HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-02-02 School Council - Wood End Elementary Minutesi� pPco' ✓cd 3� � � � 2
Wood End Elementary School
School Council Meeting
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE SCHOOL COUNCIL
February 2, 2012
A meeting of the Wood End School Council was held on Thursday, February 2, 2012
from 3:15 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. in the conference room of the Wood End Elementary
School, Reading, Massachusetts.
Council Members Present:
Richard Davidson, Sandy Emery, Joanne King, Sally Mucica, Barbara Sheehan,
Monette Verrier. and Maria Walsh.
Council Members Absent:
Debbie Hattery
Call to Order
Principal Davidson called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m. and Joanne King recorded
the minutes. A quorum of Council Members was present, and the meeting, having been
duly convened, was ready to proceed with business.
Agenda, Minutes, and Introductory Business
All members present reviewed and approved the minutes of the previous meeting held
on January 5, 2012. Principal Davidson reviewed the agenda and stated that the New
Family Survey would be discussed at the next School Council meeting when Debbie
Hattery would be available to present the results.
A motion was made to accept the minutes by Sally Mucica and Joanne King did second
the motion. Minutes were approved.
Update on Parent Focus Group
The first meeting was held at the home of Monette Verrier on January 19th at 9:00 a.m.,
where a diverse group of 11 parents attended. Parents responded to questions posed
by the Principal and stated the strengths of Wood End being the principal in classes, or
the playground, and a constant presence in school, email communication from staff,
emphasis on Open Circle and the Wood End Way, mechanics of school (Lisa Finigan,
drop off, placard) a focus on writing, and the Lifeskills program for Grades 3 -5.
Areas for improvement included a more consistent use and format of Edline by
teachers, monthly newsletters, drop off time is too late and students are often late due
to the long line, menu in cafeteria (too many grains and desserts), need for full -time
school counselor, the length of lunch time is too short, need to improve technology,
number of projects assigned to be completed at home, quantity of homework assigned,
need for math support before school, development of gifted /talented programs, cars
continue to idle on Fox Run Lane.
New parents commented that Lisa Finigan was instrumental in an easy transition to
Wood End and families felt welcomed.
Another parent focus group meeting will be held during an evening time and will be
hosted by Debbie Hattery in March.
Wood End Technology Committee
Principal Davidson presented minutes from a meeting held on January 31, 2012.
Currently 4 staff members and 3 parents are on this committee. Extensive discussion
was held around the need to: improve infrastructure of wireless system, purchase Smart
board for music room and library computer lab, purchase touch screen computers for
library to provide access to all students, add more laptops to library for Lexia (separate
from computer lab), purchase laptops for a full COW, purchase "writers" for keyboarding
practice in Grade 3.
Committee will gather additional input from staff about needs, identify software, look for
corporate partnerships, research use of ipads. Next meeting will be held on February
13, 2012 at 7:00 PM.
Blue Ribbon Site Visit
Wood End will host a site visit for the Blue Ribbon Conference on Thursday, April 12,
2012. Mr. Davidson passed out a packet from the last school site visit in 2009 and
asked Council members to review for next meeting. He would like to use the same
format as last visit utilizing students as tour guides and parents to assist with tour
groups, hang artwork, and be available for questions. "Spirit bags' will once again be
created including Wood End paper, bear, and water bottles for guests.
Digital Color Brochure
Sandy Emery contacted a Wood End parent (Wayne Moda) who is a graphic designer.
He provided quotes to develop a digital color brochure to highlight Wood End. Costs
varied from $168 for 125 digital print tri -fold brochures to $536 for 250 digital print multi -
page brochures. Mr. Davidson will follow up with Mr. Moda. A photographer is also
needed to take the necessary pictures for the brochure.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m. The School Council will resume discussions at
the next meeting on March 1, 2012.
Respectfully submitted,
Joanne King
Recording Secretary, 2/2/2012