SAD 70 approves new math program

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HODGDON — The SAD 70 school board approved a new math book series for elementary students Monday evening with the hopes that it will further enhance the math skills of its younger students.
    “As you know from our test scores on the NECAPs we have sensed that there is a real gap in our curriculum,” Hodgdon Mill Pond Principal Loreen Wiley said. “Last spring, some of the teachers wanted to look at different series [of text books] and started researching programs to bring higher standards for our students.”
    A new math book series for grades three, four and five was approved over the summer. Based on the review of the new program, a decision was made to implement a similar program for kindergarten, first- and second-grade students.
    The books and resources arrived at the school district after the harvest recess and are now being implemented.
    “The higher level critical thinking skills associated with this program is amazing,” Wiley said. “It incorporates writing into the math program by having students explain how they reached their answers through words or pictures.”
    Wiley said the teachers have also had a learning curve with the new program, but the results should pay off. She added that the continuity this new program brings for grades kindergarten through fifth will help bridge gaps in the students’ math skills.
    “The students are finding it difficult, because it is new to them,” Wiley said. “I feel our students are going to be better off in the long run. We may still need to add some things to our curriculum.”
    “I’m glad to see we are raising our expectations in math,” board member Melissa Ivey said.
    In other agenda items, the board approved the nomination of Scott Kissinger for a high school physical education/health position.
    Superintendent Bob McDaniel informed the board that talks with SAD 14 (Danforth) on forming an Alternative Organizational Structure are continuing. The state’s Department of Education has approved the group’s initial request to form an AOS, despite having less than 800 combined students.
    A committee, comprised of members of both school boards, as well as representative from Orient and Bancroft, has been meeting to formulate the specifics of the AOS plan. That committee met Tuesday evening with the hopes of finalizing the plan to be presented to both school boards.
    The SAD 70 board will hold a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16 to further discuss the progress in its consolidation plans with SAD 14 (Danforth).
    The next regular meeting of the SAD 70 school board will be Monday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.