K-L Schools Score Well on State Report Card

The Katonah-Lewisboro Schools have received what amounts to an A on the New York State Report Card for the 2008-09 school year. At all the levels evaluated, 90 percent or more of students met or exceeded standards for their grade level. This was true for English, mathematics, and science.

Assistant Superintendent Alice Cronin went over the statistics on enrollment and test results at a special meeting of the Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education last night.  She also reported on student experiences and achievement  at the districts schools. John Jay High School has a graduation level of better than 99 percent, she said.

"But test scores are just one portion of learning," Cronin said. "Our students have a lot to be proud of."

Student achievements ranged from a National Merit Scholarship winner to 18 John Jay High School students who received Humanities Book Awards and 21 being named scholar athletes for their good grades. Her presentation will be on view at the school district's website . The state's report card for the district is also available at the website. 

"I think it is fair to say that, on every measure, our students succeed and do well," said Dr. Robert Roelle, superintendent of schools.

The special meeting was held to allow the board to vote on two resolutions concerning the Putnam/Northern Westchester Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES.) The board voted unanimously to elect Joan Austin of Briarcliff and Thomas Knight of Ossining to the BOCES board. The boards also voted unanimously to approve BOCES' administrative budget for the 2010-2011 school year.

BOCES is a regional education agency, one of 38 in New York State, that supports local school districts with such programs and services as career and technical education for students and professional development for educators.

Although time was allotted to allow candidates for the board to make statements, none did so. Dana Kaplan, president of the Katonah Lewisboro Parent Council announced that the group will hold a candidates' forum at 7:30 p.m. on May 4 in the library at John Jay High School.