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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-11-17 School Council - RMHS Minutes�H OrN , fto Board - Committee Date: 2022-11-17 Town of Reading Meeting Minutes RECEIVED Ed READING, CLERK 2822 DEC -8 PH 12.53 Commission - Council: School Council -Reading Memorial High Building: School - Memorial High Address: 62 Oakland Road Purpose: School Council Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 4:00 PM Location: School Ubrary Session: Open Session Version: Draft Eileen Manning, Michelle Greenwalt, Marianne Downing, Sherilla Lestrade, Ell Brown, Antonio DISerlo, Cole Grant, Bridget Patterson, Haven Davis, Jessica Ayer, Kadi Buckley, len Baskin, Kelly Bedingfield Members - Not Present: Kevin Tracey, Jen Hillery, Daija Forero, Christine Lusk Others Present: Sarah Hardy, Lauren Downing, Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Marianne Downing Topics of Discussion: The meeting began with attendance, and a vote to approve the minutes of 9/22/2022, which was unanimous. Kadi Buckley Introduced the new business items on the agenda. PROPOSED GRADUATION DATE CHANGE Kadi discussed the proposed graduation date change, which the school committee must approve. This change moves graduation from Sunday afternoon of June 4, 2023, indoors at the field house, to the previous Friday June 2, 2023, at approximately 6pm, in the RMHS Turf 1 field and stands. She explained that there were several reasons why this change was proposed, including the ability to allow more guests, to provide a more comfortable environment (fresh air, less afternoon heat, which Is better for elderly guests), a nice sunset time of ceremony, and noted that being outside would best address any possible future health concerns. Having it on a Friday also provides more opportunity for faculty to be able to attend and will still provide for weekend graduation parties. Kadi asked the group their concerns. One parent mentioned that Friday evening is a Sabbath in some religions (e.g., Judaism). A teacher responded that the graduation ceremony would start at 6 and likely be over before sundown (since sun sets later in June), thus not interfering with Sabbath, which begins at sundown. Another parent noted, well Sunday is a religious day for some, too, and they still held past graduations on Sunday. Another parent mentioned, moving this might interfere with some family travel plans. Another parent mentioned, it would be Impossible to select a date that could take Into account every religion. A staff member noted, if attendance at graduation becomes mandated in the future, that would have to be part of collective bargaining. Gage 1 1 Dr. Hardy asked, what is impact of rain on an outdoor graduation and impact of moving Inside? The group pondered if they should just say, have it in field house either way. All acknowledged that moving indoors to field house would not hold as many people as outdoors. One member suggested, If there is rain, what about providing space for some in the field house, and then live stream the event to the air-conditioned PAC? The group seemed in agreement that this would be a good option If there was rain. HANDBOOK ATTENDANCE POLICY UPDATE Kadi noted that the school committee had voted an addendum to the attendance policy which needs to be reflected in school policy and handbook. In particular, families can call a student in sick for five (5) consecutive days before a doctor's note is needed, and school will try and work with families to determine the reason why a student is out. Ms. Lestrade asked — what Is excused vs unexcused absence? Ms. Downing asked, is the policy retroactive and will students who had an absence this year prior to the school committee vote, have it counted as excused or not excused. Several parents also noted that there is a discrepancy between the number of allowed college visits on the school attendance form (which has a limit) versus what the handbook says (unlimited) as well as who the college visits are applicable to (juniors and seniors on the form, unlimited In the handbook). The group discussed whether college visits should be unlimited or should ever be questioned. The group agreed that it should be a future Issue of discussion to resolve the number of college visits and make it consistent between handbook and form. One parent asked, can there be a calendar of college visits to schools, so that teachers know when a "high attendance" school (like UMass Amherst) comes to RMHS? For example, guidance could tell the teachers so that they avoid scheduling tests at that time, or that they know that many students will be out of class. Teachers noted that this would be difficult. Ms. Downing suggested that it might be best if the hugely popular schools come during flex, but Ms. Buckley noted that colleges may visit many schools in a day and may not be able to come to RMHS at only specific times. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Ms. Buckley handed out copies of the current school improvement plan (SIP) to all in attendance and the group read over the plan to ask questions. Ms. Buckley also went over at a high level, the key aspects of the school improvement plan. There was some confusion about when school council first saw the school Improvement plan this year, and what should be the plan moving forward. Ms. Manning stated that the school council really cannot discuss or vote on this plan today (11/17/2022), seeing as this is only the first time most members have seen the plan, and other members agreed. Various members expressed a concern about "rushing" the SIP for the school committee review, and that the school council needed time to digest what was in the plan and express concerns. Kadi Buckley explained that there was a goal to have this school Improvement plan discussed on and approved at the same time as other school improvement plans, on 12/1/2022. Group members asked whether the school committee chair and superintendent could be asked if the vote to approve the high school Improvement plan could possibly be delayed to the 12/15/2022 school committee meeting, to give the school council enough time to review. Dr. Hardy opThe members debated on whether they could squeeze in an afternoon meeting the day of the school committee meeting to try and approve, and whether this might be a zoom call. After considering logistics of how the school council would approve, Kadi walked members through the details of the. plan. Ms. Lestrade suggested that the statement of equity in the plan could be stronger. The group discussed the meaning of the district strategic objects that are reflected in the plan, with the top two being sense of belonging and rigorous instruction. Page 1 2 Student member Cale Grant left the meeting at 4:55 pm Parent member asked for clarification about various items on the plan, such as future schedules and the instructional leadership team items. Ms. Downing asked, why doesn't the plan include any action Items related to addressing the significant percent of students who filed the biology MCAS In spring of 2022. Ms. Buckley and others mentioned the school is working to have a plan in place to address these students and whether they will take biology MCAS or chemistry, Including possibly additional review. The group discussed, how will the objective for student government, be met in the plan, and what is student government doing beyond planning the prom? Several student members provided further explanation of what they do as members of student government. The group discussed whether student government could have a role in doing more than simply planning events. One member asked whether class officers could be a subset of overall student government, or whether there could be specific event planning groups. Jen Baskin moved to table further discussion of the SIP until the next meeting. SMART PASS APP Kadl explained the reasons why the school chose the smart pass app and how it works. For example, it improves safety by enabling staff to know where students are. It can be used for encounter prevention for students with a safety plan. It can help ensure consistency in teacher bathroom rules. It can be used to gather date on how much time students spend out of class to help prepare restorative plans. Lauren Downing demonstrated some features of the app on her phone, and the teachers and students present explained how bathroom passes, nurse passes, and tardy passes work. There is now a tablet in each classroom to help with Issuing passes. For example, a default time of 5 min is allowed for bathroom passes, but students can put down for extra time If needed. Students also can request passes via the smart pass system to go see teachers during Flex or study periods, and guidance can issue passes and reminders to kids via the smart pass system. INNOVATION PATHWAYS The group briefly looked over the Innovation pathways as part of the presentation Jess Callanan gave to the school committee earlier in November. Students asked how certain pathways were chosen, such as digital media. Ms. Lestrade noted that the internship and work-related opportunities listed for the pathways were all local to Reading and might be difficult for Boston students, and she wondered if some locations could be chosen that are more convenient to Boston. The school council adjourned at approximately 5:35 pm Page 1 3