HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-06 School Council - Killam Elementary MinutesTown of Reading
Meeting Minutes
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
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School.Council -J Warren Killam Elementary NOV A IQ::A" sly
Date: 2017-11-06 Time: 3:00 PM
Building: School - Killam Location: Conference Room
Address: 333 Charles Street
Purpose: Monthly Meeting for November 2017-2018 School Year
Attendees: Members - Present:
Sarah Leveque
Jennifer Vogelzang
Kate Splaine
Lauren Gramolini
Nick Marragoni
Members Not Present:
Others. Present:
Dr. John Doherty
Gail Dowd
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Lauren Gramolini
Topics of Discussion:
The second monthly meeting of the J.W. Killam Elementary. School was held in the
conference room of the Killam Elementary School on November 6, 2017.
Call to order:
A quorum of members being present and the meeting having been duly convened at Killam
School by the Killam Principal,.Sarah Leveque had called the meeting to order at 3:00 and
proceeded with business.
Review and Acceptance of Minutes:
Members reviewed draft minutes .from the October meeting.
There being no further discussion, Ms. Leveque moved that the minutes for the month be
accepted as drafted.
New Business:
Ms. Leveque informed the members that neither the Parent Handbook nor the WASH Allergy
Guidelines have been adjusted or changed from the previous school year.
Ms. Leveque distributed copies -of the 2017-2018 School Improvement Plan to the members
for review. Ms. Leveque discussed our two school goals: 1.) 100% implementation of the
Lucy Calkins Writer's Workshop Units of Study in K-5 classrooms and 2.) using a systematic.
approach to collecting, analyzing, responding to student work/assessments to create
differentiated lessons during intervention blocks.
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Dr. Doherty distributed copies of the 2017-2018 District Improvement Plan. He discussed
the four focus areas: 1.) Closing the Achievement Gap, 2.) Literacy, 3.) Mathematics
Practices, and 4..) Social Emotional. Learning. Dr. Doherty informed the members that
because of limited resources throughout the district, our training and materials would focus
on the following key areas: 1.) Writing at the Elementary Level, 2.) Science Curriculum
Implementation, 3.) Implementing Advisory at the Middle School Level, and 4.) Level
Consolidation.
Ms. Leveque addressed questions posed by Mr. Marragoni regarding the 3rd Grade Math
MCAS Scores. She discussed using the data to find core areas of need, filling gaps, and
using technology such as AMC An.ywhere'to drive math instruction. Dr. Doherty added that.
as a district we have grown stronger at teaching to the standards that are being assessed as
opposed to teaching the Math In Focus Program to fidelity.
Budget:
Mr. Marragoni informed committee members that he would like to be the Budget Liaison for
the Killam School for a second year. He would like to seethe communication at the school
level strengthened between the entire-Killam community not just those involved in the PTO.
Mr. Marragoni suggested to Dr. Doherty and Ms. Dowd that the information be presented as
a streamlined, one page bulletin.
Dr. Doherty discussed district budget concerns. Although we are getting a 2% increase
from the town this will not be enough to cover the following: salary increases, Federal Grant
reductions, Special Education out of district tuition/transportation, and town transportation
increases.
Other:
Dr. Doherty informed the members -that every school in the town was rated by the
Massachusetts School Building Authority this past spring'. All schools. received a "1" on the
Environmental Rating and Killam scored a "3" on the Overall Building Rating. Some reasons
being: lead in the pipes, lack of handicap accessibility, and lack of a sprinkler system.
Dr. Doherty will continue to be active in the process by attending school council meetings,
PTO Meetings, office hours, etc.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the School. Council adjourned at 4:00 with plans to
reconvene on December 4, 2017.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lauren. Gramolini
Recording Secretary
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