OCTOBER 7, 2022

Highlighting Teaching and Learning 

A Q&A with Dr. Mary Ford, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction

On October 18, residents of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District will vote on a $49.5 million capital projects referendum to address teaching and learning, security and sustainability in our school buildings. The District projects that New York State aid will reimburse about 31% of the project (approximately $17.1 million).  

Between now and October 18, when votes will be cast, we are highlighting various aspects of the proposal. Today, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction Dr. Mary Ford talks about how the proposal will impact teaching and learning. 

Q: During presentations about the capital project, the District refers to program improvements, infrastructure and sustainability. What is meant by program improvements?

A: The entire project consists of upgrades to our facilities, so we were trying to clarify that some of those upgrades more directly impact the daily learning experience (and we called those program improvements), while others are a little more behind the scenes, such as HVAC work. For clarity, we’ve started to call them learning space improvements (rather than program improvements) and these include renovated science classrooms, technology spaces, library makerspaces, for example. 

Q: What is the thinking behind changing the design of our learning spaces?

The Katonah-Lewisboro Learning Commitment states that we will strive to create learning experiences for all students that are engaging, relevant, and take place in an active learning environment. Versatile, welcoming spaces support the many learning strategies used to meet all learning styles in our classrooms.

We have been working toward more student-centered learning over the last few years, in environments where the student experience is at the center and the teacher acts as a facilitator of whole group, small group and individual work during any class period. As we think about the ideal physical spaces for this kind of learning environment, we consider modern spaces that can be adapted to meet evolving needs for teaching and learning, and that can include the seamless integration of technology as a tool for learning.

The proposed changes to the learning environment in all the schools are designed to have a very intentional impact on how our students learn, to foster and support collaboration and innovation.

Q: What are the changes to the elementary schools' libraries?

While our existing libraries are still necessary, the elementary school libraries would be supplemented with STREAM lab makerspaces. This would enable students to engage in the design process as they participate in problem-based or project-based learning. These units may involve research done in the library and prototyping that could be done in the makerspace. The libraries would continue to be hubs for putting people and ideas together.

Q. How will the proposed renovations at the high school change the learning experience for our students?

A. The high school’s B wing is currently a very traditional series of classrooms, used primarily for world languages and special education. Modernizing the wing would create a learning commons conducive to collaborative learning and flexible enough to accommodate several groups of students at one time, providing the opportunity for teachers in different subject areas to differentiate and collaborate more effectively. 

Our science classrooms in C wing would be renovated both to update some of the oldest facilities in the school and to allow for shifts in teaching methods that are necessary for the newly adopted New York State Science Learning Standards. These new labs will be modern places where students could engage in the scientific process and work both independently and collaboratively with peers and adults. 

In addition, the high school’s auditorium, home to our wonderful performing arts programs, would be updated to better support the needs and aspirations of our students, teachers and community. 

Q. What changes would we see in the middle school learning environment?

A. Several areas would be updated at the middle school. The Family and Consumer Science classrooms, where sustainable food systems are a focus, would be updated for the first time in several decades, and would include a new greenhouse in keeping with the growing importance of sustainability and food security. These changes would give middle school students more opportunities to learn how food is grown, harvested and prepared, as well as how food waste can be managed. 

The current step lab, at the back of the library, would be renovated to create an amphitheater for learning, allowing for several classes to come together for presentations, debates, showcases and, perhaps, even performances. The proposed middle school updates also include renovation of the tech lab — or former wood shop — which will be converted to a collaborative space for a differentiated tech curriculum, with rooms for prototyping tools, to promote creativity and entrepreneurship.

The Katonah-Lewisboro Union Free School District is a nationally recognized high performing school district serving approximately 2,900 students from the Towns of Bedford, Lewisboro, North Salem and Pound Ridge. In the Katonah-Lewisboro School District, we strive to create learning experiences that are engaging, relevant, and take place in an active learning environment.

Katonah-Lewisboro School District

klschools.org