The Manhasset Board of Education column will appear periodically throughout the year in the Manhasset Press. We hope to inform the community about the goals of the school district and the challenges of education in New York state. As we begin this endeavor, we seek and encourage community reaction and input for future column ideas to achieve our district goals. It is our hope that this column becomes a vehicle that provides you with the information you want and need to know.

Throughout the year, board members frequently hear, "How are our students doing?" "How are student test scores and how do they compare with area schools, the state, the nation?" "What is the district doing to improve learning for students?"

The board of education asks similar questions of our district leaders. "What are we doing in order for all students to succeed?" "What is the best course of action to address curriculum and instructional program needs? How do we best incorporate New York state learning standards, Manhasset standards and mandated Regents requirements?"

Manhasset Public Schools enjoy an exemplary reputation. The board of education is proud that we are recognized as a district where student performance on mandated and standardized tests such as Regents is excellent, consistently exceeding local and state results. We are equally proud of the wider range of accomplishments that include but are not limited to student achievements in published writing, science, social science and mathematics research, social studies and foreign language honors, and fine arts and athletics participation. The academic and extracurricular offerings available for students are a priority of both parents and community, and the board is committed to provide all of the resources necessary to ensure and promote the personal and academic growth of all students.

To this end, Dr. Lawrence E. Bozzomo, superintendent of schools, has recommended, and, in May, the board of education has approved the proposal of Curriculum Cycle Committee to institute a protocol for curriculum review and evaluation. After intensive study, the committee, representing teachers and administrators, concluded that a regular, predictable curriculum "audit" would ensure a formal, ongoing and comprehensive review of each subject area and each instructional program, such as technology, library media and remedial reading.

Essentially, the Curriculum Cycle is a refinement and enhancement of our curriculum review process. In recent years, there have been changes in the state curriculum, new knowledge, and more demands on content areas, rapid developments in technology, new expectations from our community and society, and advances in understanding of teaching and learning processes.

The Curriculum Cycle addresses these issues and outlines a process that weighs what is best in current curriculum against what changes need to be made to ensure that all curricula reflect best practices and offer challenging programs for students. The Curriculum Cycle report further observes that while curriculum in any field is constantly changing, modifications require careful planning and effort. The curriculum protocol requires the review of each discipline and instructional area, K-12, every six years. It outlines specific direction for organizing and collecting data, planning, directing and implementing programmatic changes, and finally, evaluating results.

The review will measure each curriculum against Manhasset Standards of Excellence and New York State Learning Standards, and will be a look at "what is," "what should be," "what is worthwhile retaining," and "where do we go from here?"

The board of education, the Curriculum Cycle Committee and the administration believe that the process will result in a Manhasset curriculum that retains highly effective programs and is dynamic and well attuned to changes in societal and community expectations, as well as changes in the disciplines areas and teaching methods.

The Curriculum Cycle is as follows:

2000-2001: special education (a continuation from 1999-2000), remedial reading and mathematics;

2001-2002: Instructional Technology, Library Media program, English Language Arts and Social Studies;

2002-2003: Science, Foreign Language and Guidance;

2003-2004: Study Skills and Career Development/Occupational Skills;

2004-2005: Gifted Education and Physical Education/Health;

2005-2006: Fine Arts

The board of education appreciates the hard work and dedication of the administration and members of the Curriculum Cycle Committee in researching and developing a curriculum protocol that will ensure the best education for all of our children.

If you have a question about the Curriculum Cycle initiative or other instructional program, please contact the various school principals and/or Dr. Robert Feirsen, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. The board welcomes and encourages comments from residents and parents. In this way, we can be more effective in our role.