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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
November 17, 2011
In Attendance: Steven Flynn, Principal, Anna Monaco Assistant Principal, Jennifer Turner,
Assistant Principal, Michelle Bartley, Teacher, Torrance Lewis, Teacher, Kristen Rangel,
Teacher, Suzanne Cherenson, Parent, Dina Savitz, Parent, Lorelle Yee, Parent, George
Murghnahan, Parent.
I. Approval of September 14, 2011 Meeting Minutes:
Review of minutes postponed until next meeting.
II. Update on 2011 -2012 Goals:
a. Homework Conversation: Dr. Flynn reported on a meeting with EDCO middle
school principals and on previous meetings held with the leadership team in
regards to homework. He explained that at the meeting with EDCO, it was stated
learned that other districts are in the same situation we are in terms of homework
concerns. The overarching message was the importance of understanding the
connection between what happens during the day and at home. Dr. Flynn
explained that our last faculty meeting was focused on homework. He described
how the faculty was broken up into smaller, random groups and each group read
two articles: "The Trouble with Homework" by Annie Murphy Paul that
appeared in the New York Times and "Rethinking Homework" by Alf e Kohn.
The groups followed a specific group protocol that allowed all members of the
group to identify what they found important or interesting. Teachers reported that
it allowed them to have a professional dialogue about homework and homework
policies with each other as well as with the administration. Teacher: People also
got to speak with others that they don't usually work with. Some people were
saying that they were going to continually reflect on their homework policies. It
was very informative. Dr. Flynn: One of the goals was to discuss how we protect
students from unhealthy stress? Parent: So glad that people are aware of the
issues. Very pleased that on back to school night teachers made a point to say that
if your child is spending more than 30 minutes per assignment they should stop.
This had made a difference for her child. Dr. Flynn: This can be difficult because
many of our students strive to finish and they will not stop after a certain amount
of time. Dr. Flynn: I did not want to give the faculty my opinion to shape their
views. They wanted to know what I thought. He wanted teachers to reflect on how
they are assessing student learning? We need to continue to have much more
dialog about this. In the future we want to have clear expectations and
understanding about homework and how to make it most effective.
b. Aspen Parent Portal: The Assistant Principal reported on how Clarke will be
using the Aspen Parent Portal to allow parents to view progress reports as well as
report cards online during specified windows of time. We will be communicating
this change with families in the near future and are aiming to have families access
this portal for 2 nd quarter report cards at the end of January. In addition, the
format of Progress Reports will also be changing to a one- page progress report,
but not until the 3 rd Quarter.
III. FY 13 Budget:
Dr. Flynn: Current 5 grade numbers aren't showing the large numbers that we have
this year. Next year we are projecting to have 3 teams in 6 grade and 4 teams in 7th
grade. Parent: Will the teachers move with the students? Dr. Flynn: The FTE's will
move to 7 grade, but it is too early to determine who will teach what. We will get a
2% increase in the expense budget across the board. We were able to put in
supplemental requests to the Superintendent, which need to be justified. Diamond and
Clarke are both requesting a change to the Dept Head model. The dept heads spend
too much time going between schools. They teach two classes, one at each building.
We are proposing a reduction of .25 in their teaching load, which will enable them to
be Dept Heads .75 and teach .25. It will also allow them to spend more time
supervising and getting into classrooms. This will be a 1.25 shift in the budget for
FTE's. We don't know if this will go through but we feel that it is needed. We can't
talk about personnel moves until the budget is approved. There were no other
supplemental requests submitted by Clarke. All budget requests are pending School
Committee approval in early 2012.
IV. FY13 Capital Requests:
The Capital budget is outside of the operating budget. The town approves this for the
facilities. I talk to a lot of people to determine where our needs are for our building. I
submit our requests to the Superintendent. The list comes back to us and we are asked
to prioritize it using a 1, 2 or 3.
a. Fitness Center Equipment: $20, 000 request — equipment is very expensive
and utilized heavily. We work with a company to determine what equipment will
fulfill our needs for a school of 825 students taking into consideration our fitness
curriculum as well the needs of students with physical disabilities.
b. Increasing Storage in the Gym: The existing dividing wall has not been used
in many years because it would rip the floor. We are looking to use a mesh
divider to be able to divide the Gym for multiple classes. When the wall gets
taken out there would be room for more storage.
c. Replacing Fitness Center floor —This floor needs to be ripped out.
d. Painting the Gym — projected for FYI 4.
e. Replacing carpet in the auditorium and the IMC —needs to be done
L Replacing bookshelves with new ones with wheels — allowing teachers to
move bookshelves around the room.
g. Purchasing new lunch tables
h. Replacing curtains in classrooms —This is a safety concern related to our
crisis plan. We need to make sure we can close off any windows if we had a
lockdown situation. Many of the curtains have fallen off the pulley system.
i. Science Labs —need to be updated. Pat Goddard (Facilities) has put in a request
to have an engineer to look at the needs at both Clarke and Diamond Science
Labs. This is a potential upgrade in the next few years.
V. Questions: Parent: Did the Diamond teachers have a similar discussion about
Homework at Diamond? Dr. Flynn: has not directly discussed this with the principal
but he has knowledge that the Diamond Faculty has discussed this in the past.
VI. Next meeting will be in the end of January or early February.