Stockbridge Valley schools working on Common Core

MUNNSVILLE >> Stockbridge Valley Central School district is in the process of selecting a new superintendent, but as far as getting everything ready for the new school year, it’s business as usual with general preparations preparing the federal Common Core curriculum.

Currently, the district is interviewing and holding meetings for two final candidates, Mathis Calvin and Linda Goewey. The district hopes to hire one before Sept. 15.

Teachers and staff have been studying state modules and taking development seminars all summer in order to better prepare Stockbridge Valley School for this year’s Common Core aligned tests. Recently released test result put SVCS on track with the rest of the state, struggling to get the third through eighth grade results above the threshold that the state recommends on the new ELA and math tests, which focus more deeply on a few subjects with more insightful answers, replacing the older examinations that had broader topics with simple answers.

Current interim Superinten-

dent Patrick Curtain said that the school has everything ready for incoming students, with the first full day beginning on Sept. 5.

Stockbridge Valley was recognized as a reward school for their 2011-12 test results as well as a bronze level school on a national scale by the US News and World Report.

Curtain said the district will see a few new faces, including first grade teacher Nicole Byron, librarian Amanda Ingles, Spanish teacher Alana White, sixth grade teacher Thomas Ea- naiello and teacher’s assistant Alicia Werthman.

Curtain said that he hopes that students will also take advantage of new, online Advanced Placement course of- ferings for 11th grade English. Depending on the popularity of the new AP course, Curtain said the district may explore expanding the online AP course offerings.