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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-09-26 School Committee Minutes rQ:\ Town of Reading f 1,, Meeting Minutes Board - Committee - Commission - Council: School Committee Date: 2015-09-26 Time: 8:00 AM Building: School - Memorial High Location: Superintendent Conference Room Address: 82 Oakland Road Purpose: Open Session Session: General Session Attendees: Members - Present: Chuck Robinson, Jeanne Borawski, Gary Nihan, Linda Snow Dockser & Julie Joyce Members - Not Present: Elaine Webb, Student Representatives Gillies & Nazzaro Others Present: John Doherty, Superintendent, Craig Martin, Assistant Superintendent, Martha Sybert, Director of Finance, Dorothy Presser, MASC Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Linda Engelson on behalf of the Chair Topics of Discussion: Call to Order Chair Robinson called the School Committee to order at 8:05 a.m. 1. Recommended Procedure B. New Business District Governance Program Presentation The session began with a review of the School Committee operating protocols. The committee discussed their role and felt it is important to add a financial component bullet to the protocol. Communication was the next topic discussed. It has been strongly recommended by Town Counsel to use the Reading email address as the School Committee's primary account. It is the cleanest approach to receive and respond to emails. The School Committee wants to encourage the public to become involved as stakeholders. The Committee can refer questions to the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Director of Student Services and Director of Finance. All correspondence is a matter of public record. Dr. Snow-Dockser feels it is important that the Committee has access to responses to public inquiries. The responses will be shared as informational purposes only. Page I 1 Dr. Snow Dockser referred back to the roles portion of the protocol and would like to include "families and other stakeholders"to the last paragraph. The Chair called a brief recess at 9:10 a.m. The session was called back to order at 9:16 a.m. The discussion shifted to goal setting. Mrs. Presser broke the goal setting process into three areas: the School Committee determines the "what" and the Superintendent determines the "how" of the goal setting process. Area 1: Educator Plan: What overall vision do we have for the district and its students? Driver: Superintendent articulating district strengths & challenges, School Committee representing the community. Area 2: Action Plans: How do we get closer to this vision every year? Driver: Superintendent with School Committee approval and School Committee within its purview. Area 3: Monitoring Progress: How will we as a School Committee/Superintendent team work together to realize these goals? Driver: School Committee and Superintendent team. The goals process should be a continuous improvement cycle ensuring alignment of the goals throughout the district, monitoring the progress of the goals through presentations at meetings, ensuring the budget supports the educator and action plans and support progress toward goals through actions within the Committee's purview and through the evaluation process. Discussion moved to the agenda and the Committee took time to review the year's work of agendas. The Committee categorized agenda items on how they impacted student achievement and whether it fell into the governance or operations category. Mrs. Presser said that establishing a yearlong agenda allows for the monitoring of progress to increase the chances the district will achieve its goals, meeting time is precious, the scheduling of presentations provides the committee and the public with the opportunity to see what progress is being made and it allows the focus of the meetings to remain on the students. The committee discussed the use of a consent agenda to streamline the process. Dr. Snow Dockser expressed concerns that the School Committee will no longer publically acknowledge donations. Mrs. Borawski feels this will be a culture change. Mrs. Presser suggested that donations that support the district should be included in the budget book. The committee agreed. Dr. Doherty suggested that a listing of accepted donations could be listed on the district homepage. Mrs. Joyce left the meeting at 10:03 a.m. Discussion continued about the agenda. The focus must remain on student achievement. Mr. Robinson suggested that the time each topic is expected to be discussed appear on the agenda. Mrs. Presser agreed and shared that many School Committees estimate time; this allows for a frame of reference. Page 12 The next topic discussed was the School Committee goals. Mrs. Presser suggested that the goals align with the agenda topics. Mrs. Wilson suggested that the committee perform a self-audit. The MASC has many tools that can be used to perform a self-audit. The results could determine which changes should be implemented so meetings can be more efficient and informative. The School Committee in their role supporting the Superintendent should develop SMART goals. Mr. Nihan said it is important to clarify SMART goals. Discussion continued on the goal development process and it was agreed that it is important to stay focused on the outcomes. Mrs. Presser reviewed what was discussed. It was agreed that the Operating Protocol is complete with the revisions discussed today. Changes to the meeting agenda can begin including the addition of a consent agenda item and there will be a report to update the community on the retreat. C. Adjournment Mrs. Borawski moved, seconded by Mr. Nihan, to adjourn. The motion carried 4-0. The meeting adjourned at 11:05 a.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. k)1410/0. Jo F. Doherty, Ed.D. Page 13 Handout: W1-10 9/26/2015 District Governance Program 0 IROOF:SLIalnl.8Fmsew IIy 1 FRAME +` =„. ^' �,�yr,\ 7 OuracYFia t.' 1'.* " 7 READING SCHOOL COMMITTEE SEPTEMBER 26z 201$ MASC District Governance Program Agenda for Today 00 2 • Review operating Protocols • Goal Setting —The Big Picture • Effective Use of Meeting Time NIASC District Governance Program,' 1 Handout: W1-10 9/26/2015 Goal Setting • What overall vision do we have for the district and its students? • Driver:Superintendent articulating district strengths& challenges,School Committee representing community • How do we get closer to this vision every year? f , 0-''''.31-r4 • Driver:Superintendent with school committee approval and school committee within its purview • How will we as a school committee/superintendent team work ,1:4:1- together to realize these goals? • Driver:School committee and superintendent team M■SC District Governance Program Overarching Goals School Committee Superintendent School Improvement Goals Goals Plans Administrator Goals Teacher Goals Student Achievement AMC District Governance Program 4 2 Handout: W1-10 9/26/2015 Continuous Improvement Cycle :s � MASC District Governance Program I Goals Frame & Structure SC Work • Along with Superintendent, ensure alignment oi" goals throughout district I Monitor progress toward gels throw h presentations at School Committee m tings Ensure budget supports Educator Plan Actiot Plans Support progress toward goals through actions within the Committee's purview & through eve luation process MASC District Governance Program 3 Handout: W1-10 9/26/2015 Governance Impact on Student Achievement Low 4 * High Operations MASC District Governance Program 7 Agenda Audit Discussion CD • What are some of the "upper right-hand quadrant items on the agenda? What were some of the other items? • What areas need more time? Less time? • What are some ideas to increase meeting efficiency? • Given the goals for the coming year, what presentations would help monitor progress toward the goals? MASC District Governance Program 4 • Handout: W1-10 9/26/2015 Why Establish a Year-Long Agenda? CO a Monitoring progress increases chances that the I district will achieve its goals. o Meeting time is a precious governance resource: A meeting is one chapter in an unfolding story of your district. Are you "Marching' or"coherent?" c Scheduling presentations provides you and the public with the opportunity to see/understand evidence of progress being made. o Keeps the focus of meetings on students! MASC District Governance Program School Committee Goals • What actions,within your purview, would support progress toward Strategic Objectives 8e current year Action Steps? • How would you articulate the actions as SMART goats? MASC District Governor ce Program,,, 5 Handout: W1-10 9/26/2015 SMART Goals •Specific and Strategic • Measurable •Achievable,Action-oriented • Rigorous, Realistic and Results-oriented(3 Rs) •Trackable,Timed MASC District Governance Program Wrap-Up — Next Steps • What outcomes would you like to see from today's workshop? o Agenda Year long agenda/Goal monitoring o School Committee goals c, Other MASC District Governance Program 6