NORWICH – As part of the Norwich City School District Board of Education’s new focus on student life, education and finances, Monday night’s meeting found board members turning their attention to the NHS Field Band, education on the elementary level and the district’s transportation costs.
First-year field band director Jamie Carrier – joined by band members Tambria Schroeder and Jason Handy – presented the board with an update on the group’s 2011 season, which will wrap up with this weekend’s Carrier Dome performance.
Carrier, now in her fourth year in the district and a member of the band during her high school years, said the group has been “quite successful this year,” thanks to an experienced and knowledgeable staff. Directing this year’s show, based on the 1992 Walt Disney musical “Newsies,” has been a learning experience, added Carrier, who then turned the presentation over to Schroeder and Handy.
The pair of students breakdown of the band’s finances included a detailed summary of its costs and yearly budget of approximately $20,000: $8,000 in staffing; $1,100 in licensing rights; $2,200 each for music and drill writing; $4,000 in supplies and equipment; $1,000 for uniforms; $700 in NYS Field Band Conference dues and $500 for photos.
As in year’s past, the band participated in a number of activities in addition to its weekly competitions, including Band Camp and the Band-a-thon fundraiser, last weekend’s Fall Festival of Bands and home half-time performances throughout the varsity football season. According to Handy, the band is unique in that no musical background is required, it includes students grades six and up, and there are no substitutions – everybody participates.
“Growth through music also develops a great work ethic,” stated Handy. “You can’t be lazy in marching band ... everyone is crucial to the success of the band.”
On Saturday, the field band will give a final indoor performance at the Norwich Family YMCA, prior to Sunday’s Carrier Dome championship competition, added Schroeder.
Perry Browne Principal Jennifer Post was next to address the board, with an update on the school year to date. Of particular importance, said Post, was the implementation of the state’s Common Core standards.
Post said the educational staff at Perry Browne have a “laser-like focus” on its goals, which include 80 percent of students reading at or above their grade level by June and a minimum of 50 percent of writings turned in by students to focus on non-fiction versus fiction-based criteria.
Across the board, said Post, she’s working with a “great team of people” who are “on the same page and feeling proud” of what they do on a day-to-day basis.
As for general changes to the school’s programming – as part of implementing the Common Core standards – Post said the staff is striving for in-depth teaching and higher order thinking with a focus on non-fiction reading and writing; strengthening lesson plans; embedding science and social studies into reading, writing and math instruction; developing non-fiction writing tasks and rubrics across all grade levels, as well as interim assessments in both math and language arts.
“We’re going to move forward together ... we’ve got our work cut out for us,” added Post on the many changes taking place at the school. “I think the playing field has kind of been leveled.”
Stanford Gibson Principal Dara Lewis was unable to attend last night’s meeting.
Deputy Superintendent Robert Wightman then took the board and those in attendance through the district’s transportation costs, including payroll, supplies, contractual costs, training and the bus garage.
All in all, said Wightman, the district spends approximately $1 million per year on transportation.
“It’s a large operation,” stated the deputy superintendent, who added district vehicles travel more than 470,000 miles per year, or approximately 55,000 miles per vehicle.
The NCSD Board of Education’s next regular meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 14 in the district office, 89 Midland Drive. For more information call 334-1600 or visit norwichcsd.org.