The curriculum and technology committee met May 20 with a full agenda, including a curriculum review and a discussion of TL2014 survey results.

In preparation for the state-mandated Common Core testing, Supervisor of Instructional Practice Lynn Fuini-Hetten said at the elementary level, the teachers are concentrating on English, language arts and math. The reading specialist is working with the teachers and they are continuing their work with Common Core practices. There is a June 12 workshop for teachers and Fuini-Hetten said the teachers are being provided resources and time to work on Common Core.

At the middle and high school levels, the focus is on Common Core math and English as per Assistant Superintendent Randy Ziegenfuss. A department head from the high school visits the middle school once a month and the teams meet regularly to ensure they are on the same page.

Ziegenfuss said over the summer, teachers will participate in workshops and teachers will create the first half of their courses and the second half of their courses in the fall. Common Core-aligned PSSA tests for grades three to five will be tested in 2013 and 2014 and grades six to eight in 2014. Operational English Language Arts and math assessments will be given to grades three to eight in 2015. According to Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Carolyn Dumaresq, "the Department of Education has received feedback from educators who have communicated the challenges and demands in developing and implementing the curriculum as well as concerns about providing instruction that supports the rigor of the revised assessments."

Ziegenfuss said they are also looking at the computer science courses offered and discussing adding courses and adjusting the offering of the classes, perhaps in rotation, which would not require additional staff. Classes being considered include game programming, database and additional computer courses to serve the needs of students who move into the district and those needing computer assistance.

Dual enrollment classes have been offered to Salisbury students, where Salisbury teachers can teach a college level class and the student can take advantage of earning credits at a discounted credit rate while fulfilling Salisbury's curriculum. A challenge has been having a teacher certified to teach those classes and having the curriculum content approved by the colleges to ensure acceptance of credits.

Ziegenfuss said Seton Hall has approved the following Salisbury taught classes: German IV, Spanish IV, AP Calculus, AP World History and AP US History. Additional classes are currently under the review process of acceptance. The board was pleased to hear the level of classes being taught at Salisbury being accepted by Seton Hall.

The final TL2014 survey results are in and were discussed at the meeting. Survey results can be found on the district website; however, answers have consistently remained the same with benefits and challenges to the laptop program.

Non-warranty repair for the laptops continues to be minimal, according to Ziegenfuss. Out of approximately 990 laptops, total non-warranty repairs have totaled 92. The top two categories of non-warranty repairs continue to be cracked screens and damaged top cases.

At the elementary level, students share laptops– one laptop for every two or three students and there are iPads available in the library for students to use. There was discussion on next steps and goals for teaching and learning in the district and board member Mary Ziegler said, "We'll do what's right for our children; we'll just keep going."

Student handbooks were approved at all school levels with minor changes. At the elementary level, both school handbooks are now consistent and "The Leader in Me" program was incorporated into the handbook. There was also a change in student hair color. At the middle school level, they have added time to the end of th eday for math remediation and student study/organization time.

Over 90 registrations have been received for summer workshops being offered to staff, teachers and administrators. "There are lots of opportunties for learning," Fuini-Hetten said.

The summer library program will continue available to anyone in Salisbury Township. There will be a summer computer camp offered the week of July 15 to students in fourth through sixth grade and information will be sent home to students.

Board member Brian Bobeck commented on the exceptional art show held at the high school May 19. He encouraged board members to continue to offer balanced programs for the students.

Ziegler asked for a curriculum meeting in August; the next meeting will be held 7 p.m. Aug. 26 at the administration building.