The Central Bucks Board Note
October 2019 ~ Vol. 2, No. 2
Beautiful Music
Congratulations on Perfection!
Five Central Bucks students were honored with proclamations from the board in recognition of outstanding performances on the ACT test. CB East students Aditya Gunturi and Ling Xu, CB South students Akaash Suresh and Jack Veith, and CB West student Ani Nangunoori each achieved the incredible distinction of having earned the highest possible score on the ACT, a perfect 36.
According to ACT, this superior achievement is truly rare – in fact only two-tenths of one percent of students who take the ACT earn a top score. The ACT consists of tests in English, mathematics, reading, and science, each scored on a scale of 1–36. A student's composite score is the average of the four test scores.
"Central Bucks is truly honored to present these school board proclamations. We are incredibly blessed to have student leaders such as yourselves within our student body. You should all be very proud of this accomplishment! Through your exceedingly hard work, and with the support of your teachers and families, you have distinguished yourselves on a national scale," Superintendent Dr. John J. Kopicki said.
Congratulations National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
The board recognized the 19 students who have achieved semifinalist status in the National Merit Scholarship Competition with certificates of recognition. These students will continue in the prestigious 65th annual nationwide scholarship program, competing for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million.
Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several rigorous requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
"Central Bucks is proud of our students' achievements in working toward this tremendous honor," Dr. Kopicki said, "Their success is due to their own hard work, combined with the support of their teachers, school leaders, and families. We are all incredibly proud of you."
Welcome Steven Willis!
Comprehensive Planning Process Nears Completion
Dr. Nadine Garvin, assistant superintendent for elementary education, presented the board with an update on what is contained in the district's comprehensive plan as the document enters the public review period. The final document will be presented for the board's approval at their November 12 meeting.
The plan has three over-arching goals with their own sub goals and action plans. These main areas are:
Social and Emotional Wellness: Central Bucks School District will enhance the school community by providing curriculum, professional development, supports, and protocols to promote the social and emotional wellness of our students and staff.
Some key areas of addition since the plan was last presented include:
- investigating the need for additional social workers and counselors;
- the development of a universal program that proactively addresses the social and emotional wellness of all students and explore avenues to address anxiety and stress management needs;
- and the development of trainings on cultural proficiency and culturally relevant instruction that promote the awareness, understanding, acceptance, and value of diversity in its many forms.
Community Connections: Central Bucks School District will develop mutually beneficial partnerships that strengthen the relationship between our schools and community while enhancing students' pathways to college and career readiness.
- Since the plan was last presented, language on the integration of more service-based learning opportunities was added.
Innovation and Leadership: The Central Bucks School District will create opportunities for students to problem solve, innovate, lead, and contribute to their local and global communities.
- Previously a technology integration goal, this area was revised to be more widely written as an innovation and leadership goal area, aligned with the district’s Vision and Pillars of Excellence.
- Additional sub-goals were added with a focus on STEM education, digital citizenship, and outreach to help families navigate the digital world with their children.
Review Dr. Garvin's October presentation here.
The plan is the result of work by a review committee comprised of board members, administrators, teachers, educational specialists, parents, community members, business and community representatives, and students who worked together to review and contribute. The review committee and sub-groups began reviewing goals in June.
Every three years, a school entity must submit a comprehensive plan to the U.S. Secretary of Education for approval. The plan must be made available for public inspection and comment. It may then be approved by the board and then submitted to Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).
Mandated by PDE, the effort is essentially a needs assessment process relative to eight core foundations, as labeled by the Commonwealth: standards, curriculum, instruction, assessments, safe and supportive schools, materials and resources, professional education, and special education.
The public may review the District Level Comprehensive Plan for July 2020 through June 2023 on the district's website. Share any feedback you have on the plan via the online form on the website here through November 9.
Central Bucks School District
The members of the Central Bucks School District's Board of School Directors each represent one of nine regions in the district. Each region includes one or more municipality. While each region elects one school director, members represent the interests of the district as a whole once elected.
Meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month except for February, July, August, October, November and December. In February, the board will meet on the first and fourth Tuesdays. In July and August, the board meets on the fourth Tuesday only. In October, the board will meet on the third and fifth Tuesdays. In November, the board meets on the second Tuesday only. In December, the board meets on the first Tuesday only. Meetings are held at the Central Bucks Educational Services Center at 16 Welden Drive in Doylestown. All meetings start at 7:30 p.m. and the public is welcome to attend. Members of the public who wish to address the board prior to action items may sign up at the lectern before 7:30 p.m. Comments are limited to three minutes or less, depending on the number of speakers.
Correspondence for the Board of School Directors should be sent to Stephanie Radcliffe, Secretary to the Board, at sradcliffe@cbsd.org.
The "Central Bucks Board Note," is an e-newsletter designed to provide Central Bucks School District constituents with an overview of the work of their Board of School Directors.
Please share any feedback with Angela Linch, communications and public relations administrator, at alinch@cbsd.org or by calling 267-893-2073.
Email: alinch@cbsd.org
Website: www.cbsd.org
Location: 20 Welden Drive, Doylestown, PA, USA
Phone: 267-893-5800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbschools/
Twitter: @cbsdinfo