HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-04-22-ESTABROOK-minMinutes of the Site Council meeting
April 22,2024
Attendees:Gerardo Martinez,Maris Joniec
Agenda
Parking Challenges Update,Part III
Metco Restructuring
Kindergarten Registration
Staffing/Budget
School Innovation Plan,2024-2027
Parking Challenges,Part III
The district HR Director has been liaising between the school department and town facilities and other
relevant town committees.She has met with town traffic safety and engineers.She has done a fine job
coordinating lots of moving pieces.
The initial plan for the spring,once we get the go ahead,is to have 22 spaces along the curb all the way
down to the crosswalk used regularly by staff.Transportation and facilities measured and believe there is
enough space for cars and buses to go around parked cars.We will pick a week in May to pilot and
monitor.
Metco Restructuring
We talked about the main reasons for this shift next year.Metco students will consolidate from six
schools to three schools.Estabrook METCO families will transition to another school.The following is
from a communication from the superintendent:
What are the potential benefits to the reorganization?
○Boston students will have a larger cohort of African American/Black peers in their
classrooms,which may be socially and academically beneficial.
○Boston students will have access to more culturally responsive academic support in
classrooms.For example,literacy coaches and teachers can consolidate efforts and
work together to support more students in a given classroom.
○Boston students will have a shorter commute,as we will be able to consolidate buses
for elementary students attending the same three schools.We estimate that this
change will result in a 45-minute shorter commute for Boston elementary students.
○Boston students may have greater access to educators of color.When students of
color are able to learn from educators of color,the outcomes are more favorable.The
reality is that the teaching profession in the United States is predominantly white.
While we have made great strides in recruitment and retention locally,we can
always do more.
○Boston families will benefit from improved communication in schools.
○Increased targeted opportunities for staff training on working with students of color
and addressing teacher bias.
○METCO staff will concentrate their efforts in one elementary school instead of
splitting their time between two buildings.
What are the potential drawbacks of the reorganization?Several METCO Directors in other
communities are exploring similar reorganization ideas.While we are optimistic that there will be
benefits to METCO students,we acknowledge that there are some potential drawbacks.Here are
just a few of the challenges that we are exploring:
○Lexington African American/Black students may experience smaller cohorts.Any
families with concerns are asked to reach out to their child’s principal.
○Elementary schools that once had METCO programs will lose that direct connection.
We are exploring ways to continue to provide professional learning opportunities for
all members of the LPS community.
○How the restructuring will impact academic outcomes remains unknown.
○If a METCO child needs a specialized program in another school,they may not have
as many African American/Black peers in the program.
Kindergarten Update
Families new to the community as well as current families with school ready aged children have been
registering for Kindergarten.An email went out recently to welcome families which provided a slidedeck
with important information about the school.The K screening dates are on our school calendar and sign
up genius has been set up for families to select a slot for this yearly state required assessment.
Staffing/Budget
We have finalized our sections for SY24-25 and will have 25 sections with grade 3 getting a 5th class to
accommodate the large cohort currently in 2nd grade.
School Innovation Plan 2024-2027
Dr.Martinez shared that each school has submitted their draft plan to the superintendent’s office for
feedback.School council members will get to look at the draft and offer feedback in the next few weeks.
The meeting adjourned at 4:20pm