Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-10-03 School Committee Minutesj c Reading School Committee Reading, Massachusetts 'd I- i i L LER ~a MASS. Regular Session UWJ P 1 3 October 3, 2005 CALL TO ORDER Chair Spadafora called the meeting to order at 7: 34 P.M. Present were School Committee Members John Carpenter, Lisa Gibbs, Carl McFadden and Elaine Webb. Also present were Superintendent, Patrick Schettini, Assistant Superintendent, John Doherty, Director of Human Resources and Finance, Mary DeLai, and Student Representative, Erica Lessard. School Committee Member Harvey J. Dahl joined the meeting at 7:50. Superintendent Schettini introduced and welcomed the Student Representative to the School Committee, Erica Lessard. BILLS & PAYROLL Bills and Warrants were signed. CITIZENS' INPUT None GIFTS None SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT Superintendent Schettini commented on a recent globe article stating that we are one of 20 communities who have applied for an expanded learning time grant. He continued to explain that this will be a planning process that we have begun and we will have to look at how this grant can shape an experience for high achievement for middle school students. Superintendent Schettini stated that it would be a few weeks before we know if we are chosen to receive the grant, and how the money will be allocated. Superintendent Schettini announced that October 22, 2005 would be the date for the Alice M. Barrows School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, stating that it connects with the Barrows Family Day and other activities planned by the Barrows Community. LIAISON REPORT Superintendent Schettini passed out a memo from the Town Manager regarding the Subsequent Town Meeting Warrant Superintendent Schettini stated that if heating costs continue to increase at the rate they have been, because of the current energy crisis, we would go over budget. He stated that we would be taking measures to conserve heat and sending an informational letter home to parents. Mrs. Webb mentioned the "Welcome to the Reading School Committee" brochure, suggesting that it needs to be updated. Mr. Spadafora requested that anyone who might be interested in one of the liaison position openings send him an email. Mrs. Webb made a motion, seconded by Mr. McFadden, to appoint Marv Ann Kozlowski as the School Committee liaison to the Recreation Committee. The vote was 5-0; Mrs. Webb, Mr. McFadden, Mrs. Gibbs, Mr. Carpenter, and Mr. Spadafora. OLD BUSINESS None NEW BUSINESS MCAS 2005 Superintendent Schettini and Assistant Superintendent Doherty presented a comprehensive overview of our district MCAS results and the target goals for our district emphasizing the following points: • The difference between the state scores and our scores • Continued improvement of our scores over time • Planning for middle school math • Grade 8 science testing has only been around for the last three years and is a difficult area because the tests are content based and what they ask for is in the standards • Grade 7 ELA is very strong in advanced and proficient compared to the state average • Grade 6 math is a credit to the Everyday Math program - we go up as the State decreases • Grade 5 science area needs to be looked at to make sure we are aligned to the standards • Grade 4 ELA took a slight dip • In Grade 4 Math we went up and the state went down - alignment of everyday math program to the state standards • We hope to see improvement in Grade 3 reading in 2006 because of the Wilson Fundations program, which has been in the works for three years now • Grade 11 students have maintained and sustained advanced and proficient scores • Grade 10 students need improvement in ELA A discussion followed regarding the District Improvement Plan and teaching and learning goals. Superintendent Schettini stated the most important goal for the year was developing very strong K-12 curriculum documents. This year we will concentrate on curriculum mapping. Superintendent Schettini continued by stating that he wants to ensure high quality teachers in our schools by addressing needs in curriculum and professional development. He continued by stating that we have already taken actions to address these goals in the following areas: • Middle school math improvement • Instructional strategies • Professional development for special education and math teachers • Benchmark assessments • Accelerated curriculum mapping • Elimination of special education pullout classes at Parker • Additional math support time added during school time In addition, Superintendent Schettini remarked that we have in place or are in the process of implementing the following programs: • Wilson Language Program - current 3rd grade students are the first to have been taught with this program. • Assessment - Gates McGinnity for grades 3-5 and middle school, and DIBLES (Elementary) that identify at risk students in the primary grades • Create an AP Vertical Team (Gr. 6-12) for Math • Offer the Studying Skillful Teacher course again • Develop a common language K-12, in every classroom • Increase cap for teacher leaders • Perform curriculum and instructional leadership K-8 and establish an instructional council. • Work with Boston College School of Education to analyze and interpret data in math K- 12 and identify gaps by aggregate and subgroups. • Reading Administrative Institute will focus on building professional learning communities by using walkthroughs and protocols • Internal SPED reviews • Expanded Learning Time Planning Grant submitted • Implement Edline, district wide • Create Individual student success plans. He continued by emphasizing the following points. of information: • One Elementary Instructional Specialist position has been reinstated for the 2005-2006 school year. • There have been no formal curriculum/ instructional leadership positions in the middle schools since 2000. • Last year there was limited professional development at the elementary schools, due to a variety of reasons. • The number of first, second and third year teachers the district is larger than ever. • Each year the MCAS test is different. • A new testing company developed and scored the MCAS tests this year. Mr. Dahl emphasized the importance of bringing in teachers with experience and a good professional development background to replace experienced teachers we lose. Mrs. Gibbs responded that new teachers to our district were not necessarily new to teaching. Mr. Schettini strongly emphasized that we search for and hire the very best teachers for the district and try very hard to make them a good fit. Mr. Dahl remarked that even in past years when Instructional Specialists were being eliminated, the MCAS scores continued to improve. Mr. McFadden commented on student success plans and help for all students to move forward, and on taking a look at teachers teaching the same courses, specifically at the high school level. Mrs. Webb commented that the work with Boston College School of Education sounded exciting and indicated that mapping and creating student success plans for individual students would become easier for administrators and that right now we don't get any help from the Department of Education. Superintendent Schettini agreed that Boston College has the capacity to analize data and help us determine what we can do to improve and get the right tools in place. The School Committee continued with a brief discussion regarding the MCAS practice test, academic assignments, curriculum, and MCAS structure and the Department of Education. Mr. Dahl commented that the district improvement plan was put in place to improve the district in a long term, meaningful way and that MCAS test scores will almost naturally improve because of that. Mrs. Webb stated that there are many components that work together that develop teachers' leadership abilities so that we can act on the district improvement plan and develop the data. Mr. Spadafora commented that this presentation is a report card that shows Reading is improving in some areas, and indicates other areas that need tweaking. Mrs. Gibbs thanked Superintendent Schettini, John Doherty, and Mary DeLai for their comprehensive presentation. Mr. Spadafora asked if Superintendent Schettini could present, at another time, the spread over the first three years of teaching in Reading, of teachers hired with experience. Mr. Spadafora also requested an explanation of how that relates to data collection and the benchmarks (p. 10, goals 7A, etc.). He stated that he felt it was important to compare to state averages but also to compare to like communities to see what measures other suburban communities are taking in those same years. Mr. Dahl commented that what we now hope to see is a great management team and great teamwork developed by this administration, to get the, job done. ADJOURN Mrs. Webb motioned, and Mr. Carpenter seconded, to adiourn to executive session to discuss contract negotiations. A roll call vote of 6-0 was taken Mr. Carpenter, Mr. McFadden, Mr. Dahl, Mrs. Webb, Mrs Gibbs, and Mr. Spadafora Patrick A. ~chettini S- Superintendent