By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES - The Niles Community Schools Board of Education updated the progress it is making with the district's strategic plan at its meeting Monday.
Niles Superintendent Doug Law gave a report on what has been done in the 2003-2004 school year to address some of the critical issues facing the district.
In April 2003, the strategic plan was developed by a group of concerned citizens, which was set up by the board of education, to develop a plan for the future to ensure the success of Niles Community Schools.
The plan outlined 11 issues as being critical to the future of the district. Five of those issues were directly addressed last school year including alternative funding sources, differentiated instruction, early childhood, current and adequate technology and staff recruitment.
A big step was made in finding an alternative source of funding in July 2003 when members of the planning committee helped to organize a campaign for a one mil Building and Site Fund. In September, the community approved the five year request, which will generate more than $450,000 a year to help maintain the district's buildings.
Law explained differentiated instruction as implementing instructional practices that accommodate to different learning styles.
He said the district did a number of things last year to address this issue including:
The development of the virtual computer lab at Niles High School, which allows students to enroll in on-line classes for high school credit. The lab gives students access to 34 advanced placement classes.
A major portion of professional development was dedicated to helping teachers understand the data provided by the Northwest Education Association Achievement Test, an on-line test given at the beginning and end of each school year. The tests can be used to help teachers analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each student.
Cedar Lane Alternative High School is being expanded so it can accommodate an additional 20 students. Last year, the school had a waiting list.
A new K-5 language arts program was adopted for next school year. The program, which is published by Harcourt, moves away from the traditional whole class teaching methods and emphasizes working with students individually and in small groups.
Improvements were made in the area of early childhood development through several new programs at Northside Child Development Center including the use of the Zoo-Phonics curriculum, a new visual motor skills program and the development of the Mentor a Mom program.
Despite the budget crisis, Law said the board has continued its commitment to current and adequate technology by not reducing the technology budget. Again next year, $100,000 will be invested in technology.
The district also made a technological advance by applying for and receiving a grant to provide all of its sixth graders with laptop computers. The strategic plan's recommendation concerning the staff recruitment issue was to use a proactive approach to increase the number of minority teachers. In the summer of 2003, the district hired 30 new teachers, four of which were minorities.
According to Law's report, more than 400 interviews were conducted and seven college campuses were visited and they found there were very few minority candidates available.
The district realizes that issue will require attention on a yearly basis, he said.
The issues set out in the strategic plan that have not yet been directly addressed are: community involvement; parent involvement; prioritization for use of current resources; organization of school day, school year and grade structure; adequate facilities for current and modern educational program; and staff, administration and board training for high quality.