Ever wonder how some of the things that happen in your child's school every day came to be?

For example, did you know that the Elementary School's MORNING PROGRAM was the creation of Upper Nyack's Principal, Buzz Ostrowsky?

Here are some things that you may not know were related to PIE's involvement in education reform over the last ten years. While we are NOT taking  sole credit for all of these we do find it interesting that many of our original proposals have been incorporated into everyday school life.  There must be "something to it" when we offer suggestions or point out problems!

Elementary School Foreign Language--- PIE started a volunteer program in 1996 where parents were asked to pay a small fee to cover expenses and the cost of teachers. We worked very hard to establish a foothold program, then requested that the district take it over since education is their full-time job!

Multi-age classes at Liberty Elementary--- PIE's alternative school proposal talked extensively about the benefits to multi-age groupings

Elections for Site Based Management seats at Upper Nyack--- if Site Based Teams are supposed to represent parents, how are the parent members chosen?  It was our initiative that led to elections at Upper Nyack

Blended Classes (Special Ed and Regualr Ed classes together)--- another concept discussed in our proposal of 1994.  PIE member, Mary Wallace was a pioneer in this area with her son Patrick.

Visits to Alternative Schools--- we thoroughly researched our proposal by sending parent members to schools throughout the region. We even brought along teachers and administrators on some of our visits.

Team Teaching--- another idea from our proposal that has been worked on haltingly at different times in the district.

Middle School Block Scheduling--- we made minimal inroads here but continue to try and work on what we feel is a critical innovation and something that would have long term benefits for all students.

Book Gifting Program at Valley Cottage--- PIE donated many, many books to the school library and established this program.

Parents As Reading (PARP)--- a PIE initiative to provide some free time for teachers at least one morning each month.

The Achievement Gap --- Working with the NAACP, the most significant issue we've ever raised and the one that a good part of this site is devoted to!  We issued the report that used the District's own statistics to point out the inequities between students of color and white students. 

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