Watertown Public Schools School Committee Curriculum and Budget & Finance Subcommittee Hearing

1. Watertown Public Schools School Committee Curriculum and Budget & FinanceSubcommittee Hearing February 15, 2011 ________________________ Student Services Presentation Preserve & Sustain

2. Budget Goals I. Develop a budget that continues to provide quality education, at all levels, at a time when the Town and the School District face unprecedented financial restrictions, both in the current fiscal year and next year. II. Preserve and sustain our educational programming: • maintain class size • maintain adequate classroom supplies and overall classroom support • ensure professional learning and growth • provide adequate support staff for instruction and administration • continue technology implementation • strengthen in-district special education programming

3. Budget Scenarios % TBD Preserve & Sustain % TBD Level Services 2.5% Manager’s Preliminary Budget 0% Level Dollar

4. Vision for Student Services Student Services support the successful education of all students

5. Student Services Include • Special Education • Early Childhood Education • Community Education • Nursing

6. Special Education • What new programs have we implemented? • What have we learned? • What are the recommendations for next year? • Changes in out-of-district placements

7. What’s New in Special Education in Watertown? • Secondary Special Education Coordinator • New / Expanded Programming

8. Secondary Special Education Coordinator FY 11 • Oversee programming at WMS / WHS • Trouble shooting and solving complex problems • Collaborating with Principals • Identifying and implementing alternative curriculums • Training staff in preparation for upcoming DESE Program Review • Developing the Community Explorers Program at WMS and The Social Network at WHS • Member of the Connections Leadership Council and the Teaching and Learning Council

9. Update on New Special Education Programming in Watertown • Learning Support • Integrated Services • Language-Based • Watertown Connections

10. Learning Support Services

11. Learning Support Program at the Cunniff • The Learning Support Class at the Cunniff is designed to provide an environment where learning can be individualized to support each students learning style and ability level. • Staff: .6 FTE special education teacher, 2.0 FTE instructional assistants

12. Learning Experiences Adult Program (LEAP) at WHS • LEAP supports students in learning daily living, leisure, employment, communication, self-advocacy, and health skills. Its goal is to provide students with a supported transition from school to adult life. • Staff: 1.0 FTE teacher, 1.0 FTE instructional assistant / job coach

13. Learning Support Services FY 11 -What We Learned? Elementary • Importance of individualizing curriculum • Critical role of repetition • Daily communication with parents Middle • Promise of alternative curriculums High • Several Learning Support students from WMS applied to Minuteman this year and were accepted – new trend LEAP (18-22) • Monthly bus passes for students increase independence • Paid internships are highly motivating • New programming requires the development or identification of new curriculum

14. Learning Support Recommendations for FY 12 • Continue to explore / develop alternative curriculums • Continue to work with outside agencies to develop paid internships • Continue to pursue assistive technology opportunities

15. Integrated Services Program

16. What is New in the Integrated Services Programs (ISP) in FY 11? Hosmer added an Opportunity Room WHS added several new components: ▪ Compass ▪ New Systems ▪ Look Out ▪ Expanded Counseling Services

17. Opportunity Room at the Hosmer • The Opportunity Room allows students access to a therapeutic space for breaks, time out, lunch/recess groups, and a quiet work space. The goal is to provide ongoing behavioral and emotional support to students. • Staff: .5 FTE Behavior Specialist, 1.0 FTE instructional assistant

18. COMPASS at WHS • Compass provides a classroom setting throughout most of the day for students dealing with difficulties attending class and participating due to anxiety and related issues. The goal is to help students develop new coping strategies that will allow them to integrate into the mainstream. • Staff: 1.0 FTE teacher, 1.0 FTE instructional assistant

19. NEW SYSTEMS at WHS • New Systems provides a classroom base or respite for students experiencing behavioral challenges that affect academic and social success. Its goal is to help students develop new ways of approaching old problems at school. • Staff: 1.0 FTE teacher, 1.0 FTE instructional assistant

20. LOOK OUT at WHS • The Look Out program uses a team approach to help students with a variety of academic and social difficulties which have resulted in poor attendance and /or tardiness. The goal of the program is to address barriers to successful participation at WHS. • Staff: .5 FTE, MSW, 1.0 M.A, Counseling

21. Counseling Support at WHS • Ken Barringer, LMHC, & 3 Interns from the Academy of Physical and Social Development • Allyn Carey, MSW, Academy of Physical and Social Development • Mike Ferullo, MSW, from Colony Care Associates • Mike Memmelo, M.A. Counseling, WHS • Nicole Camp, M.A. & Certified School Psychologist, WHS • Consultation: Barbara Gortych, Ph.D., Coordinator of Assessment & Guidance, K-12

22. Administrative Oversight • Arlene Shainker, Secondary Special Education Coordinator • Annemarie Boudreau, Associate Headmaster

23. Cost / Benefit of Investments in New ISP Programming at WHS FY 11

24. Integrated Services ProgramsWhat We Learned FY 11? WHS • An Open House is a great way to welcome parents and students to new program offerings • Students respond positively to the individual attention available in small classes • The varied components of the Integrated Services Programming at WHS supports students changing needs • Case management is time intensive and includes: 3 hours of regularly scheduled weekly clinical meetings with teachers and counselors; intensive work with outside agencies including the Department of Children and Families (DCF), hospitals, drug intervention programs, group homes, Waltham District Court; on-going communication with parents / guardians; constant monitoring / revision of behavioral interventions

25. Integrated Services Program Recommendations for FY 12 • Add .2 FTE MSW at WMS • Add an ISP teacher leader next year at WHS to coordinate the work of the internal team of faculty and consultants, various external agencies, students, and their families • Support the further development of the teaching team by continued training on strategies for integrating therapeutic and behavioral interventions

26. Language-Based Programming

27. Language-Based Programming What We Learned in FY 11 • Think Math can be effective, we just need to teach one method for doing an operation and slow down the pacing • Center-based work helps to individualize programming • It is important for teachers to be licensed in reading and special education

28. Language-Based Recommendations for FY 12 The Lowell would like to expand their language-based programming for next year by adding a new Language-Based teacher WMS would like to purchase a Language-Based structured Math Curriculum and professional development to improve math instruction In all special education programs WHS is interested in creating a Task Force to study programming and curriculum for Language-Based Classrooms to increase continuity across subjects WHS needs to add a .5 FTE reading teacher to meet student needs

29. Watertown Connections Program

30. Watertown Connections ProgramWhat We Learned FY 11 • Specialized teachers make effective consultants • Effective use of 1:1 instructional assistance requires training and planning time for teaching teams • Power of ipad / itouch in supporting communication • Importance of Home-Based Services Coordinator to match families with providers

31. Watertown Connections Recommendations FY 12 • Increase the use of teachers in specialized classrooms in consulting roles • Project staffing to include additional 1:1 instructional assistants as needed to deliver services • Provide summer training for new staff • Budget 30” / week planning time for each Connections Team to review programs and analyze data • Create an Assistive Technology Task Force to review technology applications for students with disabilities

32. Out-of-District Programs FY 11 • This year five students returned to Watertown from private special education schools • One former WHS student returning from private school is having her tuition paid by another community • Number of students in Out-of District placements starting to decrease: FY 06 – 76, FY 07 – 71 FY 08 - 66, FY 09 – 75 FY 10 – 72, FY 11 - 66

33. Early Childhood Education FY 11

34. Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Project • Family Center Strengthening family connections Playgroups Parent support • Parent Child Home Program Early Literacy Outreach • Professional Development and Program quality access Staff development Quality preschool-child care program development

35. Family Center FY 11 • Watertown Family Network moved to the Phillips School • Family Center Advisory investigated the feasibility of opening a staff infant toddler center in the new space • Currently the open space in the Family Center is being used for speech and language play groups

36. Early Steps Integrated Preschool • Classroom Models - 5 classrooms - Double session integrated classes - Full Day integrated class - Full Day Sub-separate /integrated • Therapeutic Intervention • Assessment – Preschool Intake Review Team • Consultation

37. What We Have Learned About Early Childhood Programming FY 11? To anticipate increases in: - English Language Learners - Children with behavioral challenges To be prepared for the unpredictable

38. Early Childhood Recommendations FY 12 • Increase .5 FTE teacher to create afternoon ELL class (tuition support) • Re-design Preschool Connections Classroom to align with district Connections model • Identify resources to address social-emotional-behavioral needs of children and families • Provide ongoing professional development • Evaluate space needs and potential construction needs (Capital Improvement)

39. Community Education

40. Watertown After School Programs

41. After School ProgramsWhat We Learned FY 11 • Developed a new organizational structure • Importance of building programs to serve students with diverse needs • Usefulness of DESE Quality Standards in bringing programs together

42. Summer School Programs FY 11 Fourth consecutive year of project-based programming • Increased access to technology • New Kindergarten Entry Enrichment Program

43. Watertown Summer School Program

44. Summer School Programs What We Learned FY 11 • Offer one more morning class at each level to reduce class size • Provide access to technology • Continue the co-teach model for morning classes • Offer two 3 week sessions • Offer project-based learning in high interest areas: nature, sports, animals, outdoor activities, music

45. Summer School Recommendations for FY 12 • Schedule regular coordinator meetings • Develop a high school program for students with disabilities, one for upcoming freshman and another for current ISP students

46. School Nursing Programs

47. Nursing Program FY 11 Convene Watertown Wellness Committee March 2nd to discuss: • WPS Food Services Program • Findings in the Department of Public Health Body Mass Index (BMI) Screening Program

48. Nursing Recommendations for FY 12 Continue to collaborate with the Watertown Health Department on health issues Identify mechanisms for disseminating information on nutrition and exercise to children and families