The first Board of Education work session of the school year began on a positive note as Garden City Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen presented his annual list of district goals.

He started the meeting on Tuesday evening with the goals his administration has accomplished, which were then followed by those that are currently still being worked on, and those that the district plans to focus on during this school year. This year he attempted to put the goals into one of four categories: curriculum and instruction, communication, business and finance, and human resources.

“Without goals to direct us, we would wind up addressing things on a moment by moment ad-hoc basis, and that’s not the way an excellent organization really makes progress,” Dr. Feirsen said. He presented his first list of goals three months after beginning his job in August, 2005, and has continued presenting a list every September.

This year, Dr. Feirsen said he and his staff plan to initiate a curriculum review of English Language Arts, including reading. Since starting as superintendent, one of Dr. Feirsen’s goals has been to find a systematized way of looking at curriculum to ensure that it is aligned with what is learned in the classroom. Several things influence curriculum, including budget, state mandates, developmental needs, what we know about learning, college/work requirements, community expectations and standards.

Dr. Feirsen has been integrating five phases of the curriculum cycle into the school district. The first phase, which is known as the “spotlight year,” is a time to collect and organize information. In phase II, the data is reviewed and analyzed and a strategic plan is established. The third phase involves actual implementation. In phase IV, implementation continues, but is closely monitored and adjustments are made. Phase V is a time to evaluate and reflect.

This year will be a “spotlight year” for the ELA program. During this time, student achievement data will be reviewed, research will be examined, best practices will be identified, and parent and student feedback will be solicited. In addition, exemplary districts and schools will be visited and surveyed. The goal is to have a multi-year plan ready for implementation in 2011.

Another goal Dr. Feirsen proposed for this year includes conducting a comprehensive assessment of the status of differentiated instruction in classrooms and developing an action plan for improvement. In April, School Board President Colleen E. Foley asked administrators to look further into the issue of differentiated instruction as a result of an outcry by several residents. After the assessment, an action plan for any needed improvement will be developed and presented to the administration and the Board of Education, said Dr. Feirsen.

This year the district will work to implement the next phase of the Response to Intervention plan, which includes purchasing and installing AIMSweb, a progress monitoring system. The district will use the system to collect benchmark data on student performance in reading and math and identify students scoring below benchmark targets.

Other items on the district’s “to-do” list include developing professional learning communities (PLCs) based upon student achievement data. Dr. Feirsen explained that faculty members will learn how to work together as a team to establish goals, collect data and implement strategies to ultimately improve student performance.

Dr. Feirsen and staff also plan to conduct a review of the resource room program, which the superintendent said is sometimes mistakenly considered to be a place students can go when they have difficulty with a homework assignment. He explained that the resource room is an intervention, and he plans to clarify its role in the continuum of other support services the district provides.

The district recognizes the serious problem of cyberbullying, and realizes the issue will continue to become more complex as the use of technology increases. Dr. Feirsen said one of the goals this year is to review the legal aspects involved, including the scope of the school district’s responsibility, and design and implement a district-wide plan. The district will extend and enhance its relationship with the Garden City Police Department, internet and phone service providers and other relevant organizations to ensure a timely and appropriate response to any cyberbullying incident. Dr. Feirsen, recognizing the important role parents play in prevention, said he and his staff plan to provide more parent education on the issue by working collaboratively with the PTA and other groups.

The superintendent also plans to implement the 2009 school investment bond and Energy Performance Contract. Earlier this year, the district entered into an energy performance contract with ConEdison Solutions, which will result in the district receiving $13 million worth of energy improvements through energy upgrades and replacements. The cost savings are guaranteed by ConEdison Solutions as being in excess of $796,000 a year over the next 16.33 years.

Energy performance contracting is a way for school districts to implement energy-saving procedures. ConEdison Solutions guarantees that annual energy savings will be greater than or equal to the cost to finance the project. If not, they will pay the difference. New York State requires the payback to the district to be 18 years or less.

The contract includes several new boilers, new windows at two of the primary schools, lighting upgrades in all district buildings, univent motors and controls, water conservation devices, lighting conservation devices, computer network electrical upgrades, new temperature controls, computerized temperature monitoring systems, new ventilation fans, new ceilings at the middle school, some solar panels for the middle and high schools, and many other items.

The district is now working with the company to develop a project construction schedule, which will include project milestones, a review by the school board and a meeting schedule.

Work on the EPC will commence in the summer of 2011. ConEd will serve as the on-site general contractor.

Other goals this year include revising the elementary science lab program; conducting a building condition survey and using the results as a guide for capital and facilities project recommendations that maintain the physical plant and address educational program needs; and revising the district’s Annual Professional Performance Review to conform with new legislation and state education department regulations.