HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-02 School Council - Wood End Elementary MinutesOP
Town of Reading
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
School Council -Wood End Elementary
Date: 2016 -05 -02 Time: 3:15 PM
,. RECEIVED
• 44 CLERK
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iA NAY 23 A ID 5b
Building: School - Wood End Locatlon: Conference Room
Address: 85 Sunset Rock Lane
Purpose: Monthly Meeting for May 2015 -2016 School Year
Attendees: Members - Present:
Joanne King, Caltlin Koehler, Lynda Michel, Melissa Murphy
Members - Not Present:
Christine Daly
Others Present:
None
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Lynda Michel
Topics of Discussion:
The eighth monthly meeting of the Wood End Elementary School was held In the conference
room of the Wood End Elementary School on May 2, 2016.
Call to order:
A quorum of members being present and the meeting having been duly convened at Wood
End School by the Wood End Principal, Joanne King had called the meeting to order at 3:15
and proceeded with business.
Review and Acceptance of Minutes:
Members reviewed draft minutes from the March and April meetings.
There being no discussion, Mrs. King moved that the minutes for both months be accepted
as drafted. Mrs. Murphy seconded the motion. The members then voted unanimously to
approve the minutes.
Vote: Minutes Accepted 4 -0 -0
New Business:
Budget:
Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Koehler Informed the School Council that the "Community and
Listening" meetings (Board of Selectman and School Committee) will be held on the
following dates:
6/1 @ 7 p.m. Coolidge Middle School
6/7 @ 1 p.m. Pleasant Street Center
6/16 @ 7 p.m. Parker middle School
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The override will be on the ballot on October 18`h at a special election. Mrs. Murphy and
Mrs. Koehler would like to inform parents from the Wood End community to join the School
Council Meeting on June 6`h @ 7:00 p.m. to hear more about the override and inform people
of what they can do to help. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. If you have any
questions you can contact Wood End School Council representative Melissa Murphy:
mmurphUbarnail.com or Caitlin Koehler: Caitlin kohler(ftmai com for questions /concerns.
To follow up and continue to Inform parents, Mrs. Sanphy sent a follow up email from her
April visit requesting to come to the School Council meeting In June to speak to people
about "Yes For Reading ": "We are an official Municipal Ballot Question Committee and are
advocating for a YES vote on October 18th in regards to an override to prop 2 and 112 to
generate additional revenues for our town and schools. Ali help to increase awareness and
attendance at each of these upcoming community listening meetings would be greatly
appreciated. Leah Barton is the YFR point person for Wood End and a Town Meeting
member. We are working together. ff you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
contact me."
Community Listening Meetings will be taking place on:
June 1st 7 pm (Wednesday) @ Middle School TBA
June 7th 1 pm (Tuesday) @ Pleasant Street Center
June 16th 7 pm (Thursday) @ Middle School TBA
It is extremely Important to have people from all generations attend these meetings, ask
questions, voice their thoughts, needs and concerns to the Town and School Officials. The
Special Election is October 18th, 2016
Spring Open House:
The 2n° annual Wildcat Expo- Spring Open House was held on Wednesday April 13, 2016
@ 6:00 -7:30. The Expo consisted of 12 Vendors from within and outside of Wood End. The
overall feedback was that the format (Expo for the first half hour then the classrooms) was
well received by both teachers and families alike.
Incoming Kindergarten:
The Kindergarten screening is complete. Next year's classes will consist of:
-42 full -day students
-6 half -day students
There was much discussion about the large kindergarten class size if the classes were to be
Integrated. The School Council brainstormed about possible solutions that Mrs. King was
willing to bring to Dr. Doherty. Mrs. Murphy and Mrs. Koehler shared the Kindergarten
numbers at Birch Meadow:
-11 Half -day students
-51 Full -day students
The School Council was unsure of the numbers from the other elementary schools.
Mrs. Koehler asked if any families would like to attend BM since the K classes are smaller.
That Information was not available, and Mrs. King reported that most families prefer to stay
in their neighborhood schools.
Mrs. Murphy asked what options were available to keep class sizes manageable. Mrs. King
mentioned some potential options could Include:
• Split half -day kids between the two classes (Integrated model)
• Move to another school - this is not an Ideal option for families /community
• Combine BM and WE half -day students at one school for one year
The Superintendent makes the final decisions about placement of students and class size.
Gage 12
School Council: We have openings for 2016 -2017 school year. Ideally the group would
consist of 4 parents, 4 teachers. One suggestion was to have the meetings in the evenings
(7 -8 p.m.) to alleviate parents finding childcare. However, this could deter teachers from
signing on. The June meeting will be moved to the evening to see what happens - Impact
on attendance.
Old Business:
Drop- off /pick -up signage suggestions:
- Student/Safe Drop -off Zone starts here
-Begin drop off here
Goal is to have expectations clearly visible to all
Adjournment
There being no further business, the School Council adjourned at 4:15 with plans to meet
again on Monday, June 6, 2016 @ 7:OOPM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lynda Michel
Recording Secretary
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