School Board Hears NHS Needs To Meet

State Requirements, And More

By Eliza Hallabeck

Newtown High School Principal Charles Dumais told the Board of Education on Tuesday, November 16, in order to meet state requirements by 2018, Newtown High School will need 10.8 new teaching positions phased in the between 2011 and 2016.

The news came during a slideshow presentation Mr Dumais prepared for the evening. The school board also heard from representatives of the new Newtown Special Education Board, an update on the NHS expansion and renovation project, and from one resident concerned with late notification to parents concerning transportation scheduling issues at Newtown Middle School earlier in the day.

The school board also heard Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson speak about the space and costs associated with implementing a full-day kindergarten program in the district for next school year. (See separate story.)

The state is increasing graduation requirements for high school students to go in effect by 2018. At NHS this means increasing graduation requirements from 22 to 25 credits. Mr Dumais explained each section of the requirements and checked how many new teaching positions would be needed for each one.

By the end of the presentation the count was up to 10.8 teachers. Mr Dumais said space associated with the increased requirements and teaching positions will be better understood as programs are phased in, and with the opening of the NHS expansion the school will gain seven classrooms for use.

“If these are really good things to do for the kids, what about the kids that are graduating between 2011 and 2016? If this is the right thing to do for education, why wait?” Board of Education Chair William Hart asked.

Board member David Nanavaty said if the school board decides to implement stricter graduation requirements, then next year’s incoming freshmen need to know now.

Mr Dumais’s presentation suggested adding one new teacher at the high school for 2011, and two teachers each year until 2018. He also suggested increasing graduation requirements to 23 credits in 2016, 24 for 2017, and to 25 for 2018.

Board member Richard Gaines said it is a daunting time, with the economy, to approach meeting new education requirements, and said, “Wish us all luck.”

To accomplish meeting the new needs without pain, Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson said the school board needs to think of it as a long-term plan.

Mr Dumais also presented an update on the high school’s renovation and construction project to the school board during its meeting. The current plan, he said, is gaining use of the expansion on December 1, and access to the gym either on November 21 or 22. The pool was filling “right now,” he said, and the wood for the gym floor was also installed by Tuesday.

“The key really is the locker rooms are ready,” he said, “and we can use the pool.”

The stadium’s track has been painted, lines are down. One correction, according to Mr Dumais, that will need to be finished in the spring is a wave in the field, but the school expects to take ownership this week.