March 20, 2006

Welcome Spring!!!!  As we emerge from another winter it is the time of year for fresh starts. 

It is a pleasure to announce that working closely with Randi Weingarten, Lionel Scott and Warden Squillante has resulted in the opening of the red door at EMTC.  It will be open one hour in the am (7-8), during the IA lunch period, 2:30 -Ö 3:00 and at the end of PM school for staff exit.  This is a great relief for our staff.

As reported earlier in the month through email we are engaging in the expansion of our vocational offerings to students.  The computer repair and A+ lab is being designed for implementation into the school in September 2006.  The introduction of this project was begun on the day that the UFT visited Island Academy. Lionel Scott brought Randi Weingarten, Mark Korashan and Michael Mulgrew to our computer lab in the Main school and a discussion of expanding technology ensued. The efforts of our staff and the UFT brought us into contact with CES.  This company has designed and implemented similar labs in correctional facilities in Ohio with great success.  We consulted with the Department of Correction before embarking on this project.  They are giving full support.  The program includes ongoing teacher training.  We will be posting for the training and looking for teachers with math and computer literacy, excellent attendance and punctuality, excellent classroom management skills, good rapport with students and Department of Correction, and demonstrated record keeping skills.

In the Annex we have begun using Compass Learning and will soon implement a program developed by Kaplan.  These programs rely heavily computer assisted instruction and are designed to allow students to work at their own pace.  The implementation will require block scheduling.  Teachers will remain with the same group of students for multiple periods and teach more than one subject.  In a school with a transient population, we believe we are introducing a program that over time can be shared across the sites.     

We are working with Cornell University to create hydroponics systems (classroom green houses) that will grow various, mostly edible, crops.  We have identified spaces in the school for the project. 

Our NFTE program has been recognized due to the outstanding work of Mindy Morales who has been named NFTE Teacher of the Year.  This program teaches students the basics of business by helping them develop their own business plans. 

The fall preference sheets are being distributed so we can create the fall schedules well in advance.  We are making a change in the Sprungs for the fall by offering block scheduling.  This site has our largest and most transient population.  The block scheduling will reduce the number of students each teacher will meet and teach.  Teachers in the Sprungs will teach more than one subject in this new structure.  It will reduce the movement 'with carts'Ö between trailers.    

The GEDs have not been available on Rikers Island for approximately three months.  We received information on Friday, March 17th that the GEDs arrived on Rikers Island.  It will take approximately one week for distribution to the sites.  The lack of tests has seriously impacted upon our program and our ability to fulfill our commitment to students.  We proceeded with predictor testing and we provided students with test results so they could test outside upon release.   Our excellent test results from last year will not be matched this year and our students are the ones losing out.  Testing will resume immediately upon receipt of exams.

The Vera Institute reentry project initiated in EMTC is now moving to ARDC and RMSC.  We are optimistic that more of our students will successfully connect to programs and schools upon release through the project.  

There is much attention being paid to prison education programs and reentry efforts nationwide.  New York City is no exception.  We are in a position to make the most of funding opportunities and to implement effective programs for our students.  The attention paid to our school can and will benefit our students.  We are advocates and educators for our students whose voices often go unheard.  Our ongoing efforts will include more outreach to transition programs and strengthening the classroom instruction to increase students'Ò skills.

Let's hope we have seen the end of snow!!!