HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-26 School Council - Arthur W Coolidge Middle MinutesOWF OrHE�
Town of Reading RECEIVED
y ' Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK
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Board - committee - commission - council: 1013 Nov 19 P 2 99
School Council -Arthur W Coolidge Middle
Date: 2013 -09 -26 Time: 2:45
Building: School -Coolidge Location: Conference Room
Address: 89 Birch Meadow Drive
Purpose:
Attendees: Members - Present:
Sarah Marchant, Principal; Liz Lovell, Teacher; Paul Guidetti, Teacher; Mark
Burton, School Psychologist; Jennifer Oliveira, Teacher; Linda Snowdockser,
Parent; Lisa Tighe, Parent; Kristin Kinsella, Parent
Members - Not Present:
Lauren Ream, Parent
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Jennifer Oliveira
Topics of Discussion:
I. Introductions:
Principal Marchant opened the meeting with introductions of members of the school School
Council. Members discussed their experience in School Council and why they wanted to be
a part of the council.
II.' School Improvement Plan:
Members discussed the School Improvement Plan and talked about ways that the goals
could be improved. In Goal 1, a member of the council liked that there is an assessment
and instruction piece to the plan. These pieces are critical pieces in teaching. Information
on the Common Core and DDMs were added to the plan.
Council members would like to see Information included that would provide an explanation
for parents In understanding all the acronyms used throughout the plan. Definition of terms
of things like PLC, interdisciplinary, faculty groups, team, learner- center problems, learning
walks, MTSS, DDM's etc. There Is anxiety with parents in how it all works and how will it
affect the students. It is beneficial to have information there for parents.
An explanation of DDMS was given. An example was the pre and posttest. Using these
tools, there will be lots of feedback from both students and teachers. It gives teachers an
opportunity to share what's important to teach. In administering the DDM's, pacing Is an
issue. Teachers will need to find a common time to distribute the assessment.
A concern was put forth about teaching the same thing at the same time due to pressure on
teachers to cover certain topics at a specific time. How would this affect the students? A
member used the MCAS as an example of how some teachers at other schools teach to the
test for money and scores, while losing creativity and Innovation. It is highly doubtful that
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teachers will have to teach the same thing at the same time here at Coolidge or In Reading;
however, something in writing would ease the stress of parents and teachers.
Goal 2: What are "learner- centered problems "? This wording appears throughout the plan,
but the Council is unclear of Its definition. Perhaps it means student struggles? The Council
came to the conclusion that data needs to be analyzed and there may be a need for
professional development, for this.
Goal 3:
MTSS (Multi -tiered System of Support) Assistant Principal, Marie Pink, facilitated a
connection activity with the staff at the beginning of school year. The activity was to
determine if there were teachers who felt they had a connection with specific students. It is
the teacher's perspective, but there will be analysis of this data at the beginning, middle
and end of school year.
Second Steps: The Council wanted to know If, when, and how second steps was being
implemented?
The Council wanted to edit some Information In Goal 3. Can numbers two and four be
combined? Can the wording be more positive? Number 4 is part of an action step.
III. Topics for next month:
Roles of Council members
Data of surveys, which ones are which
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