The curriculum and technology committee for the Salisbury Township School District met at Harry S Truman Elementary School Dec. 9. Every year, the committee meets at each of the four schools in the district for a special presentation provided by the school staff and sometimes students.

First grade teachers Christina Attar, Kaitlyn O'Dor and Angie Shaffer shared a presentation on how "The Leader in Me" program is working at the school. During their presentation, they showed the committee members the "Data Trackers" notebooks kept by the students in the classroom.

The notebooks encourage positive behavior and track goals set in partnership by the students, teachers and parents.

In other business, the second part of the district testing summary was moved to the next curriculum and technology committee meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 13, 2014, at Salisbury Middle School.

Supervisor of Instructional Practice Lynn Fuini-Hetten said the implementation of the new elementary school report card went well and the schools have received positive comments from parents. Changes were made to the math evaluation portion of the report card.

Board member Robert Fischer said the report card does not put importance on science and social studies.

"The most important skills at the elementary level are reading, writing and math," HST Principal Barbara Samide said.

"That's fine," Fischer said. "But it almost smells of teaching to the test."

Both Fuini-Hetten and Samide assured Fischer science and social studies are evaluated at the elementary school level.

"We have very strong results in our science PSSAs," Western Salisbury Elementary School Principal Grace Hartman added.

Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning Randy Ziegenfuss provided an update on the strategic plan being developed for the next six years. A meeting was held Nov. 21 with 18 volunteers and a steering committee was formed. The volunteers consist of parents, board members and teachers. The next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 19 in the administration building board room. Ziegenfuss said volunteers are still welcome and interested parties should visit the district website www.stsd.org to click on the link to register to be a member of a committee or send an email to Superintendent Michael Roth at mroth@ stsd.org.

Regarding Teaching and Learning 2014, Ziegenfuss reported the district has received its renewal for the Apple Distinguished Program through 2015. Ziegenfuss and his team are currently reviewing the latest survey data and will report at a future meeting.

Fuini-Hetten reported nine students are currently enrolled in the Virtual Academy of Salisbury Township.