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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-27 School Committee MinutesReading Public Schools Reading, Massachusetts Regular Meeting of the School Committee Open Session Date: February 27, 2012 Time: 7:30 p.m. Place: Joshua Eaton Cafeteria School Committee Members Present Staff Members Present RECEIVED TOWN CLERK REI,DING, MASS. 2012 APR -2 P 2: 31 Karen Janowski John Doherty, Superintendent Chris Caruso Patty de Garavilla, Assistant Superintendent Chuck Robinson Mary DeLai, Director of Finance and Operations Hal Croft Alison Elmer, Director of Student Services Visitors: Karen Feeney, Joshua Eaton Principal Tricia Stodden, Joshua Eaton Teacher Michelle Ofilos, Joshua Eaton Teacher I. Call to Order Garrison Doodlesack, Student Representative Barbara Jones, Reading Chronicle Sara Burd, Behavioral Health Coordinator Chairperson Robinson called the School Committee to order at 7:21 p.m. Mr. Robinson introduced Mr. Anthony Cerullo, representative for the Epilepsy Foundation, who presented the Color Me Benjamin contest winners. The contest winners read their essays. Mr. Robinson called a brief recess at 7:33 p.m. The meeting was called back to order at 7:36 p.m. He reviewed the agenda and welcomed guests. II. Recommended Procedure A. Public Input (I) Reports I 1. Student Mr. Doodlesack stated that sign -ups for the spring sports have begun and Captain's practices are taking place. He also shared the recent track team success at the state meets. The RMHS Drama Club production of To Kill a Mockingbird opens next weekend and the annual dodge ball tournament will take place in the coming weeks. February 27, 2012 2. Liaison 3. Director of Student Services Ms. Elmer reminded the Committee of the upcoming Parent Workshop series beginning March 7`h at Coolidge. 4. Superintendent Dr. Doherty updated the School Committee on the RMHS Principal search. He handed out a compilation of qualities that had been gathered as a result of meetings held with several groups. He went on to review the timeline. The Screening Committee has its first meeting on Tuesday. Dr. Doherty also cautioned the Committee that there are 3 communities in the area that are also conducting searches for high school principals. Dr. Doherty reviewed the projected 2012 -13 elementary enrollment. He shared that the kindergarten placement letters had gone out. He feels that we have been able to balance the kindergarten class sizes across the district. Dr. Doherty also said that the middle school letters had been sent out. This year twenty -nine requests were received. In an effort to balance class sizes the administration allowed the transfer of siblings only. Dr. Doherty pointed out that the board has been given a copy of the School Committee Approved budget that was sent to the Town Manager. This is also the budget that will be presented to the Finance Committee. The Taste of Metro North takes place Wednesday evening. Twenty -two restaurants will be participating. There will be student performances by Reading and North Reading High Schools. Proceeds will benefit the Reading Education Foundation. B. Continued Business Elementary Report Card Update Mrs. de Garavilla provided an Elementary Report Card update after the first marking period. She explained the differences between a standards based report card and a traditional report card. The standards based report card provides consistency, clear information to parents on students' progress over time regarding proficiency, elements of learning for each subject and student awareness of their own learning and strengths and weaknesses. She went on to review the feedback received from parents. Most parents felt the standards were clearly written and understood the grading system. Assistant Superintendent de Garavilla reviewed the feedback from the teacher survey. Teachers would like to see agreement on definition of "progressing" vs. "mastery" across grade level and schools. Specialist would like to have rubrics for their areas and have continued discussion on how to support all students to reach mastery. Continued areas of focus include student motivation, communication, student support and report card refinement. Student motivation should emphasize the importance of effort and quality in level of work, clarity of expectations through rubrics, intrinsic motivation as a factor for ongoing leaming, not just for report card and continue to challenge students and support those students February 27, 2012 who have not reached mastery. Ongoing communication between parents and teachers for progress and improvement, making information available on Edline and the opportunity for teacher comments on the March and June reports cards will open the lines of communications. Student support will be achieved by monitoring student progress through regular data meetings, providing additional support as needed and a new summer school model being introduced in 2012. The elementary report card will continue to be refined as necessary to align with the Common Core Standards, the teachers will continue to meet to develop consistency in use of the standards -based grading and ongoing professional development for the use of common assessments. Mrs. de Garavilla reviewed the timetable for the Common Core State Standards Implementation in math and ELA C. New Business Joshua Eaton Presentation Chair Robinson thanked Ms. Feeney for hosting the meeting and the tour of the building. Ms. Feeney introduced teachers, Tricia Stodden and Michelle Ofilos to present information on student writing at Joshua Eaton. She shared that both teachers are participating in the NISL Leadership Program and a program requirement is that they lead an initiative. Ms. Stodden and Ms. Ofilos chose to spearhead this writing initiative. Ms. Stodden was fortunate to attend a writing conference that provided a lot of information on teaching writing skills. She said it was a great experience. The students are learning via process writing. They are learning concepts on developing an idea, rough draft, revisions and publication of their work. She felt it was important that writing be allotted sufficient time for the students. Ms. Ofilos said that Joshua Eaton has a Writing Committee that teachers can share ideas and they also have a blog that students work is posted. A Publishing Room has been created that is staffed by parents. The parents publish the student works. Ms. Stodden and Ms. Ofilos introduced their students who shared their writing samples. The students experience all types of writing. Samples included personal narratives, essay writing featuring opinions, and non - fiction. The School Committee thanked the students for presenting their works. Mr. Caruso commented on how relaxed the students were during the presentation. They were very engaged and excited. Ms. Ofilos feels that the students are involved and interested in writing because they are able to pick the topics they write about. Chair Robinson thanked Ms. Stodden and Ms. Ofilos for their presentation. TeenScreen Presentation February 27, 2012 Dr. Doherty indicated that one of the recommendations from the Behavioral Health Task Force was to look at several screening tools. As a result the TeenScreen tool was chosen to be introduced to screen students at the grade 8 and 10 level. Sara Burd reviewed information that has driven the district to implement this screening. Responses from the RPS Youth Risk Behavior Survey are in line with national averages regarding behavioral and mental health concerns. She went on the review the Task Force recommendation which included the following: provide a fully integrated behavioral health model so that all students have access to services when needed, develop and distribute a district - wide set of protocols for all staff to identify students in need of support, develop a set of protocols and procedures for early identification of student needs, regardless of age, community involvement to support the behavioral health of the whole child and to publicize existing agency partnerships that staff and parents can access. Ms. Burd described TeenScreen. It is a national program using research -based surveys to screen students for risk indicators of depression and mental illness. It is not used to make a diagnosis. Instead it is a tool to direct students and families to access assistance from local mental health organizations and services. The process is confidential. Mr. Robinson asked why the survey is only being given to grades 8 and 10. Ms. Burd indicated that it has been determined that students at those levels have the highest level of need. She reminded the committee that this is a pilot program and we can make adjustments if warranted. Ms. Burd went on to describe the screening process. Introductory letters and release forms were mailed to all grade 8 & 10 families. The screening will take place in March and April to all students that have signed consent forms. Each student will be assigned a reference number and will have a time scheduled to complete the survey. Students will be taken into a confidential screening setting where they will answer the questionnaire. Depending on the survey results students will either be debriefed or move to a clinical interview. After the clinical interview students will either require no further referral or the parents will be notified and referral and case management action will occur. The TeenScreen screeners will be made up of RCASA partners, school nurses, psychologists, and counselors. The screeners will collaborate with local mental health organizations, pediatricians and state agencies for referral work. Teachers and Principals cannot be screeners. All screening staff has been trained through national office training modules, the local agencies have been notified of to expect referrals and information on TeenScreen will be made available on Edline and at upcoming PTO meetings will provide a forum for discussion with families. TeenScreen offers the district an opportunity to provide fully integrated behavioral health model so that all students have access to service when needed, develop and distribute a district -wide set of protocols for all staff to identify students in need of behavioral health support, develop a set of protocols for early identification of student needs, regardless of age, engage other community stakeholders to develop an aligned mission statement regarding behavioral health of our children and identify and publicize agency partnerships that staff and parents can access when addressing behavioral health issues. Chair Robinson thanked Ms. Burd for providing the information. February 27, 2012 First Reading of Policy EFDA — Collection of Payment for School Meals Ms. DeLai provided a background on the proposed policy. The district has a procedure in place but feels that for consistent practice a policy be put in place to guide collection of funds. Mrs. Janowski and Mr. Caruso read the policy. Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso, to accept the first reading of Policy EFDA: Collection of Pavment for School Meals. The School Committee asked clarifying questions. The motion carried 4 -0. Approval of Field Trip Dr. Doherty reviewed the proposed RMHS Baseball trip to Cooperstown, NY. Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mr. Croft, to approve the annual RMHS Baseball Trip to Cooperstown, NY as outlined in the Superintendent's memorandum dated February 23, 2012. The motion carried 4 -0. III. Routine Matters • Bills and Payroll (A) • Approval of Minutes Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso to approve the open session minutes dated February 13, 2012. The motion carried 4 -0. • Bids and Donations Accept donation Dr. Doherty outlined the donation to be used to purchase uniforms for the baseball team. He said the donations came from alumni and parents of alumni that wished to remain anonymous. Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso, to accept the anonymous donation in the amount of $3500 to be used to purchase uniforms for the RMHS Baseball Team as outlined in the Director of Finance and Operations memorandum dated February 23, 2012. The motion carried 4 -0. Calendar IV. Information Mrs. Janowski asked about the Reading Education Foundation grants. The Superintendent indicated the grants had been awarded and we were in the process of putting the order together. The School Committee will accept the donation at an upcoming meeting. February 27, 2012 Mr. Robinson pointed out although Mr. Michaud was unable to attend this would have been his last meeting on the board. Mr. Robinson thanked Mr. Michaud for six years of dedicated service and contributions. Mr. Caruso echoed Mr. Robinson's sentiments. Dr. Doherty shared that in lieu of a chair, Mr. Michaud would like the funds to be used to place an art display case on Main Street. V. Future Business VI. Adjournment Mrs. Janowski moved, seconded by Mr. Caruso, adjourn. The motion carried 4 -0. Meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. - )Aq � J F. Dohert , Ed.D. S rintendent of Schools