Dr. James Brunn says move could improve test scores
By:Emily Craighead
Alexander Batcho Intermediate School (ABIS) students will get a double dose of reading and writing every day, starting next school year.
By doubling the amount of language arts instruction ABIS students receive, Principal Jim Brunn plans to turn out students better prepared for high school’s challenges and capable of scoring higher on state tests.
Dr. Brunn’s proposal, adopted by the Board of Education last week, calls for students to receive reading and writing instruction during two separate 51-minute periods. They currently spend 51 minutes each day on language arts.
"That would make students more competitive and be more in line with what other schools are doing," Dr. Brunn said during his presentation to the board Jan. 10.
Students’ lunch hours will be shortened from 51 to 30 minutes to make time for the additional class.
It is still not clear how many teachers will need to be hired to teach the 15 additional sections.
Dr. Brunn offered two possible solutions. First, the three language arts teachers currently at ABIS could teach a sixth section, the basic skills instructor would teach another six sections, and a new teacher could be hired to take on six more periods. Teachers responsible for more than five classes would receive a stipend.
The second option Dr. Brunn proposed calls for the three language arts teachers to take on six sections, and the district to hire two new language arts teachers.
"I would like to see more teachers hired so we can keep basic skills teachers focused on our neediest students," Dr. Brunn said.
Another significant change to the intermediate school curriculum beginning next year will add a fifth subject to the "cycle classes." Cycle classes are classes that change periodically, so a student would spend a quarter of the year in art class, a quarter of the year in music class, and so on for Spanish and technology as well.
Dr. Brunn proposed adding a fifth cycle class focusing on library and study skills.
This addition, in line with Superintendent Donald Burkhardt’s strategic goals for the language arts curriculum, will help students make better use of the educational resources available to them. It will also reduce the number of students in each cycle class by about 10 students, from 30-35 to 20-25.
When Dr. Brunn finished presenting the curriculum proposals to the board Jan. 10, board Vice President Lou Petzinger wondered aloud if the district would be capable of funding the additional teachers’ salaries past next year.
"This is all great, but what happens a year from now with S-1701?" Mr. Petzinger asked, referring to the budget cap law.
Dr. Brunn replied that the proposed changes are necessary for Manville students to be competitive, and in the worst case scenario, the school would revert to the previous schedule.
Board President Janice Matthewson voiced the frustration of many school administrators caught between the necessity of meeting state standards, and the reality of state-imposed budgetary restrictions.
"So you need to meet New Jersey core curriculum requirements and then they slap you with S-1701," she said.

