A second-grade teacher at the school will become the second reading recovery teacher. Zajk is in the process of hiring five new teachers for next year and has managed to fill those positions at salaries less than was originally expected. Although committee member Maureen R. Gallagher approved the additional reading teacher, she did caution Zajk that money is tight. I don't want to start hiring teachers we don't really need. At the end of the school year, an additional 15 students were identified as needing the program.
Early intervention is the way to go.
Also at the meeting last night, School Superintendent Richard McClements updated the committee on the number of students in the system who will be retained at their current grade level due to failing grades. The highest retention rate was seen at the eighth grade, which had nine students held back. No students were retained in grades three, four and five. High school students are not held back, but may fail classes they have to make up. McClements said the retention numbers are about the same as last year.