New Tech Offerings Added

The East Hampton School Board convened a nearly two-hour education forum on Tuesday night, during which it explored the possibility of expanding its technology programs while facing lean financial times.

Richard Burns, the superintendent, explained that the district has cut $5 million in recent years since the imposition of the statewide 2-percent tax cap, while also adding classes in robotics, computer programming, and coding. But he foresees another challenging year ahead, with “probably a $600,000 increase budget to budget.

With about two dozen parents and teachers in the audience, Mr. Burns saw it as a rare opportunity to elicit community feedback. “What concerns do you have that will help us make decisions and judgments when we start looking at the budget in a more thorough manner?”

Robert Tymann, the assistant superintendent, led the S.T.E.M. presentation (science, technology, engineering, and math). He first discussed national science standards, describing it as a direction in which the district was already headed. “Anything that can be done that’s repetitious can be done with an algorithm and a computer program,” he said. “The instructional model has to change.”

A hands-on science curriculum is already underway in grades 3 to 8, and this year the curriculum is being expanded to the younger grades, including the eventual rollout (funds permitting) of Bee-Bot, a beginning computer coding program. Looking ahead, the district also hopes to begin a junior Lego league in conjunction with Project Most, an after-school program at John M. Marshall Elementary School.

Besides offering coding in the younger grades, Mr. Tymann described a forthcoming “invention convention,” in addition to expanded offerings for the East Hampton Middle School’s Science Olympiad team and a greater array of computer programming and robotics classes in grades 9 to 12.

Mark Mendelman, an East Hampton High School graduate who studied engineering in college and a parent of two children at the Springs School, said the news was “a long time coming.” Besides coding and programming classes, he advocated for other offerings, including 3-D modeling, chemical engineering, and energy.

“We need the teachers of tomorrow, but need them right now,” urged Mary McPartland, a parent. “Our children are already there.”

Chris Merkert, who teaches science at the middle school, said he had retooled his entire approach to teaching over the past five years. “I spent 15 years doing it the old way. I forced myself to change,” said Mr. Merkert. “From a learner’s perspective, it’s the way to go.”

Stephanie Lynch, a parent of three, said a particular challenge was how to keep teachers ahead of the ability levels of their students. She urged the district to pursue various technology grants, including corporate donations. Suzanne Spencer, a parent of two, also asked that the district be more specific in terms of exactly what resources are needed.

To be sure, expanding such offerings requires additional funding. “We will have to cut professional development,” said Mr. Burns, explaining that the district simply does not qualify for many technology-based grants due to the socioeconomic levels of its residents. “We’ve already cut the pens and pencils. We don’t even have proper oboes for our kids to play on.”

Earlier in the night, the board swiftly tackled other business, speeding through a truncated agenda.

Though LTV records the board’s twice-a-month meetings, its current agreement does not include the budget working sessions, which begin in late January. The total cost of recording the seven extra sessions is $1,400, and  the board welcomed local businesses or individual sponsors to cover it.

 The board will next meet on Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m.