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By William Miller As school board members, we care about every child in our schools. But we have a special obligation to care about students with special needs. April is Autism Awareness Month, so let's start there. Autism is present in virtually all of our schools and many of our families, including mine. Stephen M. Shore, an education professor at Adelphi University, has said, "If you've met one individual with autism, you've met one individual with autism." He was referring to the fact that there is a great variety in the nature and severity of symptoms or behaviors associated with autism, which is why autism symptoms are often described as falling on a spectrum.
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| On Board Online • April 2, 2018 By George Basler Cyberbullying hit home for Marc Badalucco during his senior year of high school. A fellow student, whom Badalucco describes as smart but socially awkward, ended up taking his own life after being targeted on social media. The 20-year-old Siena College junior hasn't forgotten the shock. "I wanted to see if I could make a difference, even the smallest part," he said. For this reason, Badalucco signed up to be part of a new initiative aimed at increasing awareness about cyberbullying and empowering teenagers to stand up against it. |
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| On Board Online • April 2, 2018 By Paul Heiser A growing number of schools - particularly in urban areas - have embraced grouping students in kindergarten through eighth grade together in one building rather than separate elementary and middle schools. The trend is due in large part to a body of recent research suggesting that this model benefits kids academically and socially. But a new study strongly favors the traditional model of placing students into separate elementary and middle schools. The study, published in February in the peer-reviewed Journal of Urban Economics, involves a school district - unnamed in the report - that closed several schools and rezoned those students to other schools with new boundaries. |
| On Board Online • April 2, 2018 Cathy Woodruff Walkouts that drew thousands of New York students from their classrooms on March 14 unfolded largely as solemn observances honoring the memory of 14 students and three adults who were shot and killed in Parkland, Fla. Schenectady, Baldwin and Carthage were among many school districts where students participated in somber rallies as classmates, teachers and administrators observed silently. |
| On Board Online • April 2, 2018 By Jamie McPherson A common misconception is that only boards who are in some type of dysfunction should engage in a retreat. Although dysfunction necessitates a retreat, many high performing boards see the value in holding regular retreats. They discuss processes and protocols on items such as requesting information, communicating via email and responding to community complaints. |
| On Board Online • April 2, 2018 By Cathy Woodruff Should someone in school have a gun? Where the question has arisen, it has led to others: Who? What kind of gun? How much training should be required? At least two Long Island school districts, Miller Place and Hauppauge, have heard those questions debated at public forums. |
| On Board Online • April 2, 2018 By Allison Duwe As a school board member, I am a huge supporter of public education. At the same time, I am also a fierce critic.
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| On Board Online • April 2, 2018 By David P. Keefe The ability of the New York State Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) to provide teachers in your district with a secure pension is a shared responsibility. Your school district and your employees provide required contributions, and TRS provides disciplined investment management to achieve optimal long-term returns. |
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On Board Online • April 2, 2018