School English Learner Advisory Committee (SELAC) Meeting

Reed Elementary School

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

MINUTES

  1. Call to Order: Ana Carrera, SELAC co-president, called the meeting to order at 9:23 am.
  2. Welcome and Introductions: Introductions and sign-in took place. The SELAC committee welcomed Yoshiko Ichikawa. She and her family moved to the US recently from Japan. Lizzeth explained to Yoshiko the purpose of the SELAC committee and said that she will check to make sure that Yoshiko’s daughter is being supported as an EL student.
  3. Attendance: Ana Carrera, SELAC co-president; Lizzeth Saenz, SELACco-president; Laura Medina; Gabriela Guerrero; Yoshiko Ichikawa; and Celeste McClendon.
  4. Approval of Agenda: The agenda was reviewed. Ana made the motion to approve the agenda and Laura seconded it. All were in favor and the agenda was approved.
  5. Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the October 13th meeting were reviewed. Laura made the motion to approve the minutes. Lizzeth seconded and the minutes were approved.
  6. Public Comment:
  • Gabriela shared the good news that her daughter has been reclassified and is no longer an English Learner. Everyone congratulated Gabriela.
  • Laura brought up an issue her middle school student was having with a teacher at John Muir Middle School. Lizzeth suggested that Laura check the Parent Portal every day to make sure she know what is going on with her students assignments, grades, etc. Laura was encouraged to talk with an administrator at John Muir to discuss the issue.

7. Committee Reports:

DELAC Representative’s Report:

  • Laura brought copies of the SJUSD SELAC Needs Assessment 2015-2016 for the SELAC committee members to complete. The assessments will give the district feedback about the SELAC committee at Reed. Laura will return the completed assessments to the District Office.
  • A new DELAC committee was voted in at the DELAC meeting the previous night. The new DELAC committee members will serve a two year term.
  • Laura reported that SJUSD has 7,583 EL students. The superintendent discussed his five objectives and 15 strategies to help EL students be successful in SJUSD.
  • The next Brown Bag lunch will be on November 19th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the District Office. The Brown Bag lunches are an opportunity for parents of SJUSD students to meet with the superintendent and discuss issues they are concerned about.

Principal’s Report: Mrs. Mendozawas not able to attend the meeting.
8. Old Business:

Ana reported that she has reached out to some local companies such as Home Depot and Orchard Supply Hardware to get an artificial Christmas tree donatedto SELAC. The tree will be used at the annual tree lighting ceremony that SELAC hosts. Ana has not heard back from the companies but she will continue to pursue it.

9. New Business:

  • It was decided that the SELAC committee and their students and other interested EL students will decorate the SELAC Christmas tree on Friday afternoon, December 11th after school. The Tree Lighting ceremony will take place on Monday, December 14th.
  • Friday, November 13th is the annual Reed Night of Service from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the cafeteria. The Family Service Night was started two years ago as a way for Reed students and their families to give back to the community. It was decided that the SELAC committee will sponsor a booth where students will decorate ornaments for the SELAC Christmas tree. Lizzeth said that she had some supplies left over from last year that could be used. Ana and Laura said that they will help with this activity.
  • Laura brought up the fact that the next SELAC meeting is scheduled before next DELAC meeting on December 14th. It was agreed that it would be best to change the SELAC meeting to December 15th so that Laura can report back about the DELAC meeting. Celeste will look into changing the SELAC meeting from December 8th to December 15th.
  1. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 am.

The next SELAC meeting will be held on December 15th at 9:15 am in the library.