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Home My WebLink About2021-03-15-LHS-min ' 0*, LEXINGTON I G S C N,,,,,10 ::;;;; Andrew Stephens, Ed.D. (781) 861-2320, ext. 69103 Principal astephens@lexingtonma.org March 15th, 2021 LHS Site Council Via Zoom Present: Andrew Stephens, Cathy Swan, Karen Griffiths, Jen Roney, Erin Barrett, Khoi Li, Sam Offsey, Walter Richardson, Kate Riley, Lyn Yang, Nancy Sheperd, Suzann Lau, Angela Chang Absent: Sam Simon Guest: Upasna Chhabra Approved February 2021 Minutes Announcements Return to school -what are you hearing? -lots of rumors going around -many questions -few answers -State driving a big piece of when/how we return to school Questions Regarding Return to School *What changes would happen if we went back? -would we move away from 4 blocks? -would we have I Block? *Would there be freshman orientation for 9th graders who have never been to LHS? *Will there be remote options as we move into next year? *There is lots of pressure to do MCAS all of a sudden -are we being set up to show teachers aren't doing our jobs? -there is an opt out option -there will not be enough data for 3rd-8th grades to draw any conclusions *What is timing for return? -May? -will LHS seek a waiver? *Will we be full time in the fall? Information We Have Right Now Regarding Return to School *State is driving a big piece of this *Community Input Team (CIP) -all meetings are recorded *Big discussion right now about elementary and middle school return -no mention of LHS yet- will give us 2 weeks notice -things have changed in the last 2 weeks - originally elementary k-2 return in early April and grade 6 -phase in grades 3-5 and 7-8 by early May -but now early April for all elementary and then early May for 6th-8th grades *What about high school? -not sure state will push this -no announcements of any kind yet -there are high schools around us that will be coming back late April/early May -very few waivers will be given to not return this spring or in the fall -operational reasons are not reasons to get a waiver LHS Plan to Return to School *We are looking at what it would look like if we area told to come back in lat April/early May -luck favors the prepared -RLA kids would still be able to be remote for the rest of this year -no one will be allowed to be remote in the fall -asynchronous learning is not going to count as time on learning *The goal is to get everyone back! -anything we are thinking about doing now (if were are told we have to come back in April/early May) would be a dress rehearsal for next year *Very early stages of planning -if we had to collapse Cohorts A and B, we would have more of a one week schedule -look to go to a 6 day rotating schedule -like last year so it is familiar -we would have to make classroom spacing 3ft instead of current 6 ft -we would match classroom capacity to classes -we may have to shift classes around to accommodate number of students in class -bigger classrooms would have bigger classes *Lunch -where would kids have lunch and when? -can't do 3 lunches because of lack of coverage -what are kids doing who aren't having lunch? -we will probably have a smaller number of kids come back this year -maybe 1600-1800 will return and the remaining will stay in RLA -have a few lunch periods -would have to utilize every large spot in school -gym, auditorium, quad, etc -more grab and go carts spread around for kids to grab and go -kids won't congregate in one area and spread out -what happens if open spaces aren't enough? -gym and auditorium are being used as classrooms right now -we are in concept phase right now -we can't run current schedule as we have it and do lunch *Schedule -it would be good if teachers could see more students more often -circle through more of the cycle -we will want to look at this year's schedule in terms of next year's as well -if we don't have the option of RLA next year, it dictates what kind of schedule we can do this year -if we have to do something between now and the end of this year, there are logistical obstacles to navigate -silver lining is that this would be a dress rehearsal for next year -we can road test some things we are thinking of doing and see if they work -will allow kids to acclimate back into a full day schedule -we have to orient and reorient students and staff into a full day -if we are looking to do something similar to the 6th day rotation, there will have to be tweaks -would we have I Block? -kids have to go somewhere -all kids won't/can't sign up for I Block so where do they go? -many kids and teachers miss I Block -what is a way to do it because kids and staff want it *Other Issues -Tents aren't really an option -for lunch? -as classrooms? -we would need really big tents -very hard to find -very expensive -each tent is $7-10 thousand -only about 20 kids could fit under tent because they need to be spread out -whatever we do, we need to be able to do throughout the entire year -may be prohibited by weather -will students be looped into preliminary planning? -if we have to go back in 2-3 weeks, do we have enough time to have student input? -which group of students do we work with? -school senate? -if we are in a place where we have an articulable plan, it would be great to get student input -an online option is not possible next year per the state -some school districts sent their students to online program, Techa -if our kids go to Techa, their per pupil spending goes to Techa -we need to have a budget neutral solution -blended learning is an ongoing desire -if we had RLA next year, we won't be able to have all science classes remote -need in person labs -this year's big flexibility model served a purpose and solved issues -not a longterm solution -not sustainable -school is a lot more than accessing teachers from home -socialization prepares students for life -how would you run Performing Arts if you did not return in person? -will we do Advisory next year? -most kids don't like it -we don't have a format to break into small groups at the same time to discuss important issues -homeroom doesn't have the community building aspect but maybe we can build that in -we need to look at academic piece -can we house students where we need to? -Lunch is a major issue -teachers like schedule with longer blocks -is this possible to continue? -will kids get vaccinated? -School Committee is lobbying legislature to push kids up in phases -AP tests will still be at home -except World Language and Music Theory will be in person -no changes to AP testing dates or locations -could we use the field house as a lunchroom or classrooms? -in winter we use it for PE classes -would Cary Library be an option? -no, can't send kids off campus for class -too many supervision and liability issues -we need to plan for the worst case scenario Updates *Senior event planning -Class Council is working with ANGP to figure something out -most kids want a formal event -with food and dressing up -Senior Week -BBQ on Wed. -other low-key events *NEASC Decennial Accreditation Visit -April 11th-14th, 2021 -two years ago, we completed a Self Reflection process and report that had us examining our practices and identifying our strengths and areas for improvement as they apply to the Standards for Accreditation -we participated in a two-day Collaborative Conference visit in October, 2018 where a visiting team provided us with feedback on our Self Reflection and their observations over a two day period that included the identification of Five (5) Priority Areas for Growth -we have completed and submitted a report outlining our progress and continued areas for growth in preparation for our accreditation visit -visit will have a team of educators and administrators observing classes and meeting with students, parents, administrators and faculty/staff members over the course of three days to provide feedback on our progress on our Priority Areas and the Standards for Accreditation and recommendations for continued growth -visit will be remote -do not have to pay for visitors to stay in hotel -there are a number of commendations for what we do here at LHS as well as a number of recommendations -all of this feedback should and is viewed with the lens of improvement and finding ways to better serve all of our students *School Improvement Plan -SIP for 2020-2021 -survive the year -will revisit SIP *Sports -Fall 2 sports are up and running and it is working -Naomi and Deb are doing a great job *Course Selection Schedule -continue 8 periods and full course load for next year -important we continue this because kids need that continuity -if we change this, there needs to be much more notice Meeting adjourned