Metro School Leadership Team Meeting Minutes

October 14, 2014

Meeting start time: 12:00

New Business:

Norms read.

Welcome of new members: Temetrice Hodge-Whisnant, Stepanie Rice, Holly Blake,

Minutes Read:

Minutes amended from 9-29-2014 as follows:

  • Page 9 of School Improvement Plan. We changed it to read: Our students participate in Special Olympics events, which include athletic teams such as basketball, soccer, track and field, swimming, and cheerleading. We hold special events such as a prom, a winter programs, and many other special activities for our students, faculty, families and community stakeholders.
  • Page 15 of School Improvement Plan. We took out the PTO will maintain the bulletin board and replaced it with the Media Specialist and the Administrative team.
  • Ms. Todd also stated that a vote was needed from the previous meeting for the school safety plan not the School Improvement Plan (SIP).
  • We added attendance to previous meeting because it was left out. The following members who were present on were added to the minutes.

Attendance from 9-29-14: Abraham, Sheila C.; Alesha Tuck; Bell, Amanda E.; Blake, Holly (participated by phone); Cathy Yancy; Cunningham, Annette M.; Jane Douglass; Kendra Holcomb; Kirkland, Lisa M;. Koehl, Katti L; Leigh Kasin; Lori West; Nadia Lightner; Nancy Collins; Stephanie Rice; Temetrice Hodge-Whisnant; Valerie A. Todd; West, Jeff; White, Tiffany P., and Jeff Blake. Nancy Collins did not listen in on the phone.

Continued business

Sheila announced this meeting will be recorded and will be on all agendas. The last minutes from 9-29-2014 were not posted because the safety plan has to be removed by our school technology associate before it is posted. The SLT recordings will be posted on the website in the future.

Community Members: Mariaime Boujlil was present as a member of World Alliance for family and children. She informed the team that there is a family fun day at Metro on October 25, 2014. This event will provide many family friendly activities for children with autism that are appropriate for both children with autism and their parents. There will be food, face painting, and calm activities.

Lori West was a silent community member.

Attendance: Sheila brought up the subject of guidelines for members attendance. If you are a member, is it permissible to be present on the telephone or must you be present in person?

Subject change: Parents suggested that some meetings be held after school. Ms. Todd expressed her concern about the Teacher Assistant member. She is an hourly paid employee and would have to be paid after hours. The question was presented to Gina Smith: How does it affect TA’s in other schools to meet after school? Ms. Smith did explain that schedules could be changed and the school principals make arrangements with comp time or payment. Each school is different. Annette said that it will be difficult due to teacher obligations such as IEP meetings, lesson planning and family. Mr. West explained how difficult it is to get off work, and also suggested we make a fair commitment for a schedule to meet all members’ schedules. Jane Douglas suggested that we should allow after school times sometimes, but not every meeting.)

Back to subject of attendance: The phone should be used only in the event of emergency. Ms. Todd suggested Skype or Facetime as a method of being present in meetings. A motion made by Amanda Bell to allow a SLT member to participate/attend to via phone three times. All members approved this motion. If members are not present for three meetings, a vote will be taken to see if the member in question needs to be replaced. All members approved this motion.

School Improvement Plan: Ms. Todd began by explaining the changes discussed at the last meeting. The following item were fixed:

  • Page 9 Special Olympics.
  • Page 3 added new members, SMART goal page 17
  • Page 15 took off bulletin board from PTO to Media.
  • Money was just released for technology. The Technology funds will increase and these funds will be presented to the parent advisory team. After recommendations from the school advisory team, Ms. Todd will bring the recommendations to the SLT.
  • Title I funds, some went to Technology Specialist.
  • As of today we learned we have $43,000.
  • Anything with Title I funds goes through parent advisory team.

Mr. West discussed his concern in why/when there were so many changes made in the 2013-2014 school year. Ms. Yancy explained that some changes were made in March. They also met in the summer to work on the changes. Mr. West questioned where the minutes were that stated this. Ms. Todd explained the minutes are on the website. Mr. West explained how difficult it is to understand this process as a new member looking at old documentation. Sheila explained that the sensory plan took up too much time. New members were not seated until September because so much time was spent on the sensory team. Ms. Todd stated LaTarza Henry came to explain. Ms. Todd explained that the annual review drives the plan and that we received a new handbook in November. The team had to be readjusted and the membership was changed as well.

Leigh Kaisin asked why the IEP goal was removed from SIP when we didn’t have testing scores. Gina Smith explained NC State Extend I score is hard for us to assess. Ms. Todd stated the goal was on data trackers. SMART Goal 6 is the data trackers for the teachers to train and collect data based on goals. Teachers are using the data trackers and report the data to the families.

Ms. Todd explained that we (teachers/administrators) work in the PLC’s to and discuss how the students are learning based on data. Mr. West expressed his concern that we are using the IEP goals to measure the school progress. Ms. Smith offered to reach out to colleagues across the state to compare how they are measuring student progress. Ms. Smith will get information from other schools and bring it back.

VOTE ON SIP USING SECRET BALLOT. Amanda Bell and Holly Blake went to the back to count the votes. The plan passed 12 to 3 and it goes to EC Superintendent and she will take it to the District.

SIP Process: Ms. Smith explained the process and how it works through the district.

The next meeting we are going to break down on the goals into groups. Then we will work together.

Ms. Smith will return to give feedback on goals from other districts.

Ms. Todd discussed the funds we received for technology.

Next Meeting Dates:

November 13, 2014 – 6:30 p.m.

December 9, 2014 – 8:30 am

January 12, 2014 – 1:00-2:00

February 17, 2014 – 12:00 – 1:00

We will look at the dates on SIP and determine next meeting dates.

A motion was made to adjourn the meeting, it was seconded and all approved. 1:10 p.m.

Attendance: Abraham, Sheila C.; Alesha Tuck; Bell, Amanda E.; Blake, Holly; Cathy Yancy; Cunningham, Annette M.; Jane Douglass; Kendra Holcomb; Koehl, Katti L; Leigh Kasin; Lori West; Nadia Lightner; Stephanie Rice; Temetrice Hodge-Whisnant; Valerie A. Todd; West, Jeff; White, Tiffany P., Jeff Blake, Gina Smith