HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-11-17-DIAMOND-minDiamond School Council Meeting Minutes
November 17, 2022
Members in attendance:Marlon Davis, Ye Tong,Chhandomay Mandal,Joyce Dvorak,Remy Coombs, Katina
Lawdis, Christy Prasad
(Liz Sharp, non-voting member)
A.Welcome
B.Approval of Minutes October 6, 2022 (approved via email 11/22/22)
C.Updates
Principal
●Next meeting we will need to start updating the Innovation Plan. The are a few initiatives that should
have been started this year, and those are not feasible.
●To date we are in a solid place specific to behavior and discipline. Tardies to class are improving.
●Parent coffee last week to review Standards Based Grading (SBG). The initiative was pushed out fast
but there wasn’t enough time to train staff and parents on priorities for SBG. Leadership is now
evaluating the communication parents will need (website being developed) and some of the rubrics
are being shared more explicitly. We can review the website next meeting. There will be parent focus
groups from both Diamond and Clarke before it goes live.
●Progress monitoring emails went out this week to families if their student has been struggling. Not all
families would receive an email. This was meant to give a heads up to families who may not have
been in contact with teachers before this time.
●New discussions around the level of reporting out has started with the leadership team - MCAS has
“exceeding” but we do not use that rating, although parents are asking for it as a motivating factor.
●Restorative Justice in our original Innovation Plan outlined that we would be fully trained by the end of
the 2023-24 school year. It would have meant large groups of teacher trainings, but we do not have
the substitute coverage to allow for this. Now we are looking at small, internal group trainings with
teachers who are trained at higher tiers already.
●Social emotional work we are doing this year: DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion), DCAP (District
Curriculum Accommodation Plan), RJ (Restorative Justice), SASSSY (Safe and Supportive Schools),
Now it’s time to align and maximize these initiatives.
●DEI lessons were developed across the district. At this time, it is about 50-60% complete. The lessons
would be shared during WIN blocks this year. Help students understand identity and support their
social/emotional health.
●When the first Innovation Plan was drafted and adopted, there were different conditions. The next
meeting we will review key directions that we should look at for revisions.
●The ILP1 (Intensive Learning Program) has been understaffed. We have had to be creative to
support the program. This coming week, we will be fully staffed at the ILP1 program. THe ILP3
program is getting to full capacity in terms of space needs.
●Update on fundraising and 8th grade DC Trip - eveyrthing is moving forward well.
●The World Language department is investigating new trips for 8th graders for the 2023-2024 school
year. Requires a 16 month approval process with the school committee.
Parents
●There is a lot of chatter around the 9th grade academic changes.
Staff
●
D.Open Discussion/Review of School Innovation Plan
●Will be addressed at next month’s meeting.
E.Meeting Adjourned: 7:41 AM
F.Next Meeting:December 15, 2022