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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-28 School Committee Minutes a orxF� Town of Reading eo Meeting Minutes RECEIVED TOWN CLERK READING, MA. 6dyaxcnnv ,�p Board - committee - commission - Council: 2019 MAY -6 PM 1: 55 School Committee Date: 2019-03-28 Time: 7:00 PM Building: School - Memorial High Location: School Library Address: 62 Oakland Road Session: Open Session Purpose: Open Session Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Chuck Robinson, Linda Snow Dockser, Elaine Webb, Nick Boivin, and Geoffrey Coram Members - Not Present: Jeanne Borawski Others Present: Superintendent John Doherty, Chief Financial Officer Gail Dowd, Assistant Superintendent Christine Kelley, Interim Director of Student Services Sharon Stewart, Director of Facilities Joe Huggins, Town Manager Bob LeLacheur, Human Resources Administrator Jenn Bove, RMHS Principal Kate Boynton, School Committee candidates Tom Wise, John Parks and Patricia Calley Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Linda Engelson on behalf of the Chair Topics of Discussion: I. Call to Order Chair Webb called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., read the district mission, and reviewed the agenda. A. Public Input Mrs. Webb asked if there was any public comment on topics not on the agenda. There was none. B. Consent Agenda Mrs. Webb asked if the committee wanted any items removed from the consent agenda. Accept a Donation to the RISE Preschool - Accept Donations from the Reading Cultural Council - Accept a Donation to Joshua Eaton - Approval of RMHS Boys Lacrosse Field Trip - Approval of Minutes (February 7 & March 11,2019) Page I 1 Dr Dockser moved seconded by Mr. Robinson,to approve the consent agenda. The motion carried 5-0. C. Reports Chief Financial Officer Mrs. Dowd shared that the Finance Committee reviewed the budgets and warrant articles and approved them all at their meeting on March 13". Assistant Superintendent's Renort Mrs. Kelley reported on the successful Reading Institute—Spring. She next reported that the district was recently approved to receive the $5,000 High Quality Teacher Planning Grant which we will use for Middle School Math professional development. She thanked STEM Curriculum Coach Heather Leonard for writing and submitting this application. Lastly, she shared that the 2"d annual Parent University will be held on Saturday. Mr. LeLacheur arrived at 7:07 p.m. Interim Director of Student Services Mrs. Stewart reported that she has been compiling information for the DESE Tiered Focused Monitoring report which will be submitted at the end of April. Superintendent's Report Dr. Doherty announced that Jennifer Stys will be the next Director of Student Services. She officially begins on July 1, 2019 but will be taking part in transitioning activities between now and July 1 st. These will include meetings with the SEPAL,Team Chairs,District Leadership Team, and school community. Dr. Doherty reported that we had sent letters asking our legislators advocating for support to fully fund circuit breaker reimbursement for the FY20 budget and there will be strong representation from districts at the Education Roundtable being held by Senator Lewis on April 8`^ in Melrose. The Reading Public Schools, along with other districts,were highlighted in the DESE Annual Report. The Killam School was involved in a research study with the American Institute for Research, Massachusetts Advocates for Children and Harvard Law School involving trauma sensitive schools. The Reading Public Schools and RCASA were featured as an exemplary approach to supporting students' social,emotional, and academic development in a report from the Aspen Institute National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development. Liaisons Mr. Robinson reported that the Recreation Committee met recently. Discussion regarding Sunday field use was a topic of discussion. Reading Youth Lacrosse has Gage 1 2 asked to use the fields prior to noon to accommodate the increased number of participants in the program. Mr. Robinson took a moment to thank Mr. Boivin for his service to the Reading Public Schools. Mrs. Webb thanked Dr. Coram for his service to the School Committee. Dr. Dockser reported on the recent Parker and RMHS drama productions,the Robotics competition, METCO Advocacy Day and the RCASA Board meeting at which the YRBS was discussed. Mrs. Webb reported on the Ad Hoc meeting she attended on Monday night. D. New Business Capital Update Elementary School Snace Needs Mrs. Dowd introduced Dale Gienapp, Gienapp Architects,who has been hired to oversee the study. Mr. Gienapp said his firm will identify/develop one or two options. They will perform building assessments and evaluate the buildings potential capacity.NESDEC has been hired,by Gienapp architects,to prepare the enrollment study. As part of the study,planning options include the ability of the site to accommodate changes and the practicality of additions. This study is focusing on the 5 elementary schools only. The timeline was reviewed. April will be used to evaluate the schools,planning options will be developed in May and in June options will be identified. Turf II $200,000 was approved by the Finance Committee to fund the design services for Turf II. The working group has continued to meet with Activitas and has narrowed the focus of the project. Once the project is bid out and awarded (pending Town Meeting funding approval), we anticipate being in construction late summer into early fall. Building Security Study There will be an executive session on April I I"to provide information on this study. Details will not be shared for security reasons. The Select Board, School Committee,Board of Library Trustees and the Finance Committee have been invited to attend. Mr. LeLacheur and Mr. Huggins left the meeting at 8:11 p.m. E. Old Business Late Start Update Page 1 3 Mrs. Kelley and Ms. Boynton updated the committee on the work done since the December presentation. Mrs. Kelley and Ms. Boynton presented at the January PTO meeting,they have been building a website page, gathering information through the survey process and formed a Homework&Activities Committee. The Homework&Activities Committee have met four times and the main themes generated at these meetings have been;building accessibility,homework practices and sports and activities scheduling—with an emphasis on balancing schedules and managing stress. Next steps include planning for before school supervision schedules and looking at how the earlier start time at RISE will impact families. Mr. Wise asked that communication with town groups and organizations be better. Ouarterly Personnel Report Human Resources Administrator Jean Bove updated the committee on the personnel changes in quarter 2. Quarterly FY2019 Budget Update Mrs. Dowd presented the Q2 FY19 budget update as well as an update on FY19 Grant Funding. Mr. Wise asked for clarification on which cost center the School Psychologists fell. He thought they were included in Regular Day and questioned why we would need to transfer funds to cover the expense in Special Education. Mrs. Stewart shared that part of their role includes the child find piece and testing and we have 3 School Psychologists out on maternity leave. Dr. Dockser moved, seconded by Dr. Coram,to authorize the transfer of $200,000 to the Special Education Cost Center from the Regular Day Cost Center, utilizing salary savings from staff turnover, unfilled positions,and staff extending leaves of absence in the Regular Education Cost Center. Mr. Boivin asked about the amount of the transfer. Mrs. Dowd said she rounded up to cover unanticipated costs. The motion carried 5-0. II. Routine Matters a. Bills and Payroll (A) Warrant 51937 3.14.19 $143, 34 1 .50 Warrant P1938 3.21.19 $276,104.19 Warrant P1939 3.28.19 $161,624.76 b. Calendar III. Information/Correspondence Page 1 4 Chair Webb reminded the committee of the next meeting on April 1 I that will include Executive session at 6:00 p.m. At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Coram asked Assistant Superintendent Chris Kelley a question regarding the response that she gave regarding an email about mathematics that was sent by RMHS parent Rebecca Lieberman. Chair Webb thanked Mr. Boivin and Dr. Coram for their service. Tonight, was their last meeting. IV.Future Business V. Adioumment Adjourn Mr.Boivin moved,seconded by Dr. Coram, to adjourn. The motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m. NOTE: The minutes reflect the order as stated in the posted meeting agenda not the order they occurred during the meeting. Link to meeting video: httos�//www.voutube.com/watch?v—TE9cYOfMlnc o F)5ohertA Ed.D. Handouts: Parent University Brochure Response to Mrs. Liberman on Math update Page 1 5 READING PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARENT UNIVERSITY Saturday, March „ • Keynote., Raising Healthy and Happy Children If you had to choose one word to describe the society you want your children to live in,what would it be? Happy?Healthy?Safe?Compassionate?Resilient?When parents and educators are asked this question,these are the words they choose.These words highlight the important role that social-emotional skillsla in ensuring P Y % that children are prepared to navigate the academic,social,and life challenges they face. In her keynote address, Dr.Tominey will talk about the importance of promoting social-emotional skills,provide tools to manage the many emotions that arise at home and school,and discuss strategies for laying a foundation for the happy and healthy society we all want for our children. Presenter: Shauna Tominey,Ph.D. Shauna Tominey,Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Practice and Parenting Education Specialist at Oregon State University. She serves as the Principal Investigator for the Oregon Parenting Education Collaborative,a statewide initiative aimed at providing high-quality parenting education.Previously, Dr.Tominey served as the Director of Early Childhood Programming and a Teacher Education at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence.As a former early childhood educator and family service professional,Dr.Tominey blends practical experience with research to develop and test programs aimed £ at promoting social-emotional skills for children and adults.Dr.Tominey regularly speaks at local and national conferences and is the author of, "Creating Compassionate Kids:Essential Conversations to Have With Young Children." r Reading Public Schools Parent University Workshop Session 1: 9:5Oam- 1O:5Oam Managing the Ups and Downs of Children's Emotional Lives From happy to sad, loved to frustrated,excited to discouraged-the many emotions children(and adults) experience day-to-day matter! Our emotions impact our ability to build positive relationships with others,to manage our behaviors and make good choices,to pay attention and learn,and to be the parents we want to be. This hands-on workshop will extend the conversation from the keynote address to offer additional tools and strategies to integrate emotional intelligence at home,school, and in the community. Presenter: Shauna Tominey,Ph.D. Room: Performing Arts Center(PAQ Understanding the Changing Landscape of Vaping From e-liquid juice to marijuana pods,vaping product availability has expanded and surged over the last few years. The global vaping market is expected to exceed 43 billion by 2023. This workshop will help parents understand the critical aspects of vaping prevention.We will explore how many teens are using vapes;what vaping products actually contain; discuss the potential health risks of vaping;why teens are drawn to vape delivery devices; review the current policies and laws;and how to talk to your child or teen. Parents play a powerful role in preventing vaping use among teens,join us. Presenter: Erica McNamara,MPH Room: 339 Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Part 1--Introduction Collaborative and Proactive Solutions (CPS),formerly known as Collaborative Problem Solving,is an evidenced-based,empirically supported approach for understanding behavior and improving behavior in children and adolescents.The approach was originated by Dr.Ross Greene,outlined in his books The Explosive Child,Lost at School and Raising Human Beings,and based on the simple philosophy"Kids do well if they ran."This workshop will provide an introduction to the model,including an alternative understanding of behavior based in research over the last 50 years in the field of child psychology. Presenter: Lindsey Jacobs Room: 229 Intentional Parenting Do you feel like parenting is an endless series of quick decisions without much time for reflection? Do you wonder how to help your children navigate their way to adulthood? In this workshop,you will develop your parenting intentions. You will learn how to use these intentions to develop rules,routines, and habits that are right for your family. Presenter. Theresa Wiggins Room: Distance Learning Room,46 Floor Demystifying College Cost and the Financial Aid Process "While College costs may seem overwhelming,they CAN be manageable no matter what personal resources you have. Determining"financial fit" is a critical step in the college process. I will help demystify the process of funding a college education through a series of checklists: Researching Financial Fit,Applying for Financial Aid and,Comparing your Options. The end goal is to be able to make the best overall decision for your child and your family." Presenter., Amy StaJjier Room: 221 Supporting Our LGBTQ+Loved Ones Join our learning community as we engage in a discussion on how we as families at Reading Public Schools can support our students as they navigate issue areas related to sexuality,gender identity,and expression. We will also explore how inclusive curriculum and open dialogue of these topics allow for our students to thrive. Presenter:JamesShultis Room: 340 No One Called You a Racist: Caught Not Taught,How Bias Develops In this workshop,we will share information regarding bias development,examine our own biases,and share resources for interrupting bias. Presenter. Julia Hendrix,Principal Birch Meadow Elementary School&Jason Cross,METCO Director Room: 338 Happy,Healthy,Restored: Mindful Parenting in Our Modern World Today's families face so many challenges in a world filled with constant electronic stimulation and greater pressure than ever before. Mindfulness can help us to slow down,unplug,and be more present, patient,and loving with our children so that we can respond with love and wisdom,rather than react impulsively(and often with guilt). Join nurse practitioners and mindfulness experts,Jodi Santosuosso and Eleana Conway to learn important mindfulness tools to become more grounded and tips to incorporate simple mindfulness activates into your everyday life so that parenting feels less like a struggle and more like a privilege. Presenter: Jodi Santosuosso&Eleana Conway,Restore Meditation Room: 341 How Do We Influence Our Kids More than YouTube Does? Are you concerned about the effects of your child's time spent on screen devices and social media? David Monahan of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood will lead a discussion on how marketers target kids at home,at school,and everywhere in between,and how your family can navigate today's media landscape in a way that is best for your child's wellbeing. Presenters., David Monahan Room: 235 College Process-Round Table Discussions with Parents This workshop is designed for parents who are new to the college search and application process. Parents who have been through the process before will share their experiences on what did and did not work,what they wished they knew beforehand and how to navigate the process with ease. Moderator: Steve Kennedy,RMHS Guidance Counselor Room: Library Reading Public Schools Parent University Workshop Session 2: 11:30am-12:30pm Mindfulness and Parenting What is mindfulness?How can it improve your experience as a parent and enhance your family's quality of life?Learn what all the talk is about and bring home some practical strategies you can start using right away. Presenter: Theresa Wiggins Room: Distance Learning Room,46 Floor Introduction to Mental Health First Aid Did you know that over 600 adults in Reading are Certified Mental Health First Aiders?Learn more about becoming part of the Mental Health First Aid movement in Reading.Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack,Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis.Risk factors,warning signs for mental health concerns,strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations,and where to turn for help will be discussed.This workshop will provide information on what courses are available in Mental Health First Aid in Reading and local resources for mental health support Presenter: Erica McNamara,MPH Room: 339 Supporting Our LGBTQ+Loved Ones Join our learning community as we engage in a discussion on how we as families at Reading Public Schools can support our students as they navigate issue areas related to sexuality,gender identity,and expression. We will also explore how inclusive curriculum and open dialogue of these topics allow for our students to thrive. Presenter: James Shultis Room: 340 Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Part 11--The Basics This workshop is a continuation of Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Part 1,providing an overview of how to use the problem solving approach with your child.This workshop will go over the basics the CPS approach,including how to prioritize challenging behaviors,language and techniques for problem solving,and how to build lagging skills that cause challenging behavior in children and adolescents.The CPS model allows parents and caregivers to better understand their child's behavior and build a more collaborative relationship with their child.This workshop is recommended after attending CPS Part 1,or for anyone who has previously been introduced to the CPS model. Presenters: LindseyJacobs Room: 229 Demystifying College Cost and the Financial Aid Process "While College costs may seem overwhelming,they CAN be manageable no matter what personal resources you have. Determining "financial fit" is a critical step in the college process. I will help demystify the process of funding a college education through a series of checklists:Researching Financial Fit,Applying for Financial Aid and, Comparing your Options. The end goal is to be able to make the best overall decision for your child and your family." Presenter. AmyStaffier Room: 222 Happy,Healthy,Restored: Mindful Parenting in Our Modern World Today's families face so many challenges in a world filled with constant electronic stimulation and greater pressure than ever before. Mindfulness can help us to slow down,unplug,and be more present, patient,and loving with our children so that we can respond with love and wisdom,rather than react impulsively(and often with guilt). Join nurse practitioners and mindfulness experts,Jodi Santosuosso and Eleana Conway to learn important mindfulness tools to become more grounded and tips to incorporate simple mindfulness activates into your everyday life so that parenting feels less like a struggle and more like a privilege. Presenter., Jodi Santosuosso&Eleana Conway,Restore Meditation Room: 341 No One Called You a Racist: Caught Not Taught, How Bias Develops In this workshop,we will share information regarding bias development,examine our own biases,and share resources for interrupting bias. Presenter: Julia Hendrix,Principal Birch Meadow Elementary School&Jason Cross,METCO Director Room: 338 Workshop Presenter Bin's Lindsey Jacobs is a School Psychologist at Barrows Elementary School in Reading.Her professional interests include working with behaviorally challenging children,and the effects of trauma on learning. Before coming to Reading, she worked for the non-profit Lives in the Balance in Portland,Maine,with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Ross Greene. She is now a Certified Provider of Dr. Greene's Collaborative and Proactive Solutions(CPS) approach—formerly known as Collaborative Problem Solving.CPS is an evidenced-based,empirically supported approach for working with children with behavior challenges.Lindsey is also a course instructor for the Lesley Institute for Trauma Sensitivity(LIffS)at Lesley University. Ms.Erica McNamara,MPH, is the Director of the Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse(RCASA) with the Town of Reading(2008-present)overseeing mental health promotion and substance abuse prevention projects. She currently manages Reading's Drug Free Communities grant project through the U.S. Substance Abuse&Mental Health Services Administration(SAMHSA)and the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. She is a Certified Instructor for Mental Health First Aid USA and teaches courses for adults working with teens and adults.Prior to RCASA, she served as the Director of Adolescent Health&Youth Development at Lowell Community Health Center in Lowell,MA where she managed five after-school prevention projects. David Monahan,a resident of Reading, is Campaign Manager at the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood,which works internationally to educate the public about commercialism's impact on kids'wellbeing and advocate for the end of child-targeted marketing. David previously worked for 15 years as an Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division of the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, including six years as Deputy Division Chief. Jodi Santosuosso is a Family Nurse Practitioner in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Jodi began to research the benefits of mindfulness in adults and questioned whether these same benefits could be brought to children in her current practice. In the summer of 2014,Jodi enrolled in an eight week Mind Body Stress Reduction Course at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.This training introduced her to the concept of mindfulness and the importance of not being in autopilot.As a mother of two children,Jodi wanted to share this gift of being mindful with them and those around her. In December of 2015,Jodi completed a 10. week practicum,A Still Quiet Place,mindfulness program for teaching children and adolescents to ease stress and difficult emotions by Dr.Amy Saltzman.Both trainings integrated yoga as a practice to find the body mind connection.Jodi started taking classes at Yoga Moves in June of 2015 and over time learned to arrive on her mat and stay in the present moment.Yoga has awakened her from the life of being in autopilot.This new awakening led her to want to teach yoga to young children,adolescents and adults.Jodi completed levels 1-3 training through Radiant Child Yoga in March of 2016 and completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training with Mary Ellen Goodsir at Yoga Moves in Stoneham,MA.As a yoga teacher and Reiki Level 1 practitioner, her classes embrace the mind body connection allowing students to not only arrive on their mat but to also be present on their mat. Her teaching style encourages students out of their head and into their body through various styles of yoga. James Shultis is a consultant with the Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students and provides training and technical assistance to school districts across the Commonwealth. The Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students is ajoint program of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education(DESE).,It was founded in 1993 to address concerns of bullying and suicide risk that faced LGBTQ youth in Massachusetts public schools.Today,the Safe Schools Program remains an important part of implementing the state's anti-bullying law and protecting the health and safety of students. Amy Staffer is the Director of Financial Aid at Simmons University in Boston where she serves their undergraduate,graduate,and online students.Prior to working at Simmons,she spent 21 years working in the Admissions and Financial Aid office at Harvard College,as the Associate Director of Financial Aid, Admissions Officer,and University Director of the Federal Work-Study Program.Amy firmly believes in sharing the knowledge she has. She has spent the last 19 years volunteering her time helping families navigate the financial aid process through presentations at local high schools,FAFSA Day workshops,and simply sitting dawn one on one to personally walk them through applying for aid and comparing offers. Theresa Wiggins has 13 years of experience in the classroom as both a special educator and classroom teacher. She has taught at both the elementary and middle school level. Since 2014,Theresa has been combining her passion for kids,families,and education by founding her business, Village Parenting. Working with both schools and families,Village Parenting's guiding belief is that the best way to educate our youth is to do it collaboratively. Theresa teaches mindfulness and offers in-home behavior management support to families dealing with chronic behavior issues. She also offers consultation and training to schools on effective Family Engagement as well as providing mindfulness instruction to both staff and students,K-12. Village Parenting seeks to build bridges between home and school in order to improve the education for the whole child. Eleana M. Conway obtained her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Saint Anselm College in 1995 and earned her Masters in Community Health Nursing and Family Nurse Practitioner from Boston College in 1998. She has studied at the UMass Medical School, Center for Mindfulness. For over 20 years,Eleana has ran group sessions and has a longstanding interest in the practice of meditation. She believes cultivating mindfulness plays an important role in the reduction disease and suffering and in learning to live in a skillful way. She is dedicated to her own formal meditation practice. Over the course of her professional career,Eleana has worked with individuals across the lifespan struggling with a wide range of challenges;including chronic disease and addiction. She served as Head Nurse Practitioner in the Adult Pulmonary,Asthma,and Allergy Clinic and co- led Smoking Cessation Programs at Boston Medical Center from 2000-2005. For the last ten years,Eleana has directed population health and risk reduction opportunities across the Lahey Health Medical System. She passionately promotes a culture of health and encourages all to pursue a balanced lifestyle through the development and facilitation of evidence based and patient centered wellness programs; including Tobacco Treatment and Stress Management Training Programs. She serves as a direct link between improved health and lifestyle changes so that no one has to face their journey alone. Eleana is on the MBSR teacher training tract with the Mindfulness Center at Brown University. She has also trained at The UMass Medical School Center for Mindfulness in Medicine,Health Care,and Society. In 2017 Eleana opened Restore Meditation,in Woburn, MA,Boston's First Modem Meditation studio to share the benefits of mindfulness with others. She is dedicated to her own formal meditation practice often refers to it as the `superhero cape' that allows her to happily and successfully manage multiple careers and a family of six. r to the Community Education staff, Kristin Morello, Director of Food Services, Facilities Department, KidzFun and all of the Reading Public School staff and administrators who supported Parent University and made it happen! And our sincerest gratitude as well to the following for their generous contributions: J.P. Licks Jordan's Furniture Great Wolf Lodge Wachusett Mountain Ragged Mountain Resort Calareso's Farm Stand & Garden Center Lynnfield Marketplace (Davios, Roosters, Polka Dog Bakery, Mane & Mani, Pure Barre) Foxwoods Resort & Casino Tin Bucket Whitelam Books Wamesit Lanes f Jahn F. Doherty,ad.D. o,�^ysuo^omnF. Christine M.Kelley S.,onntmdentofSchooi. a4 or Assistant superintendent 82 Oakland Road - b- sh..Stewart Reading,NA 01867 w+ Interim Di eetar afStuden[Service. Phone:181-940.5800 Fuc 181-942-9149 Gail S.Dowd,CPA \ Chief Finarmul 011ier 4 ^ao e nu6nc5e^°� Reading Public Schools Instilling a joy of learning and inspiring the innovative leaders of tomorrow March 28, 2019 Dear Mrs. Liberman, I am writing to respond to your recent emails asking for an update on math tracks and course descriptions. I wish to thank Allyson Williams, current math department head and other members of our RMHS math team for sharing much of the history regarding some of the changes that have been made in the last number of years. Why is the full year precalculus course being eliminated, and what content will be lost by doing this? The math department concurs with your desire for flexible pathways to exist to enable students to get to Calculus. The changes that have evolved over time reflect the opportunity for all students to participate in a rigorous Algebra 1 course when they are ready to do so.Our ongoing analysis of data includes reviewing historical data trends (i.e. students required to repeat Algebra 1, passing rates, etc.) as well as our plans for future data collection and analysis with our adjusted structures. During the years when the majority of eighth grade RPS students took Algebra 1, we found that the course was not able to be taught at the level of rigor that was necessary to build a strong foundation for higher-level math work because it was not developmentally appropriate for many of the students. During the school year of 2013-2013, RMHS was unable to offer Honors Algebra 1 to the Class of 2016 because no students were ready for the content and pacing. We decided at that time that the best chance of success in all math courses was for most students to be exposed to algebra a year later in ninth grade. At first, we modified the pathways at RMHS to enable these students to take a traditional sequence of five math courses in four years. Initially, Geometry was offered during the summer, enabling students to take Algebra 1,Algebra 2, Precalculus, and Calculus during their four years of high school. Some students chose to double up during their sophomore year by taking Geometry and Algebra 2, leaving room for Precalculus and Calculus during their junior and senior years, respectively. Other students took Algebra 1 during ninth grade, Geometry during tenth grade,Algebra 2 for all of junior year plus an additional Analytical Trigonometry course during the second semester of junior year to gain exposure to the trigonometry that is required for Calculus,which they then took senior year.All of these options required students to take more than four years of math in a four year timeframe, which meant doubling up and/or summer course work. This was less than ideal since these students were often also involved in other high-level coursework and extracurricular activities.These original pathways will be phased out starting with the Class of 2023. Me Rmosog MMrcsboon Coes not drWmNate on the 6uis oftatt,mbr,aut,9aMeridenaly,MI➢.bry natlonN onl ,.1 wkn..,age wdaaalllry . The new pathways were created for students to start with Algebra 1 in ninth grade and culminate in twelfth grade with Calculus without needing to double up or do additional summer work. Despite fewer students taking Algebra 1 in the eighth grade since 2013,the number of students who took AP Calculus BC, which is traditionally a senior class, increased by 178%from 2013 to 2019. Given this data, our trends indicate that taking Algebra 1 in the ninth grade has had a positive impact on the enrollment of student in Calculus during senior year. Why doesn't Reading look at what other districts are doing in order to develop our math j curriculum maps and math pathways? RMHS teachers have reviewed what similar school districts are doing. As each district utilizes different level structures and elementary and middle school curriculum, it wouldn't be possible to simply replicate a peer district structure, however reaching out to neighboring districts can help inform our decisions. For example, in Winchester,they have modified their pathways in a unique way that may work specifically for their students. It seems like they have eliminated a course titled Geometry for students in the Class of 2022 and beyond, but the topics that are part of a traditional geometry course have been absorbed by other classes. This is similar to what we have done with the Precalculus course. Many districts have modified math pathways to help more students to get to Calculus as seniors without having to double up, do summer coursework or undertake Algebra before they are developmentally read to 9 P do so. We have Y Y chosen pathways at RMHS that we believe suit the needs of our students who have attended RPS. I have heard that some of the former precalculus course content will be folded into earlier classes, but will there be time for that when the geometry and algebra 2 classes are already full year courses? The concepts covered in Precalculus fall into three categories: • redundant topics from Algebra 1 and 2 that were necessary to re-teach when students did not have a strong enough foundation due to taking Algebra 1 too early in their development. Since students will be taking a rigorous course in Algebra 1 at RMHS, less time will need to spent reviewing and remediating in Geometry and Algebra 1. This in tum makes more time available in those classes. • concepts that are necessary only for students taking AP Calculus BC.Students who take AP Calculus BC as seniors will take AP Calculus AS as juniors.The overlap between content covered between the two classes is roughly 70%. Since the BC Calculus students will not need to re-learn the overlapping content from AB Calculus, the extra time can be partially spent teaching the concepts that are needed solely for BC Calculus.The remaining time in BC Calculus will be spent finishing the curriculum for that course and possibly getting into some multivariable calculus and/or linear algebra, which enables these students to cover more material than in theast despite n p p of having taken a course titled Precalculus. • and trigonometry concepts. Trigonometry will be absorbed into Geometry and Algebra 2, which will have additional time available since there will be less of a need to re-teach Algebra 1 topics.Additionally, the focus in Geometry will shift towards analytical applications that are algebra-based, allowing students to keep their algebra skills fresh.All of these changes are supported by the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks in math for students who are on an accelerated pathway. Do we know how the combined-level math classes are working out for students and for teachers? We have not collapsed levels in math at RMHS yet, and I can't speak to how it's going at the middle schools or in other departments at the high school. We acknowledge that this is a big change for students and teachers, and we are taking steps to make a smooth transition. Teachers who will be teaching the collapsed level classes will work collaboratively over the spring and possibly summer to develop course content, consistent classroom routines and expectations, and differentiation strategies to support the learning of all students. Students who receive instruction in ]he AeaM,q gAllc Stlwds Ones na[N.mimlmhmllre Oaslso/ra[e,[obr,se+t 9enpe[Itlentlry,reNglnn,neNorulMyn,sexua/e[lenGXon,aqe wOisaENlry G' . a co-taught or paraprofessional-supported course as part of an Individualized Education Plan will continue to receive those supports. Longitudinal data will be collected and analyzed to make decisions about the effectiveness of the changes that have been made for the Class of 2023. Why won't Reading restore a pathway to middle school algebra for more students? We are committed to the level collapse starting with the Class of 2023.The high school and middle school staff collaborated to create the criteria used to recommend students for Honors Algebra 1, Algebra 1, and Honors Geometry, Additionally, an enrichment course was added for freshmen who were identified by eighth grade staff as possibly needing parallel support as they are enrolled in Algebra 1. Participation in this course is not limited to students who have been identified as needing support services, such as co-taught or paraprofessional-supported courses. This course will begin by reviewing previous content and will segue into supporting the work students are doing concurrently in their Algebra 1 course. Data will be collected and analyzed to look for patterns that may emerge as a result of the level collapse. Which math course curriculum maps are completed? All high school departments, including math, are currently working on curriculum guides for classes as part of our NEASC reaccreditation process. Math teachers have been collaborating on the guides throughout the school year. Our goal is to be transparent regarding content that has been moved amongst courses as well as to ensure that all required content is being taught.The process began with teachers becoming familiar with the common format for the guides that will be used by all high school departments. Teachers then worked in subcommittees to create drafts of courses that are currently being taught. We are now working on revising those drafts as well as creating drafts for courses that will be introduced as the Class of 2023 moves through RMHS. We anticipate that final drafts of high school curriculum guides will be available to stakeholders by the end of the school year. If you have further questions, I would welcome you to set up another meeting time and would be happy to invite the Math Department Head, Allyson Williams, as well. Sincerely, /% v Christine M. Kelley me xeaniny awx srnoam a<s nor asrnmmare w me Cam orrace,mbr,se=,yenev nentlN,re�Mron,naumaa,pin,uxwlorieneaa'on,aye w eisaGliN.