Long Beach BOE Hears Literacy and Rollover Budget Presentations

Written by Rosemary Leonetti

The Common Core curriculum and the 2013-14 budget were topics of discussion at the Long Beach Board of Education meeting Tuesday at Middle School.

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Dr. Kenneth Graham, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, gave a brief update on the district’s continued work to ensure that elementary students are prepared to meet the Common Core Learning Standards in English language arts.

After conducting a series of literacy walk-throughs in 100 elementary classrooms throughout the district, Graham reported that all elements of the district’s literacy strategies are being implemented. Focusing in this presentation on the use of anchor charts, Graham displayed numerous examples of student work illustrating how anchor charts work in reading and writing workshops.

The district will host an Elementary Parent Academy on Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at Lindell School, where district administrators and teachers will facilitate workshops in guided reading, Common Core math, writing mini-lessons and FUNdations.

Meanwhile, Michael DeVito, the district’s chief operating officer, gave a presentation on the planning for the 2014-2015 budget. He outlined figures for a rollover budget, explaining how much revenue the district would need to maintain all current programs, and summarized tax levy increases over the last few years, including details about debt service and operating expenses.

The presentation was the first step in a six-month process that the board and administration will be going through to arrive at the final projected budget figures. At the next board meeting Nov. 12, DeVito will discuss the district’s reserve funds. In January and February, a series of presentations will be made to the board, and in April and May, presentations of the adopted budget will be made to the PTAs and core community groups before the budget vote on May 20.

The Budget Advisory Committee will also be reconvening soon to continue their budget review work.

“Going forward, we will be asking the Board of Education for guidance for the criteria they would like us to use for presenting options and making decisions,” said Superintendent David Weiss. “Tonight’s presentation is just a starting point.”

Copies of both presentations can be found at www.lbeach.org.

The meeting opened on a note of gratitude as the Central Council PTA presented the board members with a Superstorm Survival Kit in honor of School Board Recognition Month. The kit, which contained essentials such as water, a rain poncho, gloves and MREs, was taken as a meaningful “thank you” to the board for guiding the district through challenging times in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, the district said. The members of the Board of Education are volunteers who serve the community without pay.