May/June 2003

Moving Forward on Program Objectives

I had hoped that my letter in this final edition of this year’s Calendar would be a summary of the findings of the NYSAIS visiting committee. The group had an interesting visit and I look forward to their thoughtful evaluation of our work at PDS. Unfortunately, the report has not yet come in, so we must continue to wait. It will provide ideas for next year!

Meanwhile, we have continued to move forward on some of the major objectives I set in my vision statement last fall. Chief among these has been the matter of improving faculty salaries. All of us understand the importance, not only of improving faculty salaries across the board, but also of reducing the inconsistencies of compensation among our teachers. This year, we took the first step of a long-term plan to evaluate and improve the total faculty compensation program and to provide a system that is equitable for teachers with comparable experience and expertise, responsive to the individual needs and contributions of every teacher and comparable to faculty compensations programs available at other independent schools within our geographic area. In coming years, and as part of the school’s long-range plan, the Board and I will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of total compensation provisions available to all PDS employees, including, but not limited to, medical/dental provisions, retirement plans, insurances, flexible spending accounts and tuition remission allowances.

In the area of program improvement, we have begun a long-term examination of our science curriculum. I described staffing changes in science last month. Since then, the department, under the leadership of Tanya Vinogradov, has continued to consider the sequence of science courses throughout the middle and upper schools and the key topics that we expect each student to address in his or her program here. Next year’s new schedule will allow us to provide additional courses in some disciplines, and science is a good candidate for that. We are reviewing curriculum programs from other schools as well as reports from the National Academy of Sciences. We will have some changes in place by September, and a more comprehensive curriculum ready for the following year. We will begin improving our science laboratories immediately.

I want to thank the many people who have made these things possible. Thanks, first, to the faculty for its continued dedication and hard work. Teachers are the essence of PDS and the moving force behind our continued progress. Thanks, also, to the Board for the courage to constructively address these challenges, and for making resources available to find solutions. Thanks to the PDSPO and the many parents who have worked so tirelessly to raise the funds to meet our goals. Finally, thanks to all of you who participated so fully in our discussions and continue to support PDS so generously. Your help has enabled us to do what we must do: compensate our faculty fully and fairly and continue to improve our programs. There is more to be done. There always will be. To paraphrase Robert Frost, we have miles to go before we sleep. It’s good to be traveling those miles together. Thank you.

Enjoy the warmth and beauty of spring and the last days of school! Celebrations will abound at every level. I look forward to seeing you during these events. And, as always, please feel free to come in to share your thoughts and ideas. I enjoy that.

Sincerely,

Mary Jane Yurchak