Emma Love Hardee Elementary School
School Advisory Council Minutes
September20, 2016
Members Present
Dr. Eric Larsen, Mary Hawkins,Yolonda Lilly, Carol Whelan, Janet Faris,DebbieFidler, Susan Childers, Andy Huggins, Janice Mote, Rita Kelly, Robert Maynard
Members Absent
Clarence Jones, Lana Werder, Kyle Turner, Cymmone Smiley, Renee Stoffle, Sheila Brown, Robin Buchanon,
Guests
Bryce Cubbal
Welcome
Dr. Eric Larsen welcomed the committee, thanked them for coming and called the meeting to order at 2:39pm. Dr. Larsen informed the committee that it would need to meet again next week. It was determined that Thursday, September 29 would be the best choice. Mary Hawkins, Vice Chairman,arrived and took over the meeting at 2:41 pm.
Review of Minutes
Mary Hawkins asked for a review of the May 19, 2016 minutes. She then asked for a motion of the minutes. Susan Childers motioned the minutes be approved. Janet Faris seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as presented.
Principals Update
Dr. Larsen began the update with last year’s school data results. The data included all County schools and scores from 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 were available for the Council’s perusal. Emma Love did well, showing a learning gain in most categories, especially given the fact the FSA is a harder test than the FCAT. The Preliminary School Grades hand-out was explained by Dr. Larsen and Mr.Cubbal in detail, noting how learning gains affect the school grade. Preliminary School Grades indicate Emma Love will be an A school. Schools are looking for their students’ scores to improve, noting that sometimes the difference between students achieving a 3 instead of a 4 was just one point.This year we moved from an A district to a B district, the first time in many years and we missed it by one point. This year there were only three A districts, probably a testimony to the degree of difficulty the FSA test presents. One of our goals this year for school improvement is to look at students receiving a 3 and trying to get them up to a 4or 5 while still focusing on the Lower Quartile students. Dr. Larsen noted Emma Love needs to closely examine scores of students who earned a 3 on the FSA test and develop ways to move these students to a score of 4 or 5. He noted this year’s School Improvement Plan has verbage that addresses this need. At the elementary level, County schools were third this year out of 67 counties, and that is the highest we have ever been! Mr. Cubbal wanted to emphasize that as a school, in English Language Arts, we are second highest in the county as well as with our ELA learning gains. The floor was then opened to questions about the school data.
Dr Larsen shared that he and Mr.Cubbal had arranged for the Reading teachers in each grade to have a half a day to meet as a group with Dr. Larsen and Mr. Cubbal over the past two weeks to go over how they want to concentrate on Reading. The focus will be on how to improve lower quartile kids’ performance on the FSA as well as increasing the number of students who score a 4 or 5. Dr. Larsen noted that the collaborative time teachers spent in the workshop was very productive in terms of the development of new strategies and techniques to address student performance.
Dr. Larsen then noted that he has asked teachers to help him as he tries to expand the current character education effort at Emma Love. He explained that he has asked teachers, and students, to work together to develop strategies and techniques that will result in a school where habits like common courtesy, respect, and citizenship become the norm rather than just something we only talk about. As a result, teachers are now implementing the ‘Captains in the Classroom’ program, which meld the Seven Habit of Happy Kids with the original Seven Habits Steven Covey developed years ago. In effect, he said, we are helping kids develop leadership skills. We are beginning to see kids looking you in the eyes and speaking as well as holding doors for others.
Lastly, Dr. Larsen shared that a fence would be installed outside of the new building for security and that visitor parking signs have been installed in the parking lot to encourage visitors not to park in the fire lane. We are planning to get a new visitor ‘sign-in’ system. The one we currently use is very old and not always reliable. There is also a new school message system that some parents may have received.
Treasury Report
Carol Whelanreported that the SAC account balance was $3,739.12. This is an increase, although we have not received any funds. This is due to some items being earmarked but not used.
School Improvement
Dr. Larsen and Mr. Cubbal have been working on this. Due to having accreditation last year and spending a lot of time on school improvement, it will not be changing much from last year. We have added a goal to reach the kids that score 4’s and 5’s by using more challenging activities and tracking those kids. We are also striving to move kids scoring a 3 up to a 4 or 5. This helps the students to keep improving. The strategies for middle of the road student’s improvement are being developed. Higher level questioning is one of the strategies being implemented. Funds are being allocated for collaboration time for teachers. The Title 1 Budget is being updated and will be brought before the SAC for approval when complete. The School Improvement Plan was opened for questions.
New Business
Title One Parent Compact. Mr. Cubbal provided copies of the Title One Parent Compact. These were all approved last year. The parent compact is required by Title One. The parent involvement plan was also distributed. It was approved last year also. It is on the school web site, at the front office and in the library. The last document discussed and distributed was the Comprehensive Needs Assessment, CNA. This is a major Title One document. The documents were opened for questions.
SAC Representation When we meet again next Thursday, Dr. Larsen will present the Council with some itemized lists to be reviewed and/or approved to install new SAC members for the 2016-2017 school year. There needs to be a teacher representative,a paraprofessional representative, parents and community/ business representatives. Dr. Larsen noted that the way the composition of a public school’s Council is developed is governed by Florida State Statues. Dr. Larsen thanked everyone for their service during the 2015-2016 school year.
Adjournment
Susan Childers motioned that the Council adjourn. Janet Faris seconded the motion and the Council adjourned at 3:20 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbie Fidler
Debbie Fidler
SAC Secretary