Novato UnifiedSchool District

Minutes

February 13, 2017

4:00p.m. – 5:30p.m.

WelcomeandIntroductions

Task Force members were welcomed. Andy mentioned that we are looking forward to more increasing participation of monolingual Spanish speakers on the Task Force. The following Board members were in attendance:

  • Gregory Mack
  • Maria Aguillera

What is our task and how will we accomplish it?

Agenda was reviewed w Task Force.

Setting a Common Vision

  • Visioning Activity - Part 1

Task participated in an activity to begin the development of a Dual Immersion vision statement which included

  • Individual members -visioningand writing notes
  • Small group discussion/chartingbased on individual notes
  • Groups share out charts with total Task Force and coded items that were common to more than one group
  • Chris will use charts to write a draft vision statement for Task Force members to review and revise at the next DI Task Force meeting.

Updates

  • DI Survey -results to date

Would you be interested in sending your child to a DI program

  • 72% yes
  • 16% no
  • 12% maybe
  • Suggestions related to DI Survey
  • Add an open ended question what more would you like to know/say
  • Add the question what is your school of attendance
  • Make sure survey is available in hardcopy
  • Distribute to preschools and daycare
  • Plug in important dates and links to view DI examples on the survey
  • School size- # of DI classes to fill in first year

List of questions related to DI and discussion

  • Andy sharedquestions that have been generated regarding implementation of a Dual Immersion program at Lynwood.
  • What would enrollment/structure look like for year one?
  • Would you have a raffle or lottery if there is more interest than capacity?
  • If enrollment is low, how would you fill spots?
  • What happens to students in the area that are not enrolled?
  • Lynwood attendance area proposal- The plan presented to the Task Force for discussion:

Have the Lynwood Dual Immersion program enroll the students in Lynwood’s present attendance areafirst and then accept students from other schools on a "space available" basis as long as a balance of English proficient students and English Learners is maintained.

  • Lynwood has a 60%English Learner/40% English Proficient family mix within present attendance area boundaries.
  • The Bond will help rehab dated Lynwood facility
  • CAASPP scores indicate EL students are mostin need
  • A district-wide utilize a lottery could be used to enroll students from the entire district, but that would involve much more movement of students and their siblings. Chris recommend filling DI program classes from the existing Lynwood attendance area first. Then, using some form of lottery for any open spaces that are available.

▪Start small with what you have and expand rather than starting with brand new system and having to adjust

  • Other questions/discussion items:
  • What will happen with the GATE Class that currently resides at Lynwood?
  • Lynwood currently has:

▪½ TK class

▪2 1/2 Kindergarten classes

  • Would you supplement enrollment by going outside of boundary?

▪Don’t recommend ½ class, it would be better to fill it

▪Open to families from outside of the district? Could upset local families who may be concerned that the district is not meeting their needs but there could be a system that would allow for students from outside of the district to attend the Dual Immersion program.

▪We must hire qualified BCLAD teachers in order to run program and we are working on getting teachers in place before we actually roll out DI program

  • Impact on other NUSD campuses on losing students to DI Program, track where students are coming from

Review & discuss proposed DITimeline

Task Force members were given a draft timeline that outlines the proposed milestones in the development of the Dual Immersion program

Next StepsandCommon Messages

  • DI Video -
  • Let’s use social media! I want dual immersion because...send out an eblast to families and send to Erin , video release forms
  • Erin could videotape families and edit for a quick promo
  • Remind.com
  • Next Steps
  • Community Forum 3/8/17 6:00 p.m.(Task Force members please join us at this meeting)
  • Board Presentations

▪4/4/17for information

▪4/25/17 for action

  • Common messages
  • Next meeting - Monday, March13, 2017 4:00-5:30p.m.

Prepared by Chatfield and Associates ▪ Gilroy, California ▪ (408) 607-1919 ▪2/14/17