Strategic School Plan Moves Ahead Despite Opposition

More than 100 parents, teachers and students turned up for the Montclair Board of Education’s vote on the 2013 Strategic Operating Plan, which was passed unanimously despite pleas from some members of the public to defer the plan’s call for quarterly assessments.

The plan is the first of its kind for the district and is meant to be a road map for teachers and administrators to navigate the new Common Core State Standards, which must be in place by the 2013-14 school year.

The two-year plan developed by Superintendent Penny MacCormack recommends quarterly common assessments for each grade in various subjects given every 10 weeks throughout the school year. The tests are meant to replace current assessments and not be in addition to the tests given in the past.

But many parents — as well as teachers and students — oppose the emphasis on testing.

Montclair Cares About Schools representative Regina Tuma read aloud a portion of a petition started by the Facebook group asking the board to defer the quarterly commons assessments. Tuma said the petition had more than 378 supporters online and an additional 50 signatures had been collected by hand.

“It is clear that we don’t have a consensus,” Tuma said.

Another parent, Maia Davis, said some parents still don’t know about the district’s plan to assess students every 10 weeks, four times a school year, calling the plan “top down and overly prescriptive.”

Each of the seven board members took time after the public comments Monday night to explain why they supported the plan and its seven goals, which include high expectations and achievement for all students, consistent and rigorous instruction in all classrooms, improved communication between the district and parents and a stronger focus on Montclair High School.

“I think there’s a fair amount of misunderstanding,” Board Member Shelly Lombard said.

Lombard called a concern the plan would “zap” creativity in the classroom a “misconception.”

Board member Tanya Coke said she also supported the plan.

“Where we are is not good enough,” she said, referring to achievement gaps as high as 40 percent in some grades and subjects.

Coke said there would be opportunities for students to collaborate with administrators to work out finer details of the plan, and she urged the administration to include the student body.

Not all parents were opposed to the plan.

“I am a little confused by the misinformation and the hostility I am hearing,” said Helen Mazarakis. “I am excited to see what changes come … I’m willing to support efforts and see what happens.”

A mother of four kids and Montclair High School graduate, Sue Winetrap, said she, too, is looking forward to the changes.

“How encouraging to me to see that the bar is going to be set higher … change is hard but Montclair has always been undaunted by change."

Andrew Gideon said his son was removed from a private school when he began falling behind after the school did away with standardized tests. Gideon said his son is now in Montclair Public Schools and assessments have “made a dramatic difference.”

Gideon likened the assessments to having a GPS on a trip, saying they help you reach your destination. “It doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy the trip or take side trips,” he said.

Montclair High students have been collecting signatures on a petition asking the district to delay parts of the plan which are not mandated by the Common Core State Standards initiative for a year. They have more than 568 signatures on the Students United for Change petition.

The students asked for a voice on the Board of Education and said they had their own ideas for how to close the achievement gap.

MHS student Katie Calabrese suggested, “What we need is better education, smaller classroom and less testing.”

Superintendent Penny MacCormack said in her presentation that she was "happy to be part of this level of engagement." 

MacCormack added, "This is a very good school system. So really the only reason to have a plan like this is so we could continue to improve."

Read the most recent draft of the 2013 Strategic Operating Plan.