NORWICH – Tuesday’s meeting of the Norwich City School District board of education showed that the 2012-2013 school year was one of major changes in education, thanks to the newly adopted Common Core Curriculum that spurred confusion and controversy in schools statewide.

It was also made clear at the meeting that more challenges are on the horizon for next year at NCSD as teachers and administrators tackle new roles and higher expectations brought on by the Common Core.

Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan said the goal of the Common Core is to better prepare students for life beyond high school, with well developed skills in English and mathematics.

“This is the new face of education. This is a national movement, and it’s where education is going,” O’Sullivan said when revealing specific challenges the district will address in the upcoming school year. “Our students in Norwich aren’t just competing with students in Sherburne and Oxford anymore. They’re competing with students across the country and the entire world.”

The superintendent also pointed to national averages that show for every 100 ninth grade students, only 65 graduate from high school. Of those, 37 go on to college, 24 are still enrolled by their sophomore year in college, only 12 graduate with a college degree in six years, and only six obtain a good job after graduation. “These are national averages that indicate problems that exist beyond Norwich,” he added.