South Fork Elementary School
School Improvement Team Meeting Minutes
5/14/14
Staff Members Present:
Spencer, Meisinger, Qualls, Murphy, Mickey, Wellborn, Tuttle, Gray, Hill/Joyce, Galvan, Calhoun/Outland, Parsons, Hicks, D. Collins, Key, Arnold, Monda
Staff Members Absent:
McGregor and Jones
Parent Representatives Present: none
Guests Present: none
Topic / Presenter / Bring Back1. IEP Meetings- there is an issue with scheduling and coverage. There is a large number of meetings held in the mornings and kids are losing time with their teachers.
Trish- will address those concerns with the parties responsible for scheduling.
Suggestions:
*stager the meetings so that the kids aren’t missing out on their time with the EC teacher.
*Also- give a choice of times for the teachers. / Gray/Spencer
2. STAR 3 Feedback-
Sally said that we need to meet this week to vote to assess whether STAR 3 people did their jobs effectively. SIT will view the posters that were created and discuss. / Wellborn / Meeting on Thursday 5/15 @7:30 am.
3. Calendar-
Discussion on whether we want to set the upcoming school events calendar via email or a meeting.
Trish- we need to look carefully at what we are doing and is it a “supplemental experience” for our kids. Are we doing things that will help us reach our goals?
Per Terri- the calendar needs to be posted online and in the building for Title 1 purposes.
Concerns:
*some items weren’t on the calendar and they were thrown together (seemingly at the last minute)
*our parents are being hit too hard with financial things all at once (money collection)
*Outland- we need to look at what touches our kids. Some of the causes we participate in are too broad spectrum so our kids do not necessarily see the link.
*Trish- we want to get our kids more involved and take ownership of their service.
Suggestions:
1. Submit ALL fundraising requests to SIT for review and approval.
2. Split up some of the collections: Feb- Jump Rope for Heart, March- Pennies for Patients, April- Autism Awareness
3. Can we focus on one a year verses snip-its here and there?
VOTE: 18 voted in favor of ALL fundraising including PTA coming through SIT for approval. / Wellborn
4. Assigned Reading (Green Book)
By now SIT members should have completed chapters 1-8. / Spencer / Read Part 2 pg 99-146. Focus on Chapter 12. What interventions are used to catch those who are behind up?
5. CNA Feedback Results/Trends:
Positives:
· Identifying students deficiencies (data shows that we are being very specific at what we are targeting)
· We have done a lot with parent communication. (Utilizing Karenni and Spanish translators)
· Grade levels have grown as teams in reference to LTMs. **The LTM data analysis and structure will be changing.
Areas of Change:
· We need to be more consistent with the use of targeted skill groups.
· Safety nets- What is in place for those who take more time to learn (ex: those who don’t qualify for services)?
· We need targeted parent communication (is that monthly, weekly etc?) Parents want to help and be supportive but don’t know how.
· Staff Development- what can we do to get us going where we want to go? (Individually and school-wide) / Spencer
6. GOALS (Based on CNA feedback)
Teacher/Staff Recruitment and Retention
· We have 1 year remaining with the STAR 3 Money
· Early Release days will be used to work together--- NOT in your rooms.
· Stressors on Teachers- class size, collaboration time and non-instructional duties. (dropped in the working conditions survey every year)
· It was mentioned that we would like to see more male and minority teachers hired.
Data
· We need tracking that is consistent and user friendly. It needs to be disseminated in LTMs, grade level meetings and vertically so that every one of us is accountable.
· A data wall would be good so that everyone sees the data and takes ownership of their part.
· We are experiencing “White Flight”- we no longer have a white subgroup.
· Hispanic girls are growing but not the boys, they are declining.
· We would like to see more math included, but if we get their reading where it needs to be- the math will come up as well.
Parent Involvement
· Give quarterly surveys to assess what is working and not. (Include the staff too!)
· Have representatives at every meeting. / Spencer / Trish will take this feedback and construct the CNA.