School Board Considers Annual Professional Development Plan

The Clarkstown Board of Education is scheduled to vote at tonight’s meeting on the 2012-2103 Professional Development Plan. The state Board of Regents requires all districts have a plan and review and approve it annually. Each school in the Clarkstown district has its own professional development team and each of those teams has a representative on the district wide team. 

Clarkstown’s goal is to meet the 10 state standards for professional developments for teachers, teaching assistants, support staff and administrators.  The 10 page document describes the 10 standards, which are Designing Professional Development; Content Knowledge and Quality Teaching; Research-based Professional Learning; Collaboration; Diverse Learning; Student Learning Environments; Parent, Family and Community Engagement; Data-driven Professional Practice; Technology, and Evaluation.

Additionally, the board will vote on accepting donations from several PTA organizations and a foundation. Funds from the 2012 Clarkstown Athletic Foundation Alumni Day event are being contributed to Lakewood Elementary School’s physical education program, the Clarkstown Crew Team and Clarkstown South High School Field Hockey Team.

The Clarkstown North PTSA is donating a Waterhog logo mat valued at $750 for the Clarkstown North High School Annex. The Congers Elementary School PTA is donating two SmartBoards and installation, a value of $7,019.  The Woodglen Elementary School PTA is also donating two SmartBoards and installation valued at $7,814.

Three new clubs at Clarkstown South will go before the board for approval. The ASL Club’s stated goal is to help students learn about sign language and deaf culture and raise awareness about deaf society.  The Greenhouse Club will be responsible for maintaining the greenhouse facility and plants. The World Travel Club expects to plan trips to Europe every two years. 

Also, board members will vote on waiving custodial fees for two events scheduled for 2013. They will take up requests to waive the $255 fee for the Feb. 9 Clarkstown Arts Foundation’s “Art Day” and $474 fee for the April 6 Clarkstown Education Foundation’s “Chili Fest.” 

The board meeting begins at 8 p.m.