Accountability Meeting
9.7.2016 / 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. / Lions Building
Facilitators / Jon Vigne, Barbara Lambert, Melissa Shular
Minutes / Julie Cuccaro
Interpreter / Hillary Spahnle and guest
Attendees / Cathy Bennett, Tosha Daniels, Tera Lynn Gray, Carol Hilty, Kristen Huddleston, Cara Johnson, Cody Kerekes, Jamie Lugo, Lori Mattick, Susie O’Hara, Aimee Twaddle, Kyle Viola, Tera Wilkins
Introduction/Review of Minutes – Barbara Lambert
· Barbara led welcome and introductions.
· Reviewed Accountability minutes from June 4, 2016. No changes were indicated.
· Jon reviewed roles and responsibilities of the Accountability team and meetings and explained Accountability meetings are a requirement under Title 1. The purpose of the team is to obtain feedback from parents, provide guidance to school leadership and monitor progress toward the CSDB Schoolwide Plan.
Program Highlights – School for the Deaf and School for the Blind
Discussion
School for the Deaf Program Highlights –
· Susie O’Hara reported middle school students are participating in language arts activities, focused upon experiential learning. Students learned about the Olympics and were able to connect lessons with a variety of athletic activities. Some students learned how to make salsa and some students made applesauce, from apples growing on campus. Later, students wrote about their experiences and what they learned from their activities.
· Kristen reported the students were very excited to start a new school year. New teachers have been hired. Work groups and committees are being established.
· Cathy reported students, in the School for the Deaf high school, are working on different activities. Class schedules have been adjusted, in order to group students based upon needs. Students are utilizing a variety of online programs, in the classroom, and are able to work at their own pace.
· Tosha reported, with an increased focus on technology, students are utilizing Mindcraft educational programs based on skill level and interests. Students enjoy being able to jump to different levels, by earning a variety of points.
· New high school teachers have been hired.
· October 20, representatives, from Gallaudet University and Rochester Institute of Technology, will be at CSDB to talk with students about planning for college.
School for the Blind Program Highlights –
· Jamie reported two new teachers were hired and a former teacher also returned! Twelve new students have joined the School for the Blind and more are on the way.
· Students enjoyed a field trip to the Olympic Training Center.
· An after-school literacy program will begin soon, and tutors have been matched with students. Some students received their low-vision devices, along with some Common Sense Media training.
· One student, who uses a wheelchair, has difficulty navigating all areas of campus. Some of his classmates and friends have been trained to provide him assistance.
· A guest musician will be here to do activities with the students.
· Students participated in a fun social activity, based upon the topic of conversations.
· Aimee reported CSDB will purchase another YMCA membership this year. Goalball started, and many students are participating. A special thanks to Cody for her help with uniforms and equipment!
· The Adams building has a new 3-D printer. It is a great tactile tool, for students, and will hopefully be able to be used to update the braille signage, on campus.
Family Centered Early Ed Program Highlights –
· Tera Wilkins reported we have enrolled many new students this year. Students are learning schedules and routines. One focus, this year, is early ASL skill development. A teacher position has been modified, in order to hire an ASL teacher, for preschool through K-2.
· Theme-based instruction is happening, in math and literacy.
Review of 2016-2017 Schoolwide Plan
Discussion
Schoolwide Plan – All Areas
All strands of the proposed 2016-2017 Schoolwide Plan were reviewed to include each strategy and action step. In order for the Literacy and Numeracy section to be more age-appropriate, it was split into two sections. The following are summaries of each strand.
Literacy and Numeracy- Family Centered Early Education (FCEE) – Reported by Tera Wilkins
Tera reported the overall goal is to demonstrate developmentally appropriate growth, in the areas of literacy, math, language, social-emotional, and physical.
Strategy #1, Students will demonstrate growth within academics and identified areas of specialized skills, through personalized learning -
· This year, will increase focus on early development.
Strategy #2, CSDB staff will foster collaborative relationships with parents, stakeholders and service providers –
· More emphasis on community and parent involvement.
Literacy and Numeracy- Grades 3 - 12 – Reported by Kristen Huddleston, Cathy Bennett and Jamie Lugo
CSDB students, grades 3 – 12, will demonstrate increased academic achievement in numeracy, literacy, science, social studies and expanded core concepts.
Strategy #1, Students will demonstrate growth within academics and identified areas of specialized skills, through personalized learning -
· Kristen reported students will participate in more hands-on learning and will use technology more, in order to meet individual student needs. Carol added the parent involvement piece is huge and needs to be supported at home, not just at school.
· Jamie reminded everyone, both sections, of the Literacy and Numeracy portion of the Schoolwide Plan, apply to students in the School for the Blind. Eventually, the FCEE program will be expanded to include students who are visually impaired.
· Identifying specialized instruction using Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC).
Strategy #2, CSDB staff will foster collaborative relationships with parents, community, stakeholders and service providers, as partners in student achievement –
· Jamie reported we are establishing better partnerships with community agencies. In addition, CSDB is developing a family braille class and expanding ASL learning opportunities.
· Cathy reported an increased focus on parent involvement and exploring different ways to increase parent engagement. In addition to increased face-to-face parent involvement, one proposal involves creating a variety of website videos parents can access, based upon their needs or interests.
· Melissa Shular inquired about strategies we are using, for students who did not show growth last year? Tera W. explained we are addressing this by adding math and literacy interventions with the FCEE students. The principals added we are addressing this need by building more time, in the schedules, for intervention and instruction, and by better utilizing teachers’ individual strengths, including more training for teachers.
Schoolwide Climate and Culture – Reported by Cara Johnson
To provide a positive schoolwide climate that promotes academic and behavioral student achievement, also known as the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) strand.
Strategy #1, Behavior data will be recorded and used across campus -
· Cara reported behavior data is being collected campus-wide. New behavior logs are being developed. Staff are being trained how to enter and interpret the data. Office Discipline Referral (ODR) forms are being revised.
Strategy #2, Increase bullying awareness -
· New teaching strategies and workshops are being implemented to increase student awareness about bullying.
· Ensuring consistent consequences for bullying. Booster sessions will continue, and behavior expectations will be clarified.
Employability – Reported by Tera Lynn Gray and Jon Vigne
Overall goal is to improve future employment and independent living opportunities, for CSDB students. Jon explained the CSDB Strategic Plan and the Schoolwide Plan closely mirror each other, within the Employability section.
Strategy #1, Improve both hard skills and soft skills –
· The objectives will be similar to the previous Schoolwide Plan.
· Will focus on reinforcing the students’ commitment to their jobs and to the student work contracts.
Strategy #2, Students will demonstrate proficiency in self-advocacy and independent living skills –
· Will continue to focus on student self-advocacy and independent living skills, grades 9 – Bridges to Life (BtL).
· Students will show improvement, by using the pre- and post-checklists.
Strategy #3, Students will utilize appropriate outside agencies –
· Will help students understand the resources available, in their home communities, and will ensure they are contacting those agencies.
· Will continue to monitor student graduates, to track how they are using agencies and resources independently.
School Events and Upcoming Announcements
Program Representatives
· Testing will begin soon.
· One Employability Center department goal is to have all BtL students placed in jobs, by the end of the month.
· Social Media training, for BtL students, will occur this fall. Training, for other grade levels, is also being planned. Parents will be notified of dates, times and content of the trainings, when the timelines have been determined. We have received very positive feedback from staff and parents who already attended those trainings!
· Jones and Palmer building renovations are underway and may cause temporary disruption of some campus walkways. Staff will be kept updated.
· Sept. 7 – USA Hockey collaboration, for students who are visually impaired.
· Sept. 8 – Volleyball starts and team will play Victor/Cripple Creek. Football has already begun.
· Sept. 8 – Board of Trustees meeting.
· Sept. 14 – Picture day.
· Sept. 15 – Colorado Construction Day for juniors.
· Sept. 15 – Social get-together for children who are visually impaired.
· Sept. 19 – USA Hockey collaboration for students, who are deaf.
· Sept. 21 – Social event for students who are visually impaired.
· Sept. 27 – First annual Cane Quest event at CSDB, an Orientation & Mobility competition in which students, grades 3 – 6, may participate.
· Sept. 30 – October 1 – CSDB Homecoming. Activities include: volleyball, goalball, and football. Currently planning to play against Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, New Mexico School for the Blind &Visually Impaired and California School for the Blind.
Meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m.
Next Accountability Meeting will be October 5, 2016, 5:00-6:30pm, in the Lions Building.