Educational discussion

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School chief, stakeholders talk during open house

Region 16 Superintendent of Schools Michael Yamin, right, discuses his views for the region, which oversees schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect, with parents and teachers during an open house at the district office Saturday morning. –REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Region 16 Superintendent of Schools Michael Yamin, right, discuses his views for the region, which oversees schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect, with parents and teachers during an open house at the district office Saturday morning. –REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN

PROSPECT — The key to success in Region 16 schools is focusing on academic achievement, Superintendent of Schools Michael Yamin said Saturday.

About 15 parents and stakeholders in Region 16, which oversees schools in Beacon Falls and Prospect, talked about education issues during an open house hosted by Yamin at the district office. Yamin fielded questions and outlined the district’s plan for helping students thrive, with a focus on technology and curriculum expansion.

“We’re putting things in place and developing the infrastructure for moving forward,” Yamin said. “I want us to be as high performing a district as possible and see what we can do to achieve that.”

Yamin said he hopes to more fully integrate technology into the curriculum at all grade levels, as well as enhance academic enrichment opportunities for “middle ground” students, who fall between high achievers and students with special needs.

The group also discussed the Board of Education’s pursuit of a full-day kindergarten program. If adopted, the program would begin this fall at Laurel Ledge Elementary School in Beacon Falls, and the new Prospect Elementary School, which will take more than 700 students funneling in from Algonquin and Community schools in Prospect.

Yamin said he wants to improve opportunities for Region 16’s students to compete with their peers as they continue their education. He said with this in mind, the Board of Education recently approved adding three new elective courses for juniors and seniors at Woodland Regional High School: anatomy and physiology, AP art history and manufacturing.

Additionally, Yamin said the district plans to work with Naugatuck Valley Community College and the University of Connecticut to offer more early college experience courses, and is looking to create a gifted and talented program.

“There’s no one size fits all or easy answer. We have to provide for all the kids in this region,” he said.

Lauren Poulos, a second-grade teacher at Laurel Ledge who also has children in Region 16 schools, said she supports the district in its efforts, even if it means spending a little more.

“The district has the responsibility to keep competitive with the districts around us and prepare our kids for the future,” Poulos said. “Sometimes, the budget needs to go up for us to stay competitive with other regions.”