Board of Ed, Administrators Reflect on Year

Progress made this year and new goals for next year were the central topics discussed at Wednesday's Board of Education meeting at .

Superintendent John Lorentz presented his ideas for establishing Farmingdale as a high-achieving school district to the Board of Education and attendees.

He stressed that the goal of the Board of Education is “much different from what we may have done in the past,” and described the importance of the instructional, fiscal and facilities teams working in tandem under consistent leadership. 

Instruction

Lorentz outlined the characteristics of what the Board of Education has defined as a high- achieving school district, which includes a refocusing on the equal achievement of all students, consistent curriculum and assessments, effective school leadership and communication between faculty and students.

Lorentz explained further that creating a constructive learning community will produce a consistent evaluation and assessment system. 

“We have to take responsibility and refocus on the students instead of the adults,” he said. "Everyone in public schools, has to understand, refocus and establish new goals.”  

Fiscal

The Board of Education stressed that long-term budget objectives will help district achievement, by supporting sustainable programs that are flexible.

Lorentz discussed the importance of protection from state aid fluctuations and of a predictable and acceptable tax levy, in this

“Overall, we must create the best experience for our students,” he said. Both Lorentz and Shari Bardash-Eivers, president of the Board of Education, discussed the the give and take of taxation and improvement of the district, in that for improvements to be made, taxes must be increased appropriately.

“We need to continue to work as a team,” Eivers said, stressing that both the community and the school need to work together to produce the highest achievement for all students.  

Facilities

Lorentz explained that between 2005 to 2010 the Farmingdalel district has improved Woodward Parkway, Albany Avenue, Northside, Saltzman East Memorial, Farmingdale High School and both the east and west wings of Howitt Middle School. Improvements were funded through a capital line in the budget.

The newest facilities improvement is the Farmingdale High School window replacement project, which is currently underway.

“There will be installation of new windows throughout the building, including punched windows, single-story curtain wall, two-story curtain wall, and multi-story curtain wall," he said. This project is set to be completed before the upcoming school year.

Overall, the superintendent said the district must recognize what has been accomplished and continue to strive for new and improved goals.

"We will never fully reach our goals because we have to continue to move the bar,” he said.