HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-09-28-DIAMOND-min Diamond Site Council Meetings 2017-2018
September 28, 2017: Meeting Minutes
Members in Attendance: Jen Turner, Deepika Sawhney, Katina Lawdis, Sean Han, Sam
Bosbach, PK Shiu, Krystal Wettstone, Yi, Yang, Dan Strollo (on phone)
Note-taker: Liz Sharp
Approval of 5/17 Minutes: Approved,
Principal's Report:
• Role of Site Council:
o Adopting educational goals for school (SIP); Big picture items
o Identify educational needs of our students (SIP)
o Review annual school budget; we only have a district budget which is controlled
by departments, staffing is part of school
o Formulating School Improvement Plan; we created our draft last Spring
o Note: Below grade 9, we are not responsible for looking at the School Handbook
• Back to School Night
o Two nights, one for sixth grade and second night for seventh & eighth. On-team
teachers by grade level, for off-team teachers there will only be a representative
for that subject area. Schedules will go home with students next week. Runs
6:30 to 8:30 PM. Parking concerns, but have been communicated to park in
alternate lots.
• Construction Updates
o Cafe and new wing look great.
o HVAC moves have started. This week we have a group of teachers packing up
to move for next week. Because of the moves, no HVAC is working throughout
the building.
o Drop off and pickup procedures will be reviewed again. We have not provided
procedures to parents yet, because we need to make sure we have the best
plan.
• Draft of SIP Review
o Members will review more carefully at home. Overarching goals are similar
throughout the district, along with some specific school goals:
■ Communication goals, including google tools
■ Supporting students for social/emotional needs
■ RTI and differentiation
■ Project based learning is being explored throughout the year. Team Fuji
will be working in PBL this year.
o We review further next meeting.
Staff Report:
• Sixth grade has had a good start.
• Student Council will be running a fundraiser for helping out the victims of the hurricanes.
Selling backpacks with proceeds going to Donors Choice.
Member Input:
• Concerns with rotten milk in the cafeteria. Students report that the milk tastes bad. How
to communicate to lunch workers that the food is not tasting good and need to replace
it?
• Homework concerns. How are we supporting the transition from elementary to middle
school on helping students with a homework routine?
o District is working on a study to analyze these homework concerns
o New homework implementation guide is out. The district will be seeking
feedback from the community in November.
• Bus stop for LexExpress for after school activities. Can the town start bringing the bus
closer to Diamond? If coaches know students need to catch a bus, they can let them
leave earlier.
• Parents have reported about a conflict with teacher working at an educational outside
agency after school.
o Teachers are allowed to work privately wherever they want.
• Update on after school stipends from the PTA?
o This year is still going through like last year. To increase the budget, Ian Daley is
responsible for oversight.
• Results of the Youth Behavior Survey were just presented to the School Committee.
o We will review further next meeting.
o Stress seems to be the biggest concern, other areas seem to have improved.
• iPad usage
o Concern with over usage and how this impacts students' eye fatigue.
■ We have a committee on Digital Use which will come out with guidelines
for students and staff on usage. This can be included.
■ Consider having a parent group.
Adjournment: 7:55 AM