HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-05 School Council - Wood End Elementary Minutes orq
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School Council -Wood End Elementary
Date: 2018-11-05 Time: 3:15 PM
Building: School - Wood End Location: Conference Room
Address: 85 Sunset Rock Lane
Purpose: Monthly Meeting for 2018-19 Year Session: General Session
Attendees: Members - Present:
Joanne King, Michelle Mini, Jane Roberts &Jessica Hester
Members - Not Present:
Tara Lewis, Casey Moulton, Ellen Commito
Others Present:
Christine Kelley, Assistant Superintendent
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Michelle Mini
Topics of Discussion:
The second monthly meeting of the Wood End Elementary School Council was held in the
Conference Room of the Wood End Elementary School on November 5, 2018.
Call to order:
A quorum of members being present, and the meeting having been duly convened at Wood
End School by the Principal, Joanne King called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m. and
proceeded with business.
Dr. King Introduced Christine Kelley to the group and reviewed the agenda for the meeting.
Mrs. Kelley Informed the group that she came to be an observer and plans to attend all the
School Councils at least once.
Public Comment:
Although Tara Lewis was unable to attend, she sent an email again expressing concerns
about the parking along Fox Run and Emerson streets with parents parking along both sides
of the road. This continues to pose a safety hazard during drop-off and pick-up times with
the significant Increase In traffic. Dr. King will again notify Officer Mike Scouter, Reading
Police Traffic & Safety Officer to investigate the parking concems and monitor the area
before and after school when possible.
Review and Acceptance of Minutes:
Members reviewed draft minutes from the October meeting.
There were no corrections or additions. Jane Roberts moved that the minutes from the
October 1s' meeting be accepted. Motion seconded. The members then voted unanimously
to approve the minutes.
Vote: Minutes Accepted 4-0-0
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New Business:
FY20 Budget Update:
The budget season has just begun, and Dr. King is working on the FY20 budget. She shared
Inforinatlon about the FY20 per pupil budget for Wood End which Is $53,808 by reviewing
each line item and how the funds are used. Some line Items Included fixed expenses (i.e.
photocopier lease) while other line Items are based on actual spending from the previous
three years. Other expenses change based on the number of classes each year. information
will be sent out In this month's Principal's news blog to solicit parent volunteers to serve as
budget parents, representing Wood End, in the coming months.
Class Size Update:
No new Information was available for class sizes, though 5 new students started in
November. Kindergarten registrations for the 2019-20 school year are due December 7th. At
that time, more information will be available about the class sizes for the Incoming
kindergartens at each school. Kindergarten placements will be completed by February 1,
2019.
School Improvement Plan:
All members of the committee reviewed a draft of the 2018-20 School Improvement Plan.
This plan will cover a two-year period and focus on two specific goals, each with specific
process benchmarks. Goals were created based on MCAS data and student performance:
Goal 1: To focus our energy and effort In identifying and implementing evidenced based instructional
practices and interventions in mathematics which will close the achievement gap with our students,In
particular,our students in the high needs group(i.e.special education).
Strategic Initiative/Objective:
• Implement scheduling,academic intervention blocks,curriculum maps,pacing guides,
supervision,professional development and coaching for teachers,and a Multi-Tiered System of
Support(MTSS)for students to increase the number of students from 70%to 80%who are
proficient in mathematics as measured by AMC assessments(K-2), MCAS(3-5), and grade-level
report card standards(K-5).
Goal 2:To Improve literacy instruction for all students,K-5,by providing teachers with time and training,
timely supervision and coaching,clear expectations,grade level progressions&curriculum mapping in
literacy.
Strategic Initladve/Objective(Curriculum Implementation)
• Implement MA Curriculum Frameworks in reading and writing using a workshop model in all
classrooms,with particular focus on achieving grade-level expectations for all students to
increase the number of students from 70%to 80%who are proficient in literacy as measured by
F&P benchmark assessments(K-5), MCAS(3-5),and grade-level report card standards(K-5).
Assist Superintendent Kelley discussed the creation of Internal documents to map the
supplemental instructional materials teachers can use. There seem to be a lot of holes in the
math curriculum and teachers need to streamline some of the lessons to cover all the
standards.
]ane Roberts brought up Math in Focus and said the Interactive lessons require Adobe Flash
which teachers no longer have access to. Mrs. Kelley will look into this concern.
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MCAS Spring 2018 Results:
Staff have reviewed all the MCAS data and Dr. King will present the school's MCAS results to
parents at an upcoming PTO meeting this week on Thursday, November 8'h. Her
presentation will also be available on the school's website for review.
PRIDE Survey Results:
Dr. King wanted to learn more about the teachers' concerns around"shared decision
making"and created a brief survey, with approval from School Council. The survey focused
on professional development and school budget, two areas identified by teachers. Results of
this additional survey showed 29 out of 29 teachers responded, though not all questions
were answered: Q1 - all answered. Q2 - 18 answered, 11 skipped. The survey noted where
teachers feel like they don't have enough Input: Determining the content of in-service
professional development programs, Selecting instructional materials and resources, and
Deciding how the school budget is spent. Dr. King will ask for specific feedback about
Wednesday time or in-service time, and content specific resources (i.e. math and science)
Q3 answered - 8 answered.
Dr. King will share the results of both surveys with teachers at the December staff meeting
to get their suggestions for PD and identify concerns about other areas noted (resources
and budget).
Adjournment
There being no further business, the School Council adjourned at 4:22 p.m. with plans to
reconvene on December 3, 2018.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michelle Mini,
Recording Secretary
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