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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-10-12 Coolidge School Council Minutes0m, (fooiibge nibble ZC4001 Council Minutes, October 12, 1994 Coolidge Library/Media Center Present: Lou Adriani, John Carpenter, Larry Chomsky, John Doherty, Peter Hichborn, Carol Perletz, Sue Redgate, and Roy Welsch. The meeting was chaired by Lou Adriani, Acting Principal. John Carpenter was the scribe for the evening. Discussion Items: 1. Documents: Lou Adriani distributed copies of • Recertification Guide for Massachusetts Educators (September, 1994) • Final version of the State's Common Core of Learning (July, 1994) • Time for Change: Report of the Massachusetts Commission on Time and Learning, and proposed school year and school day regulations (603 CMR 27.00) (September, 1994) • A.W. Coolidge Middle School Improvement Plan (May 2, 1994) 2. New Members: New Council members Sue Redgate and John Doherty (faculty) and John Carpenter (parent) were introduced. It was noted that Larry Chomsky is a community representative this year. 3. Coolidge Budget: Lou has been asked to submit three budgets: a level service budget, a budget that provides service equivalent to the FY1990 budget, and a "needs" budget. The level service budget has a per-pupil materials budget of $110 (x 469 pupils = $51,590). The FY90-level budget would provide $115 per pupil (x 469 = $53,935). The needs budget is a bottom-up exercise based on program requirements. 4. Curriculum Framework: The Reading central office is integrating the results of school council reports. Math and science frameworks are due out October 15th. How do we respond? Will these frameworks have sufficient detail that we can discuss outcomes? 5. Redistricting: Lou Adriani described the current middle school redistricting effort. When the Parker rebuild is completed, Parker will hold 600 students and Coolidge will hold 400. Redistricting will be necessary. The administrators are working to identify geographic areas with concentrations of students that can be segmented or combined to yield the right number of students over time (consistent populations from year to year). They will try to identify areas that make sense to move, according to transportation, proximity to one school or the other, Community input will be solicited once some example maps are drawn and the demographics are known. 6. Computer Workstation Specification: Coolidge is due for an approximately $50,000 computer procurement this year. Parker had it last year. The goal is to equip a classroom Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School Council Minutes, October 12, 1994 set of (25) PCs as well as possible for the money. A study team is forming to develop the specification. The Technology Plan allocates four computers per classroom, with the option of collecting the machines into a computer room or dispersing them into classrooms (or a combination). Larry Chomsky and Roy Welsch were designated to represent the Council. Mary Hichborn and Laura Peterson are representing the faculty. 7. Responsibilities and Authority of the Council: Peter Hichborn assessed the School Council's responsibilities for this year, using the charts in the School Improvement Plan. He noted that the Council would have more time this year to address the three goals, and suggested we devote some attention to the technology goal. We will need to update the School Improvement Plan this year. We will determine what kind of improvements and set a schedule. Sue Redgate asked about the extent of authority of the Council. The consensus answer was that it is advisory to the principal. It reviews and recommends, but has little discretionary authority or budget. One of the needs expressed by the Council last year was reduction of class size. The current agreement between the school district and the teachers' union is to "work toward" a district-wide average class size of 25. 8. "Time for Change" Report: This proposed regulation will increase the required school time spent for specified academic activity. The net result will be to increase the school day at all grade levels. The state, local schools, and the Mass. Teachers Association are in active debate regarding whether this increase represents a state-mandated increase in cost. Council members were asked to read the report. System-wide decisions will be made later this year if the regulation is adopted. The Council can recommend length-of-day, length- of-year, and allocation of time in the school day. 9. Elective Courses: Industrial Technology, CADD, and Request for Software Funding: Lou Adriani expressed concern about the balance of the elective classes. Foreign languages are over-subscribed, and some students are showing they are not ready for a full year of foreign language study. He proposed improving the attractiveness of the Industrial Technology class by adding computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) to the course content. He proposed to accomplish this with one computer and CADD software, purchased with about $1540 of Council funds. The discussion included reservations that addition of CADD would attract enough students, that one computer was sufficient to change the curriculum, and that the supporting course materials had been developed. The other reservation was that this expense would clean out the Council budget, leaving the Council no resources or options for the year. Other suggestions for the introduction of computers included as a design tool in art, and for computer-generated (MIDI) music. Computers can also be used in language labs with inexpensive cassette players. No decision was made regarding the request. 10. Hewlett-Packard Computer Grant. In response to a grant proposal written by Sue Redgate, H-P has donated one 486 PC to the reading program. The donation included a challenge to show how the machine is being used, and, additional machines might follow. Sue is obtaining the IBM Accelerated Reader software. She will also install a reading incentive program and word processing. She has an impact printer, but could use a laser Page 2 Arthur W. Coolidge Middle School Council Minutes, October 12, 1994 or ink jet for use with graphics and typeset-appearance word processing. This computer will be networked to the multimedia computers in the Media Center. Representatives from the HP Woburn office will visit Coolidge in November to observe how we are using the machine. 11. Inclusion, "Limitless Learning" Concept. Peter Hichborn has developed a concept, "Limitless Learning," which he offered to present at the next Council meeting. It is an extension of the "inclusion" goal, and was requested by the Council last year. Action Items: 1. Budget (Lou Adriani) 2. Technology Plan (PC specification) (Larry Chomsky & Roy Welsch) 3. Review of "Time for Change" (all Council members) 4. "Limitless Learning" concept presentation (Peter Hichborn) Significant Dates: November 1 st: Coolidge Parent Advisory Council, 7:30 PM (Council report) Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 9 PM. Next Meeting: Tuesday, November 8, 1994, 7:30 PM, Coolidge Library/Media Center. Respectfully submitted, John E. Carpenter Scribe for the Evening Page 3