Dashboard
Our Data Warehouse team is pleased to present the Altmar Parish Williamstown (APW) Central School District with this month’s “School District Spotlight.” APW is located on the southern side of the Tug Hill Plateau in Oswego County and serves approximately 1,300 students that reside within a 180 square mile area.
The 2014-15 school year has brought many exciting changes to the Altmar Parish Williamstown (APW) Central School District including new Superintendent Anita Murphy. Under Ms. Murphy’s leadership, the district is taking on a number of new initiatives that are already having a positive impact on students and the community. Here's an overview of some of the improvements underway at APW School District:
- The APW Board of Education, in conjunction with the Superintendent, started monthly board committee meetings. The Finance Committee, Long Term Planning Committee and Excellence in Student Achievement Committee are designed to bring Board of Education representatives and interested community members together to work for the good of the students and community.
- On Friday, Jan. 23, the district started the APW Backpack program. This program, which is funded and run by teachers, staff, and district administration, helps to feed 55 families (about 110 students) on weekends and extended school breaks. The program has gotten off to a great start.
- APW is one of nine Oswego County Districts who are collaborating with the Coalition to Combat Adolescent Substance Abuse in Oswego County. In addition to the Oswego County schools, the coalition consists of COCOAA, Farnham, SUNY Oswego, local authorities, and their NYS Senator.
- The district is committed to improving student achievement. To date, the district has revised its APPR plan for the APWFA that went into effect September 2014, utilizing informal walk-throughs that focus on best practices to increase student achievement. Additionally, K-12 teachers are revising curriculum focusing on the Common Core Standards while adapting the modules.
- Last year the district began a Blended Learning project with their seventh and eighth grade social studies and science teachers. This year they have continued with a second cohort of Blended Learning Classrooms by adding ninth grade social studies, foreign language, and health.
- In September, the district embarked on a project with Education Resource Strategies (ERS) and NYSED. The project looks at funding educational priorities and will help enable APW to fund its educational priorities. APW is one of eight districts involved in this study. The districts will share common findings and discuss potential actions based on the common findings.
- APW is working with the National Center for Time and Learning to develop an extended school day and school year program designed to increase opportunities available to their students. The district has added a STEM Robotics program in conjunction with Clarkson University. In addition, they have also started collaborating with Lockheed Martin to increase STEM opportunities for their students. This summer the district plans to kick off a STEM summer extended learning program.
- APW has placed a strong emphasis on college. Building classrooms and hallways are now decorated with a variety of college pennants. The Superintendent has established a scholarship fund that she funds when all faculty and staff wear college apparel on district paydays. Moreover, the Superintendent, along with other faculty members, has started taking juniors and seniors on college visits. Students are required to research a program of study, find colleges within New York state, and obtain permission to have the district transport them to visit various colleges.
