The Board of Education on Tuesday night received a report on how academic interventions are being incorporated into the instructional program to meet student needs.
Alvarado Middle School Principal Yvonne Hull and teacher Sarah Graff told the Board how the Voyager program is being used to support students with skill needs in language arts. Voyager, which also is being piloted at Barnard-White and Cesar Chavez middle schools, is a mandatory class for “below basic” and “far below basic” students. It focuses on improving vocabulary, fluency and comprehension skills.
The Board also discussed the possibility of bringing a bond measure before New Haven voters in 2008.
The proposed $150 million bond could be used to fund the modernization of Alvarado, Hillview Crest, Pioneer and Searles elementary schools, the modernization of portables at Alvarado and Cesar Chavez middle schools and of the old gym, media center/theater wing and a wing of classrooms at James Logan High and modernization at the New Haven Adult School. It also could allow for the installation of artificial turf at all fields in the District and the expansion of solar energy to as many sites as practical, meaning long-term savings in maintenance and energy costs.
Additionally, following the closure of Barnard-White Middle School this June and the use of the property to house Cesar Chavez Middle during modernization of the CCMS campus next year, the bond could finance the construction of workforce housing on the Tamarack side of the Barnard-White property. In addition to providing a housing option that could help the District retain teachers, classified employees and administrators, the project could generate profits to be used for restricted maintenance, freeing general fund money for student learning.
New Haven voters have passed four bond measures since 1987, including most recently a $120 million facilities bond in 2003. The District has leveraged that bond to secure nearly $40 million in additional state funds and has used the money to build Conley-Caraballo High School, for new classrooms at James Logan High School, to update and improve technology at all sites, for installation of a solar energy system at Conley-Caraballo and to modernize the buildings that make up the Cabello Student Support Center. Measure A money and matching state funds also are being used to build both the Performing Arts Center and the East Bay Culinary Arts Institute at Logan, for the modernization of Cesar Chavez and for the installation of a solar energy system at Kitayama Elementary.
Also on Tuesday night, the Board approved calling for bids for construction of the Performing Arts Center and took a virtual tour of the facility. Construction of the $25 million center is expected to begin this spring. The 599-seat theater, with rehearsal space and teaching stations for the performing arts, is expected to open during the 2009-10 school year.
A copy of the video tour is expected to be available Thursday on the District website (www.nhusd.k12.ca.us).
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