The Nyack Board of Education and administration will continue a discussion of the district's ongoing participation in Race to the Top, but no action is expected at tonight's meeting set for 7:30 p.m. in the Hilltop administration building.
South Orangetown and Pearl River are among the Lower Hudson Valley school districts to drop out of Race to the Top, a federal grant program, due to concerns regarding student privacy. Other Rockland County School Districts, such as Clarkstown and Nanuet, also discussed the issue, but chose to stay in. To read more about the ongoing debate, see this report on Patch.
The data collected by the New York State Education Department will be shared with the private company inBloom. The primary objection raised is the potential inclusion of information on student discipline. Even opting out of Race to the Top, the districts will have to submit the data to the state. That is one reason Nyack Superintendent Dr. James Montesano recommended not opting out.
"We have very unclear responses from the state and no response from the federal level what the implications would be," Montesano said. "There is no necessary advantage that I can see from separating ourselves from Race to the Top. Your data is at no greater or lesser secure than any other district that has opted out."
Montesano also pointed out that Nyack has received more money from Race to the Top than many of the districts that opted out, including Pearl River and South Orangetown. He said Nyack has received $64,000.
"Our concern is what happens to that money," Montesano said "Would there be a requirement to provide that money back to the federal government?"
Montesano did recommend the district send a letter to inBloom stating its expectation that the only data kept would be that required by the federal government, which includes assessment and attendance.
"One thing I want to make clear, that this board of education and our school district staff are very concerned and interested in protecting the data of our students," Montesano said. "Opting in or opting out of Race to the Top does not change our position in regard to protection and security of student data going forward."
The ongoing discussion is part of the workshop agenda for tonight's meeting. The full agenda is available through the district website here.
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