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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-06-02-CLARKE-minMort p¢� X775 MG fl � a Jonas Clar Middle Schoo APRIL W `F�C1NICE 17 Stedman Road •;•Lexington, Massachusetts 02421 Steven H. Flynn, Ed.D., Principal Office: (781) 861 -2450 Anna W. Monaco, Assistant Principal Fax : (781) 674 -2043 Jennifer E. Turner, Assistant Principal Site Council Meeting Minutes June 2, 2011 In Attendance: Steven Flynn, Principal, Anna Monaco Assistant Principal, Jennifer Turner, Assistant Principal Michelle Bartley, Teacher, Dina Savitz, Parent, Lorelle Yee, Parent, George Murghnahan, Parent, Lisa Smith, Parent. I. Approval of April 7, 2011 Meeting Minutes: review of minutes. Minutes approved II. Budget Updates: Dr. Flynn thanking Town Meeting Members for approval of the capital money; lockers, parking lot improvements, wireless access for the entire building. We are fortunate not to bet cutting our budget, but actually adding 3.15 FTE to Clarke staff. Dr. Flynn — this morning the PTA approved requests for items to be bought with money raised by the PTA; display cases in the front and by the cafeteria for revolving student art projects and displays, student trophies, etc. welcome mats for the front and by the gymnasium. In addition, LEF has generously supported a grant for twelve ipads for our ELL population, which will allow for more differentiation in ELL classes. Students speak different languages and are at different stages of learning English. End of the year funds from Superintendent's office — both Clarke and Diamond will pilot ipads on one 8 grade team (a cart with 30 ipads). In addition we will be receiving funds to purchase new Science, Social Studies, Math, and Foreign Language textbooks due to increasing enrollment. In addition, fitness center technology will be updated. III. Update on 2010 -2011 School Goals: Last year we sent a number of staff to Vail, Co for the data summit This year, LPS is bringing Dr. Doug Reeves and other presenters from the Leadership and Learning Center to Lexington where over 100 Lexington teachers will participate in a two - day workshop. We will be continuing our data team process work into next year. This year our Child Study Team only recommended one student for a special education evaluation. Why is this good for our building? This means that we are providing more interventions in the general education setting for struggling students. Teachers are providing the interventions in the classroom rather than sending the student to special education for help. It is important to note that since the mid year report, there were 6 new referrals for a special education evaluation and five of those requests were parent generated. One of the most successful new roles in our building has been the Instructional Technology Specialist position. In March we had professional development for teachers demonstrating all sorts of different types of technology. Eddie Davey, our ITS is there for a resource to teachers to try new technology in their classrooms. Goal 2: Next year the PTA has purchased professionally made banners throughout the building for student reminders about Rachel's Challenge. This will help new students. The social / emotional climate of our building has improved so much as a result of Rachel's Challenge. Next year the guidance counselors will be working on resiliency with students to support the social / emotional aspect of our building. In our fall assemblies we will also address this again with students. Pennies for Peace — 60 minutes came out disputing some of the work that Greg Mortenson has done building schools in Afghanistan. We as a faculty need to determine what to do next year with regards to reading the book and how to present it to students. IV. 2011 — 2012 School Goals - The goals for next year won't change, but the implementation of these goals will go deeper for year two. V. New site council member procedure: Dr. Flynn thanked Lisa Smith for her service as a site council member noting that her input has been very valuable. A hard copy ballot for a new site council member will go home with students before the end of the school year. The announcement of the election will go out on the listserve. Next year we will have a co -chair with Dr. Flynn for the site council. The school committee would like to have site councils trained. More information to follow. VI. Parent questions: Parent — Any follow through from schools on the Race To Nowhere film? Dr. Flynn — that was part of the high school's goal but Lexington had a showing for all teachers. Parent — there were very interesting discussions after the movie showing. The issue of homework was discussed — homework being busy work and not effective. Dr. Flynn — homework should be an extension of the class lesson or the day's events.