Myszka If you are thinking about heading to class with the sniffles to ensure receipt of the coveted perfect attendance award at the end of the school year, think again.

New this year, Lancaster will no longer award the honor at the middle and high school level on the advice of Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Anthony Billittier IV.

“Concerns were raised for the safety of all the students due to the H1N1 virus,” Superintendent Edward Myszka stated in a report to the Lancaster School Board on Monday night, adding a request to students. “If you’re sick, please stay home.”

When asked if the updated policy was fair to those who are not sick and work toward perfect attendance, Myszka admitted it is a difficult situation to balance. While the district recognizes the importance of attendance and its effect on learning, Myszka said that it also is vital to protect the health of everyone in the classrooms.

Rabey “It’s a Catch 22,” he said.

The Depew Union-Free School District suspended the awards in the middle school last year, but Superintendent Jeffrey Rabey said that the award will be supported by all schools this year, unless a situation arises and the policy must be revisited.

“Our primary goal is to maintain the health and safety for all of our students,” he said.

Also during the 2010-11 academic year in Lancaster, about 200 pupils from Central Avenue school, which was closed in June due to declining enrollment, will have new surroundings as they attend Court Street, Como Park or Hillview schools.

Myszka noted the tough time the district had with hammering out a budget during the spring, and he expressed gratitude that voters approved a spending plan that maintains programs.

“I’m thankful to the community for supporting the budget,” he said.

In Depew, students will have their first chance to work with Rabey, the former superintendent of the Lake Shore Central School District who succeeded Interim Superintendent Dennis Ford in August. Rabey said that one of the initiatives for the new school year is the implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Technology Grant for a total of $200,000.

Depew, in partnership with Alden, Iroquois and Yorkshire-Pioneer, will implement a program targeted at improving the learning of English language learners and students with disabilities. Teachers will engage in lesson study teams implementing technology to enhance learning, Rabey said.

“This action research will join teachers across geographically linked districts,” he said. “A careful study of specific lessons will take an in depth look at implementation of lessons to improve instructional effectiveness and develop a shared understanding of what constitutes instructional quality.”

The key technology components will be the classroom use of iPads, video cameras and document cameras, and activities provided by the research project will be organized around several components, including analyzing data gaps and trends by districts, creating lessons focused on learning objectives to address the gaps, integrating technology to engage and provide immediate feedback, revising the lessons through peer coaching and videotaping and re-teaching the refined lesson in a second cycle with a new group of students.

The project will include a minimum of 36 teachers, nine per district, and, dependent on grade level, will serve about 3,200 students.

Also, Rabey said that Depew is completing its $33 million capital project with new windows in the high school along with new front doors and steps. The school also had efficiency lightening installed. New SMART Boards have been installed in every classroom in grades three to five, along with several other areas.

e-mail: LJohnson@beenews.com