nothin New Haven Independent | Branford Schools In Transition

Branford Schools In Transition

Diana Stricker Photo

Branford School District demographics are changing — there are more students who are economically disadvantaged; a surprisingly high” number who enter or leave the district before the school year is over; and more students who are learning to speak English.

The district has an enrollment of about 3,108 students — of that number about 745 are eligible for the free or reduced-price lunch program, which is an indication of poverty; about 500 students moved into or out of the district in a one-year time frame; and about 115 students are learning to speak English from a background of 40 different native languages.

Diana Stricker Photo

Hernandez (pictured) discussed changing demographics during a state of the district” report at a Board of Education (BOE) meeting last week, and further discussed them with the Eagle this week.

How does the district deal with the new reality?

We embrace it. This is who we are as a district,” Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez told the Eagle.

For example, Hernandez said new programs have been instituted in the past few years to meet the students’ needs. All three elementary schools now have breakfast programs, and a summer meals program was established to improve nutrition. In the past two years, two certified teachers have been hired to teach the English Language Learners (ELL), assisted by paraprofessionals.

Hernandez, who has been superintendent for five years, said the demographics are an important change he has noticed, but what has impressed him the most are the new educational trends.

The most significant change I’ve seen is the ways teachers approach their instruction, Hernandez told the Eagle. He said the days of memorization and role learning have been replaced by lessons that concentrate on developing a deeper understanding and fostering creativity.

Earlier in the meeting, the BOE presented Leadership Awards from the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) to four students. Pictured in top photo above from left to right are: Robert Olejarczyk, Jr. and Grace Paleski from Walsh Intermediate School; and Anamol Regmi and Shilpa Rajbahak from Branford High School.

Enrollment Declines

Diana Stricker Photo

From Power Point.

The state of our school district is very, very strong … we are clearly student-focused and centered. I know we are moving in the right direction,” Hernandez told the BOE last week as he made a 45-minute power point presentation.

We know where we were. We know where we are. We have a roadmap of where we want to go forward,” he said.

Hernandez said enrollment as of Oct. 1, 2014 was 3,108; which included 1,156 in the elementary schools; 39 at Indian Neck School; 916 at Walsh Intermediate School; 970 at Branford High School; and 27 in other placements.

The district’s enrollment has been on a steady decline since June of 2009 when there were 3,506 students. The enrollment was 3,495 in June 2010; 3,438 in June 2011; 3,275 in June 2012; and 3,271 in June 2013.

The district is also financially responsible for students who attend schools in other towns. As of Oct. 1, 2014, there were 72 students attending the Magnet School Program in New Haven; and 11 at other specialized schools.

Of the 3,108 students enrolled in Branford in October 2014, there were 2,445 white students; 267 Hispanic/Latino; 240 Asian; 90 black; 60 multi-racial; and 6 American Indian.

Hernandez listed four indicators of educational need: 24 percent on the free or reduced cost lunch program; 3.7 percent English Language Learners; 12.9 percent special education; and the mobility of students (moving in or out of the district).

The number of students from low-economic families is steadily increasing. Hernandez said in the 2011 – 2012 school year, 20 percent of students were on the free/reduced lunch program.

Just because they are eligible for free and reduced lunch doesn’t mean they won’t do well in school,” Hernandez told the Eagle, but he said the students may need additional help in the classroom.

Enrollment Mobility

Regarding the enrollment mobility, Hernandez said in the 2013 – 14 school year about 500 students either joined the district or left before the school year ended. The number is surprisingly high,” he told the Eagle, and said they are looking more closely at those numbers.

Hernandez said it is only speculation as to why there are so many transient students. He told the Eagle that one possible factor is the number of very affordable housing and condo options that Branford offers. He said that may appeal to families who move frequently because of employment or other circumstances, but he said that could include families from all spectrums of the economy. He told the board that the number of students coming and going is about equal.

Another impact is the increasing number of students who do not speak English. We’ve seen a spike in English Language Learners,” Hernandez told the BOE. That’s an important demographic for us to monitor.” He said two years ago the three were about 2 percent ELL students, now it is close to 4 percent.

Better Behavior

Hernandez discussed student behavior and the rates of suspensions and expulsions. The highest number in the past five years was 565 students in the 2010 – 2011 school year; and the lowest number was 371 in the 2012 – 2013 year. He said as of May 1, there were 325 suspensions or expulsions.

Hernandez told the board that most of those numbers were for suspensions. We have very few expulsions in this district,” he said.

Elementary Numbers

Hernandez said the district has been able to keep the elementary class sizes low. In the 2012 – 2013 school year, there were 17 students in kindergarten and first grade classrooms; 16 in second and third grades; and 19 in fourth grades. 

In 2014 – 15, there are 17 in kindergarten and first grade classes; 18 in second grades; 17 in third grades; and 18 in fourth grades.

There has been an increase in the district’s pre-kindergarten program. In the 2011 – 2012 year, there were 32 seats available; and Hernandez said there are projected to be 88 seats in the 2015- 2016 year.

Common Core Impact

Hernandez said the new Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessment tests have impacted schools statewide. But he said Branford began preparing for the Common Core standards five years ago and slowly made changes to the curriculum.

Hernandez said the theme of the district is: Dedicated to each student developing a deep commitment to learning today and leading tomorrow.”

Michael Krause, who chairs the BOE, said the power point presentation was very informative for us as a board.” Krause said board members will continue to discuss the issues at the Teaching and Learning committee meetings.

Athletic Awards

The BOE also presented athletic awards to students at the beginning of the meeting.

Diana Stricker Photo

Certificates of achievement were presented to the Branford /East Haven/North Haven Girls Co-Op Hockey Team.


Diana Stricker Photo

And to the Branford High School Boys Hockey Team.


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