9
3
Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Pine Bush drafts a budget to raise
the bar in science and social studies
By JESSICA COHEN
A thoughtful conversation about frog
development between two second graders
came to mind for Pine Bush Superintendent
Tim Mains as he explained plans for
the 2017-2018 school budget. A priority
for the superintendent’s proposed budget
of $114,243,524, he said, will be creating
new Common Core curriculum materials
for social studies and science that “raise
the bar” for student achievement, with a
focus on problem-solving and hands on
learning. What was previously considered
12th grade reading level is now eighth
grade level, Mains says.
“There’s been a revolution in standards
because technical manuals are far
more complex,” said Mains. “In the 21st
century, kids have to be able to survive
with texts at a more complex level. But
as both a teacher and administrator I’ve
watched. When you raise the bar, kids are
able to meet it.”
Consistent with new expectations, the
second graders he recalled were learning
about phosphorescent and poisonous
frogs and their life cycles in a problem-
solving mode.
“They were asked to make a life cycle
diagram, showing what’s first, second,
and third,” said Mains. “I heard one say,
‘That can’t go there. They don’t have
legs yet!’ Another girl said, ‘It’s like the
trees behind my house. They go through
cycles.’ She applied that understanding.”
Teachers will use textbooks less and
more of a variety of “textual input at
higher levels” for a more practical, hands
on inquiry-based approach, Mains said.
“Teachers write units, identify materials
for them, and then use supplementary
packets to teach.”
With the emphasis on problem solving
and critical thinking, Mains said, “The
emphasis in science is on engineering
across grade levels. Teachers embed
engineering principles, rather than
pure information from physical and life
sciences.”
In social studies, emphasis is also on
inquiry. Students are asked to consider
how a particular problem is solved in
different cultures and situation s.
“Questions are based on documents,”
Mains said. “Students look at documents
and decide which to use to answer
questions about a dilemma faced by a
culture.”
They may be offered magazines and
newspapers from the era being studied
as well as later historical analyses to
make sense of what occurred and respond
to questions. Readings will also come
from multiple social sciences, such as
economics, sociology, and geography,
unlike the past when students often
looked through the single “lens” of a
history textbook. Students will examine
social movements, themes, and time
periods. While some districts began this
approach last year, Pine Bush will begin
this year, Mains said.
Social studies will have four to five units
per year. The new budget has funding for
identifying materials, duplicating, and
distributing them, as well as training
teachers to implement the new strategy.
The budget will also provide money for
new advanced placement chemistry and
calculus classes, two additional special
education classes, middle school drama
program enhancements, and two new
Odyssey of the Mind programs.
Expanding second language classes
was also part of the vision for the coming
year, but maintaining and continuing it
would be too expensive if it depended
on the fund balance, Mains said. Most
districts offer Spanish in seventh grade,
but that year of Spanish was lost several
years ago with budget cuts, he said. Plans
for adding French in seventh grade and
second language exposure in elementary
school will also likely be delayed.
“We hope the state will come through
with the money we deserve,” said Mains.
“When the Assembly adopts a budget, that
determines our state aid. We’re sitting
on a $300,000 to $400,000 budget gap. We
expect a little more. What we don’t get
we’ll make up with fund balance.”
Not knowing about state aid yet, the plan
is to balance the budget by designating
$255,594 from fund balance, he said.
As for the possibility of charter schools,
favored by Betsy Devos, new secretary of
education, he opposes it.
“If money is used for charter schools,
that hurts us,” said Mains. “We have
public education for a reason. The well-
being of a democracy rests on the success
of public education. It’s no accident public
schools were founded early in American
democracy.”
He notes the promotion of education
by “founding fathers” Thomas Jefferson
and Daniel Webster and the tendency
for democracy to succeed in places with
“well-functioning educational systems,”
less so where public education is less
available.
Month CD
At 0.85% APY
Annual Interest Rate 0.83%
LIMITED TIME ONLY
• Deposit must be made with funds not on
deposit with Hometown Bank of the
Hudson Valley.
• Substantial penalty for
early withdrawal.
• Minimum deposit of $10,000.
New funds only.
• APY=Annual Percentage Yield
Rates effective 3/8/17. Rates subject to
change without notice.
For more information call
800-458-8190
BUY A NEW HOME
BEFORE
INTEREST RATES
START TO RISE
LOCK IN LOW MORTGAGE RATES
30 Yr Fixed Rate Mortgage
%
%
4.250 | 4.314
APR
15 Yr Fixed Rate Mortgage
%
%
3.500 | 3.606
APR
Whether you’re looking to move into your first home, move up to one that’s a
better fit for your growing family or refinancing the one you’ve lived in for
years, count on your friendly Hometown banker to make it happen with great
low rates and fast, local decisions.
Apply at hometownbankhv.com, visit your local branch or call 800-249-3832
to schedule your appointment with one of our mortgage consultants any day of
the week!
www.HometownBankHV.com
Member FDIC
All rates and offers are as of 3/30/17 and subject to change without notice. No prepayment penalty.
Loan must conform to criteria set by the bank. Other mortgage financing programs available.