Amplify’s Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) program shows promising results, a late bus is requested for Sullivan Middle School, and a proposal for new city pickleball courts is discussed at Thursday’s Worcester School Committee meeting
WORCESTER—Strides being made to implement Amplify’s Core Knowledge Language Arts (CKLA) program, a call for a late bus to serve Sullivan Middle School students and a request for the installation of two pickleball courts in the city highlighted Thursday’s meeting of the Worcester School Committee.
A report offered by Dr. Marie Morse and several of her colleagues indicated that strong progress is being made in helping students build knowledge and vocabulary, utilizing Amplify’s CKLA, which is in its second year. Fountas and Pinnell Classroom “did not meet expectations,” it was noted.
Morse is assistant superintendent of teaching and learning for the Worcester Public Schools.
In their presentation, Morse, Colleen Murray and Amanda Taylor told the committee that the literacy crisis now being experienced in Worcester started before the pandemic, with data that shows challenges being felt here mirror national and statewide trends.
They drew contrasts between balanced literacy and structured literacy approaches in telling committee members that the goal of Amplify’s CKLA program is to provide a “single view of reading” encompassing word recognition, language comprehension and reading comprehension in the lower grades.
Large urban districts including ones in Denver, Harris County, Texas, Cleveland and Baltimore are using the system with success.
Professional learning supports are in place and a deliberate systematic approach across all tiers is being taken, the committee was told.
Morse said at the close of a slide presentation that “it’s been eye-opening to see a rigorous application” of the program taking place.
In thanking Morse for the report, Maureen Binienda said “it’s never a program but how teachers teach.” Binienda added that “urgency matters. We need to invest more in staff in order for students to accelerate.”
Jermaine Johnson said he would have liked to hear more from teachers at the meeting, and made a motion for that to happen at a later date.
Dianna Biancheria posed such questions as “are the right materials in place for us to continue to be successful” with Amplify, and was assured they were. She also asked if “acting out” opportunities that were shown as part of the slide presentation to reinforce what is being learned are available at every grade level, and whether scaffolding techniques being used are different than ones employed in the past. She received encouraging answers in both instances.
Earlier in the meeting an eighth-grade student at Sullivan Middle School implored the committee to add a late bus for students who stay for extracurricular activities. She said a late bus running from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday would cost $67 per hour per day starting Dec. 3 through May 29 for a total of 65 days and a cost of $4,355. She was thanked by Kathy Roy, who recently made an appearance at an assembly at Sullivan Middle School. She was also applauded for the thoroughness of her request. The request was referred to the Finance, Operations & Governance subcommittee (FOG).
Former City Councilor Frederick Rushton spoke in advocacy of creating two pickleball courts next to middle schools, saying that pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the country and soon to become a high school sport. The game builds self-confidence, he said. Right now, Rushton said, “I have to go to Westborough or Northborough” for pickleball games.
“These courts will get used. Let’s start attacking this,” he said. He added that a “paddle guy” he knows would provide the equipment and instruction.
Rushton’s petition was referred to FOG.
Rod Lee is a career journalist, a veteran of the media scene in Central Massachusetts and the author of seven books including the recently published “Gil Cristopher,” a novel about the difficulties associated with aging. He can be contacted at rodlee1963@gmail.com
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