Sally E. Bahner Photo
Schools Superintendent Hamlet Hernandez (pictured) updated the Eagle yesterday on curriculum changes, an air quality problem at the Walsh Intermediate School gym and pool area and the Walsh renovation project.
The first official enrollment numbers are submitted to the state Oct. 1, but according to Hernandez, preliminary figures as of yesterday are as follows: Branford High School – 911, Walsh Intermediate School – 908, Murphy Elementary – 395, Tisko Elementary – 384, Sliney Elementary – 316, Indian Neck – 45, for a total of 2,959 students. Hernandez noted that number may change after Labor Day since since some parents hold kids back until after the holiday.
Hernandez also discussed three aspects of curriculums within the district that are being evaluated and updated: World Languages, science standards, and revisions to the math curriculums.
He said he remains optimistic about the $33 million in bonding expected for Walsh, which is stalled due to the state budget stalemate. If the bonding is reduced or eliminated, the Board of Finance and the Representative Town Meeting will review the project and the community will weigh in on the overall $88.2 million project.
He said that air quality checks for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) at Walsh were conducted, which resulted on higher levels in the gym and pools areas. While the readings were acceptable for ages 12 and above, 50 percent of the school population is under that age for the gym and pool will be temporarily closed while mitigation is underway.
World Languages Shifts Course
Hernandez said that an attempt to introduce World Languages into third and fourth grades two years was unsuccessful and efforts are now being made to improve the introduction into the school system. Spanish and French (which is declining) are introduced at the fifth grade. In the past, languages were taught based on grammar and the shift is being made to conversational proficiency. It’s similar to what’s being done in teaching English Language Learners (ELL students), Hernandez said.
He said that when it’s reintroduced, the emphasis will be on proficiency. Part of the problem, he added, is the difficulty in finding certified language staff at the elementary level. This year will be spent working on new curriculum models with a full program anticipated to coincide with the completion of Walsh in 2020. “Teachers want a more robust program,” he said.
A Look at Science
Hernandez discussed the Next Generation Science Standards, in which the science curriculum would be created on a vertical (grade to grade) basis. In addition the math curriculum would be revised from an investigative model to the Bridges model, which uses visual concepts to help with mathematical comprehension and enables teacher to implement Common Core State Standards.
The program will move from traditional arithmetic to conceptually based math. Hernandez said he hopes the enhanced program will address learning gaps.
He reiterated the increasingly diverse nature of Branford’s school population. He said that when he joined the district seven years ago one in five students were labeled as living in poverty; now it’s one in four, he said. In additional, there is a high mobility rate – many students who come and go during the school year. There were 30 languages within the district; now there are 40.
Despite the changing population, he said students are doing well, giving credit to the teachers. He added that he’s awaiting the breakdown of the Smarter Balance Assessment scores. Click here to read about the testing.
Referring to his dapper bow tie, Hernandez noted that his wife had picked out his clothes for the first day of school.
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