SIT Meeting – April 30, 2015

Members Present

Mahlon AnnasLaura BiltonBrandy BlackburnLeah DarbyDebra DeLois

Rusty Hall Wilma HarveyMary JamesKaren KookenJoan Loggins

Sandra MaineJohn ManiscalcoJan MorganTracey PatrickDillon Robertson Connie Rogers Christina Rush Vivia Scales Jon Sundell Charlie Wall

Jennifer Wallace Sandra Wiggins Linda WinikoffJack WootenMegan Burchett

Barbara Gateau-Carrington

Minutes

  • Reading of the mission statement
  • Approval of minutes

Follow-up on Items from March Meeting

  • Class List Process – K through 2nd were satisfied with the current process. 3rd – 5th have noticed discrepancies from teacher-created lists and the lists handed out in the fall. The comment was there was no need to spend time sorting students to create lists if they were going to change. Mr. Hall will check to see where the breakdown is occurring and will make copies this year to compare to lists assigned to teacher in the fall.
  • Event Calendar for 2015-2016 – Kindergarten requested that Polar Express day be held on the last day before winter break and suggested that Cultural Day be held on the last day of the first quarter. The only other comment was from 5th grade suggesting the Spring Carnival be held on Friday afternoon rather than on a Saturday.
  • Master Schedule for 2015-2016 – K – 2 are satisfied with their current schedules. Third grade would like to see changes so IE and guided reading are not back to back. Fourth grade would like reading earlier in the day and also suggested a 3rd/4th transition class that is stationary. Fifth grade likes the block schedule but doesn’t like going from 8:45-1:15 with no break. Mr. M agreed with 3rd grade suggestions because the transitions make it difficult for him, speech and ESL teachers to teach for their allotted time. Support Staff would like for K-2 to be split into fourths rather than halves; would like to stay with the same grade level to help with planning. Specialists would like a break in the middle of classes rather than 5 classes in a row. Also suggested splitting English-speaking classes in K-1 rather than bilingual class.
  • Committees – All grade levels and other groups supported the idea of combining committees under the four pillars of the ‘Old Town Way’.

School Data and Summery Analysis

  • The SDSA is due on Friday, May 8. Mr. Hall proposed a document of priorities for SIT team’s approval.
  • Increase Reading and Math proficiency and growth to meet targeted goals set by our AMO calculator based on EOY, TRC scores, K-2 math assessment and 3rd – 5th grade EOG tests.
  • Decrease the number of tardies by 25% for the 2015 – 2016 school year.
  • Increase meaningful parent involvement in the areas of classroom volunteers, tutoring and parent education events by 10%.
  • After discussion the summary was approved for submission.

2015 – 2016 PBIS

• There was a proposal to remove Old Town Elementary from the official state PBIS organization. To be a member there is an extreme amount of paperwork, 90% of PBIS meetings are spent dealing with state requirements. There is a fee for processing our data to see how effective we’ve been in implementing the program.

• Old Town will continue to SOAR, give out Eagle bucks, Eagle merits, awards, use Eagle buck cart, etc. Our discipline program will focus on the ‘Old Town way’ using the same strategies.

• A motion was made to pull out from being an official PBIS school. The motion was approved.

New Plan based on the “Old Town Way”

• Mr. Hall presented a proposal from the Leadership Team:

  1. Streamline committees and make them more meaningful.
  2. Find a way to make sure all voices are heard.
  3. Sustain the movement we’ve started at Old Town.
  4. Look for 100% buy-in and participation from staff to obtain and sustain success.
  5. Current committees will be combined to fall under the umbrella of one of the 4 pillars: Mindset, School Culture/Climate, Student Achievement and Relationship.

* There is a Power Point in the SIT folder on the S drive with possible breakdown of committees and their responsibilities.

  1. SIT committee will still be elected by vote and SIT members will co-chair a committee.
  2. All staff will be required to be on a committee.Committees will meet monthly, have an agenda and provide minutes to SIT. Each committee will be responsible for goals and strategies.
  3. SIT team will meet every other month.

The SIT team is charged with taking this information to our teams, discuss, and give feedback to Mr. Hall by May 11th.

Accountability and Autonomy

• The Forsyth County schools are looking at a new model to give schools more autonomy with structuring staff, curriculum coaches and programs. This will be based on EOY growth. If schools do not show growth then they lose autonomy starting with financial support and moving to programs.

• Suggestions for producing student academic growth:

Math – Nonnegotiable

  • 45 minutes with iReady weekly, computer lab setting
  • Struggling students will receive an additional 45 minutes of iReady
  • Ready NC Instructional texts used with fidelity
  • Evidence of use of manipulatives

Reading – Nonnegotiable

  • Ready NC Instructional texts used with fidelity
  • Must follow the planning tool introduced this school year.
  • Struggling readers will meet daily with a certified teacher (guided reading)
  • Working with Words

Other – Jensen/Nickelsen strategies for all students

**Report back to Mr. Hall by May 11th.

• How do teachers want to be monitored and held accountable for the nonnegotiable items?

• What information (instructionally) do you need to know or would you like to have before summer break to help in planning for next year?

Staff Appreciation Week

• Staff appreciation week will be May 4 – 8. There will be a small token of appreciation given to teachers each day. (treats, jeans pass, lunch, breakfast, PTA gift)

Summer Reading Program

• The kick-off for the Summer Reading Program will be the week of May 18th during media specials. There will also be an author’s visit that week. Old Town summer library hours will be on Tuesday from 10:30-12:30. Public Library hours will be on Thursday from 10:30-12:00.

Extra SIT Meetings?

• Mr. Hall will set dates for extra SIT meetings in May in case they are needed to complete plans for next school year.

There was no further business so the meeting was adjourned.

The next SIT meeting will be May 28, 2015.