Expanding in Wake of COVID-19; State and Federal Aid is Enabling Wide Improvements in Key Student Services
The following information is from NYSCOSS Deputy Director Bob Lowry.
ALBANY, NY—Schools have taken on a wider mission, helping students and families with concerns beyond academics. Infusions of federal and state aid are enabling schools to improve many services and opportunities for students. These are key themes in a report on survey findings released today by the New York State Council of School Superintendents.
Council Executive Director Charles Dedrick said, “In their open-ended comments for our survey, the one theme emphasized most often by superintendents is that, while schools have often been a hub for many community services, that role has expanded dramatically in recent years.”
Dedrick added, “As one of our members observed, ‘Public education is the first, most efficiently provided, most accessible, and best of all the safety nets we provide for children.’”
Asked about experiences since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, 90% of superintendents responded that it is completely true (57%) or mostly true (33%) that, “our schools “have taken on a larger role in providing supports for families in our community (e.g., health, mental health, food, recreation, etc.).” Eighty-one percent (81%) agreed that it is completely or mostly true that “our schools are the first and most readily accessible source of mental health services in our community.”
Council Deputy Director Robert Lowry said, “It comes through loudly and clearly from our survey that state Foundation Aid increases and federal COVID-relief assistance are enabling schools all across our state to make improvements in key student services—especially in student mental health services and extra academic help, but also basic instruction at every school level.”
In nine prior annual surveys between 2011 and 2019, only twice did a majority of superintendents statewide anticipate that their district budgets would result in improvements any service area. But in this year’s survey, majorities expect improvements 11 service areas, including core instruction in elementary school (74%), middle school (66%), and high school (63), and in student mental health services (82%), extra academic help (79%), summer enrichment programs (72%), school security (71%), and prekindergarten (58%).
Lowry added, “It’s especially encouraging that our survey found superintendents leading higher poverty districts are generally more likely to foresee improvements in what their schools will be able to offer students.”
Increases in state and federal assistance have also produced greater optimism among superintendents about longer-term financial prospects for their schools.
Fifty-five percent (55%) of superintendents responded that they were somewhat or very optimistic that, looking ahead three years or so, their schools will be able to fund services adequate to the needs of their students, up from just 25% in 2019. There has been a corresponding drop in pessimistic responses, from 75% to 45% over the same period.
But concerns about sustainability are common. Fifty-four percent (54%) of superintendents identified “end of federal COVID-relief aid” was one of the factors causing them concern in thinking about the financial outlook for their schools. The possibility of “Inadequate state aid, including possible changes in Foundation Aid” was most widely cited as the one factor causing greatest concern, named by 32% of superintendents.
Hiring shortages are seen as imperiling the capacity of schools to meet the needs of students. Majorities of superintendents responded that it is completely true that, since the onset of the pandemic, it has become more difficult to fill both teaching positions (62%) and non-certified positions (e.g. custodial, clerical, food service, and student transportation positions; 58%). Superintendents leading higher poverty, lower wealth, and rural school districts were especially likely to report hiring challenges.
The Council survey also identified concerns among superintendents about challenges arising from political polarization and social media. But in a question on job satisfaction, 74% of superintendents agreed that they like their work enough to recommend the role to a child showing aptitude—the highest figure in the 20 years that Council surveys have included that question.
The survey was conducted online, between October 5 and 25, 2022. Four hundred sixty-seven superintendents submitted complete responses to the survey, a response rate of 64.6%.
Upcoming Events
12/5--BOE Policy Committee Meeting--5:30 pm--CAB
12/6--Nightengale Holiday Concert--7:00 pm
12/7--Special BOE Meeting--6:00 pm--HS Room 314
12/8--HS Instrumental Concert--7:00 pm--New Testament Church
12/13--Junior High Winter Instrumental Concert--7:00 pm--New Testament Church
12/15--All Elementary Instrumental Concert--7:00 pm--New Testament Church; BOE Finance Committee Meeting--5:30 pm--HS Student Affairs; BOE Meeting--6:30 pm----HS Room 314