HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-16 School Council - RMHS MinutesTown of Reading!y 4 /'
Meeting Minutes •®,,NlC�4�'
Board - Committee - commission - Council: S qfl//: I0
School Council -Reading Memorial High
Date: 2023-03-16 Time: 4:00 PM
Building: School - Memorial High Location: School Library
Address: 62 Oakland Road Session: Open Session
Purpose: School Council Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Pooja Mandon Parsons, Jessica Ayer, Christine Lusk, Marianne Downing, Cole
Grant, Antonio DISerio, Dante DISerlo, Kevin Tracey, Kelly Bedingfield
Members - Not Present:
Ell Brown, Dalja Forero, Bridget Patterson, Haven Davis, Jessica Ayer,
Michelle Greenwalt, Eileen Manning
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Marianne Downing
Topics of Discussion:
Meeting was called to order by Mr. Tracey at 4:OOPM
Mr. Tracey handed out copies of the Innovation Pathways Flyer and caught the group up
on some RMHS activities. He Indicated that he would defer certain topics until the next
meeting, when the parent members who had ideas for those topics, could be present.
Mr. Tracey noted that the college fair was happening that evening and that 10 other towns
are also participating
Mr. Tracey also noted that, speaking of colleges, to clear up some confusion, in the
present handbook, juniors and seniors are allowed unlimited college visits.
Mr. Tracey stated that the school store will be coming and will be located next to the bank
at RMHS. Some details about the store that the group discussed:
- The students running It will be a combination of RMHS DECA students and "best
buddies" students.
- The group discussed what the store should stock, and student member stated
charging cables and chargers.
- It was noted that the school store is not allowed to sell food, but that the RMHS
vending machines are finally filled.
- Jess Therriault is taking the lead on the school store and forming it as a 503(c)
nonprofit, where the money coming in will be provided into a PTO and serve as a line
Item on their budget.
- Students will be able to use cash or a credit card at the school store.
- Some members asked, could there be gift cards to the school store?
Student members stated that they really liked when the cafeteria had the guest restaurant
providing food, that the food was very good.
Page I 1
• Mr. Tracey discussed the Seal of Biliteracy, and noted that RMHS is behind other schools
on this. He said that this year 16 seniors are pursuing the seal of biliteracy, which means
that you are proficient in two languages.
Mr. Tracey discussed the Innovation Pathways (IP) guide he handed out and noted the
following:
- Jessica Callanan is running this program and got it going based on her experience at
her previous job, including going for state approval and seeking grants.
- The Ips will allow student to pursue a passion, but KT has a goal that in the future,
there will not just be IPs but other pathways that are more than just STEM and/or
which go beyond the state -defined pathways. He said that the state has 8 approved
IP areas, and 6 of the 8 are STEM oriented.
overview of the school's goals for the year
Mr. Tracey went over the internships, explaining that they are working with groups such as
Mass hires, the chamber of commerce, etc. He provided the following details:
- As of that day, 78 internships are in place for RMHS seniors, as well as internships in
construction
- It is felt that internships help to keep gr. 12 students engaged in Q4
- They are hoping that every senior who wants an internship, can get one
- Jess Callanan and Kadi Buckley are the point persons on helping to find internships.
- DESE is paying for 11S STEM internships
Mr. Tracy followed up on Dual Enrollment:
- RMHS, as he noted in last meeting, is behind other schools in implementing dual
enrollment
- They are still trying to determine the best partner to have for dual enrollment
- Endicott, although they were involved this year, is "not ready" to be a partner long
term, because the classes were taught virtually/remote too often, due to availability
of the professors
- Middlesex Community College is helping to certify RMHS staff to teach dual
enrollment classes
- Middlesex works out to $300 per class vs UMass Lowell which is $1400 a class, which
is one reason why RMHS chose Middlesex, though it is possible that RMHS may
partner with UMass Lowell for certain classes.
Mr. Tracey spoke of something that may be pursued called a "Global Competency
Designation," where students would take certain classes, do certain community service, and
go on certain travel, so that this could be a concentration or alternative "pathway" for
students who are interested in humanities vs STEM. Classes could include subjects such as
Diverse Voices and Economics.
- Some teachers who are helping to plan for this pathway, would like to make global
competency be a graduation requirement
- One parent expressed that the cost of travel may be prohibitive for some families,
even with financial aid, and that having to pay for travel/school trips should not be a
requirement for graduation or to be able to select a high school concentration.
- Another option could be that "Global Competency" could be an Opt -in path
- Mr. Tracey wondered, can we form a global travel committee to help make travel
affordable
Mr. Tracey briefly brought up graduation requirements and new schedules, noting that the
group studying it has narrowed it down to 12 options and needs to narrow it further.
- A parent asked, will the new schedules allow for more labs? Mr. Tracey said, they
are looking at it and whether there should be longer blocks in lab or an extended lab
block
- A student asked whether community service would be a graduation requirements;
apparently some other districts require this. Further to this, the group discussed
ways for students to get academic credit for volunteer work and work study.
Page 1 2
Mr. Tracey mentioned that the district is looking at math paths more and whether a 6th
grad test is the appropriate place to define kids at that age.
Mr. Tracey stated that RMHS is a partner with TEALS (a Microsoft company) and they are
helping us to take a look at our computer science curriculum, especially from a career
standpoint, and this is based locally with Microsoft in North Reading.
Mr. Tracey and the group discussed the Innovation Pathways (IP) flyer. He stated that
there has been a good signup so far for IP. He stated that the IP designation will get RMHS
some grant money, such as a $40k planning grant, and another $70k grant we just got, and
we are applying for a $500k grant.
- Mr. Tracey said that the grant money would or could be used for like a carpentry
room or a virtual cadaver lab, to help RMHS to get certifications in certain trades or
training, though we will not try to replicate what trade schools are doing.
The School Council briefly discussed the upcoming RMHS robotics competition.
The group discussed topics for the next meeting, including:
- Celebrating academic achievement and criteria related to that
- Are there other ways to assess students besides a research paper, or other
measures. Council members noted that students need those experiences.
- Several parents brought up the lack of major writing projects and papers at RMHS,
and Mr. Tracey agreed. He noted that, at present, the only major writing
requirement at RMHS is a 5 page paper in gr. 11 history, and that staff felt that if a
student could write a 5 page paper, they could write a longer paper.
- Parent members disagreed, and said that there used to be major writing projects
starting in gr. 9, and that students should not only have a single opportunity to do a
research paper, before college.
The school council adjourned at approximately 5:20 pm.
Page 1 3