Schools

LIVE UPDATES: Common Core Forum Held at Ward Melville High School

Unable to attend the forum tonight? Check back for updates in real time.

New York State Education Commissioner John King will be hosting an educational forum at Ward Melville High School in the school's auditorium. 

The forum, organized by state Sen. John Flanagan, is open to the public, but is limited to 36 pre-determined speakers. Due to limited seating in the auditorium, the meeting will be live streamed on televisions in the cafeteria of the high school.

For people unable to attend, stay tuned to this post for full coverage of the event in real time.

Refresh this post beginning at 6 p.m. for live updates from the forum. 

Stay tuned for even more coverage of the event to be posted shortly. 

8:15 p.m. The forum has concluded. 

8:08 p.m. The commissioner again was given five minutes to respond. "We are committed to build more support to help bridge the gap to where our students are to reach our common core," said King. "We need to do more…we have been working with educators around the state … we will continue to build additional supports … We will work on strategies to supply more resources for professional development at the state level and at the local level. Many of the comments tonight have focused on the challenges … I think it's fair to say there is more work to do there."

8:06 p.m. Last speaker is a Smithtown resident. "We all wonder why the state would upload module lessons…if they are to be totally ignored… we are all trying to "adopt" or "adapt," he said. "Even some of our best students are struggling…that is a truly frightening thought. Where does that leave our medium students? -- "We are all adopting and or adapting as best we can. Right now we feel like a duped group feeling like we are all in this together… How specifically will you help us?"

7:48 p.m. James Ptucha, president of Half Hollow Hills School Board said "As the common core assessments continue to roll out … and the unfunded mandates … all of this at a time where we are saddled at a tax levy cap. Yet we continue to comply."

7:38 p.m Commissioner King was given a five minutes to respond. "There is a tension and a balance that has to be struck to make sure students have access to a curriculum that meets their needs," said King. "There are a number of questions about data and data privacy. The goal of the project is to make available to parents and teachers… a set of tools…We want to try and create a system where all teachers would have access to those tools."

7:17 p.m. Donna, graduate of Smithtown West.  "We believe no matter where a student is…we truly believe all students have potential and can learn. I cannot stand by and watch… your tests are hurting my students commissioner and I can't sit by and be quiet about it."

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7:03 p.m. Commissioner King was given five minutes to respond. “One of the questions that was raised was around assessments beyond those that are required by federal law. The decision about the...

Beth Dimino, PJSTA president interrupted saying, testing is supposed to evaluate what the students know not what the teachers know. Otherwise it’s useless. "Address that, sir. Address that. We are telling you, you are wrong."

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

The commissioner continued and then open the forum again to the public.

6:54 p.m.  Alexandra Gordon, trustee of the Comsewogue Board of Education said what is going on is not right. "If it is hurting my child at 10-years-old, it is unacceptable. You need to listen to parents and not corporations. We, the mommies that you have awoken, will not let you hurt us anymore. This listening tour is not enough."

6:50 p.m. Jennifer Bradshaw, assistant superintendent for instruction and administration from Smithtown said “We don't want just great test takers. We are calling you to partner with us. Do not blame us for poverty. Help us fight it,” said Bradshaw. “Please stop compromising education with increase testing and decreased funding…this one is broken.”

6:32 p.m.  Commissioner King received five minutes to respond to the comments he heard so far. King thanked everyone for coming and for all of the speakers airing their concerns. "We remain committed to the work on the Common Core… we have a challenge as a state and locally to make sure that the students we have, have what they need in order to graduate," said King. "When I visited schools across the country, I am encouraged by what I am seeing… however, the board and department are concerned and share the concerns that we are hearing tonight about environments. We have more tests than we need and are concerned about places where test prep is crowding out the curriculum."

"A number of the comments tonight focused on the need for professional development and build better budge with the students that have not had the experience with the common core…We look forward to listening this evening and there will be an opportunity to response to the rest of the comments later this evening," said King.

6:28 p.m. Speaker from Sachem Central School District said "I am here to represent the concerns of the teachers and parents of the Common Core standards…we should have assessments go from 'gotcha' to 'I get it.'"

6:26 p.m. Principal of Longwood Jr. High School, Levi McIntyre, asked two questions. "Help me understand why last year on one component of the APPR, I received 19 out of 20 points which would be considered highly effective. This year I am the same principal, I have not changed…but I received 11 out of the 20. Help me understand why I am not as good this year as I was last year."

6:23 p.m.  Superintendent of Kings Park, Susan Agruso, said she supports Common Core. However, she said "clearly there is too much testing." She said teachers and principals are responsible somewhat for student performance but should not be held to such a strict standard like that of the new APPR regulation.

6:16 p.m. Beth Dimino said we are abusing children in the state of New York. She said she is considered a "highly effective teacher" and said under those same circumstances then King is ineffective because 70 percent of students failed his test. Dimino finished to a standing ovation. 

6:12 p.m. Commack Superintendent Dr. Donald James said he is not here to criticize or blame. "We are not necessarily against the Common Core … We need more time to implement them…we are very concerned with high stakes testing and the APPR," said James. "In Commack, students are taking high level of courses…most not needing remedial course work…I pose a scenario for your consideration...

"Common research bases are setup in intervals. These benchmarks are not necessarily tests…So my question. if district is willing to take part in the description above…would you support the development and approval of student growth models?"

6:11 p.m. First speaker from Three Village said collaboration needs to be made between school districts. "We must cut back on the high stake testing…the million dollars spent on it could be used for smaller class sizes." 

6:09 p.m. Forum has begun. State Senator John Flanagan went on stage to thank the attendees and said that the they only place people need to look for leadership is right here. Audience clapped.


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