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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-02-16 Coolidge School Council MinutesA. W. Coolidge School Council Minutes 16 February 1994 Attending: Debbie Reinemann, Marjorie Pacino, Peter Hichborn, Carol Perletz, Al Lahood, Roy Welsch, Larry Chomsky Minutes by: Larry Chomsky Minutes of January 20, 1994 accepted with addition of Roy Welsch as attendee. Dates of Note: ® Monday, February 28. All changes to Coolidge Middle School Profile due. See below. • Wednesday, March 2, 7:00-9:30 PM, Coolidge MS Auditorium. Workshop with Charlie Lawrence and. School Councils from High School and Parker. Topic: How to Develop a. School Improvement Plan. • Tuesday, March 8, 7:00-9:00 PM, Coolidge School Council Meeting (changed from March 10 to avoid conflict with ITTF). Included in agenda: Finalization of Mission Statement. 6 Thursday, March 17, 7:15-9:15 PM, Coolidge School Council Meeting Handouts Provided: 1) Pre-reading for Charlie Lawrence workshop including "Planning Process - A Systems Approach" and "School Councils - Planning Process" 2) Notes from School Committee meeting with School Councils (1/31/94) taken by Carol Perletz. 3) DRAFT of Coolidge Middle School Profile, assembled by Peter Hichborn. 4) DRAFT Mission Statements and "What is a Mssion Statement?", provided by.PA Lahood. Meeting Minutes: Al Lahood gave handout #1 with which Council members need to familiarize themselves in preparation for the Charlie Lawrence workshop. Al indicated that we will complete one goal for the Improvement Plan at the workshop. Carol reported on the 1/31/94 School Committee meeting with the School Councils. She provided this Council with very detailed minutes of the meeting for at-home review. She included a list of 7 questions that she felt should be discussed. The council discussed several as follows: #1) Regarding RMHS "Diversity Plans" and how this should influence the work of middle schools. There was a question as to the difference between Diversity and Inclusion. It was felt that Inclusion is a subset of Diversity that deals primarily with academics and the approach to teaching. Diversity would also include dealing with additional elements including understanding handicaps, racial and religious differences, tolerance, etc. The Council discussed how we might tie work done at the various Councils together. This led to a discussion of some current inclusion/diversity initiatives and how this Council should interact and respond to them. It was mentioned that the Middle Schools probably impact the High School more that the other way around. It was felt that we should communicate with the High School at least by reviewing their completed Improvement Plan during the next Plan cycle and look for synergy. #2) Are core values, inclusion, and technology initiatives coming from the community as well as from the faculty and administration. Points brought out included: Core Values are being developed by a committee consisting of parents, faculty and administration. Inclusion initiatives are mandated by the State and are being addressed by faculty and administration efforts, and ~xiill be reviewed by the School Council. These include the "Crisis Team Committee", the "Teacher Assistance Team", and the "Special Abilities Team". Technology initiatives appear to be very community driven via the Information Technology Task Force. Also discussed was the difference in approach between the various school levels, i.e., Surveys at Elementary schools. #5) Does the School Council really have any choice to work with areas outside of core values and inclusion for which there are already plans developed? Points discussed included the role of the School Council in initiating other initiatives or are we just a clearinghouse for internal initiatives. It was suggested that at this time, the Council role may be limited. Al provided us with Handout #3 (DRAFT of Middle School Profile). This was assembled by Peter Hichborn based on the earlier profile. It was felt this was a tremendous improvement over the previous document. Al indicated that the "We Believe..." section would form the "Philosophy" part of the Improvement Plan. Minor changes were proposed for the document. Additional changes are due by Monday, February 28th (after vacation) to Al. Al also provided the Council with Handout #4 (DRAFT Mission Statements and "What is a Mission Statement?"). He indicated that the Mission Statement is different from the Philosophy, and that the Council will need to finalize the Statement by the March 8th meeting. He also pointed out that we should have the Cord Value's completed by Lou Adreani's committee by March 8th. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 P.M.