Lawn Ave. School Improvement Team Notes for February 12, 2004

Back to Lawn SIT

 

 

Minutes Accepted from last meeting

 

Discussion Follows:

Paul McDermott attended meeting of Community Awareness Week and gave summary.

 

Update:  Planning Center of last year has changed.

New title:  Dean of Students

Redeploys support staff to help with program

Connects to Strategic Plan

Promotes the positive/constructive Climate in school

         Supports those children with learning difficulty

     Provides a place for children to go who have learning difficulties and/or behavioral difficulties, which put off learning.

Provides one on one.

     Person in charge of after school detention

 

Dean of Student position for 2004-2005 will be Maureen McGuirl.  Dean of Students is a teaching position with a little bit of extra.

 

Temporary Dean of Students  will begin on Monday, Feb. 23, 2004.  New/temporary person will fill in the Planning Center through to June. Name not given until the candidate accepts position.

 

 

Budget Surplus

 

School system will return surplus of  $320,000 to town to help defray tax increase in town.  We have a reserve of $400,000.

Our budget is the same, however due to the difference between what was planned and what did happen and what was  spent, we are able to help the town with returning some of surplus.

 

Standards Testing:  This will be the last year to use the test we have used the past years.

New Tests will be used to test children’s meeting of standards. 

The tests are on the Math and English/Language Arts.  We will be getting science next.

Literacy Requirements need to be changed because of the new High School regulations.   This will be changed with staff doing professional development.

 

Math testing will be every year.  Next Fall (04), there will be a pilot test in October.

 

Tri-state Testing will take place.  Came about with “No Child Left Behind.”  

 

Education Awareness Day

         Ginny Perry discussed data.

         Senator Reed will be present

         Jazz Band will be present at 8:30

         Childcare will be provided

         Schedule of days activities are flexible for now and  all tasks should be done by 12:45.

8:30 Coffee and…

         Senator Reed addresses those at the meeting

         Planning: giving a presentation of new Math program. 

         Substance abuse and support groups for kids will be provided.    

         Suggested:  Parents juggling student involvement—academics and activities. 

Each session will be 1 ½ hours.

 

Following the next week is Community Awareness Week.

Monday:  breakfast for volunteers at Melrose

Tuesday and Wed.: March 30 and 31 Melrose open for tours. 

Will work on Lawn Ave being open for tours.

Hopefully SIT members could be present to take them through.  Looking for volunteers

Julia H. will like to volunteer for Tuesday and Paul will do Wednesday.

Staff members should not change what they had planned on doing during their teaching day---just continue on as usual while tours are going on.

        

Thursday:        Technology Night 

Robotic groups will show off their stuff.

Writers Club will be asked to show their wares.

Literary Magazine may be beginning and that could be presented.

                  Technology staff might need to be shown at Lawn Ave in Seelinger Lab. 

                  Anyone is invited to come.

 

 

         POSSIBILITIES, WITH MORE FOR TIME ORGANIZING:  (Confirmation to follow.)

·      Maybe student council can assist and will be asked to make banners.

·      Maybe Morning Jazz could play one of those mornings.

·      4^th grade Plays may be one of those nights.

·      Sports- track- could be open to anyone who would like to jog with the kids.

·      Go to play practice.

·      Things that are happening at the schools should be packaged and presented.

·      Maybe have kids make video of what is going on that we would not normally be seen by the tours,

·      6^th grade Kite flying with kids, have parents come join in.

        

Discussion:  The Lawn Ave School Improvement Plan, Draft

 

Draft was not changed however; phrases were rearranged to address appropriate areas of plan.

 

Members perused and some suggestions were made such as: 

Measurable outcomes:  Add to the three stated, the directed challenge provided in curriculum and outcome.

Number of children earning honor roll.

Portfolio could be measured.  At this time, Portfolio piece will be missing however should be included in the measurable outcomes once rubric is established for measurement.

 

Thought mentioned:  On Report cards, there should be a place where it’s stated that the child has earned Honor Roll.

Teachers need to identify what the honor roll is and what a criterion needs to be met to earn honor roll.

 

All SIT members will work on a few more measurable outcomes.

 

Members are asked to send suggestions to Kathy S or Julia concerning ideas to improve, correct, the draft of School Improvement. 

 

Meeting ended at 5:30  Next meeting will be March 11, 2004 in the Lawn Ave Library.  4:00-5:30.