SIT meeting Monday November 28, 2011

SIT meeting--Monday, November 28, 2011

Discussion items from the last SIT meeting--Paper verses non paper progress reports

Feedback from the different grade-levels:

• 6^th grade only had one person that wanted paper, they felt like ESL students still  need a hard copy.
• 7^th grade—consensus was to go paper-less. But, people wanted something in written form from administration showing support if we do go paperless.
• 8^th grade expressed concern mainly about a  parent who might comes back at week 7 or 8 of the quarter and say they had no idea of their student’s grade.  It comes down to student and parent responsibility.

What are the possibilities for paperless progress reports?

• Perhaps just one time per quarter? continue to send paper copies—when encore sends home their copies?
• Deb Neal: Was not here at the last meeting, but what about a letter to parents to opt out on this plan? (To still receive paper copies?) Issue with that-- 4 or 5 opt outs for each class—takes almost as much time as printing the entire class L
• Maxcy:  This is a sign of the times…going paperless.  Teachers have had to do it with pay stubs, banks are doing it with statements, etc.  Also, this is not the first year of school for middle school students, so they should be able to adapt. 
• What about a computer station in the office that is available to allow parents who don’t have computer access? 
• Susie has a station in her office they might be able to use.
• Lisa Turner said there is a place in the Media Center as well
• We could have even have some kind of sign in sheet next to computer to fill out to request a conference.
• Gentry:  This needs to be voted on by the staff.  Encore had a little bit of a different take on it, and we need their feedback too.

Concerns: 

• How to phase out paper copies ?
• How to publicize?
• alert nows (phone and email) , Wednesdays folders, Team newsletters, etc.

What choices do we give staff for the phase in process?

• Should we phase in so that core issues a progress report one time per quarter  like encore does now? 
• Do we eliminate paper progress reports completely?
• Discussions will need to continue to take place when students are failing.
• Elkins:  We discussed the idea of mini conference with students who have D’s and F’s at your computer showing students missing tasks, perhaps at the start of class on designated days?
• It was suggested that perhaps students could  sign off on a computer conference check sheet –something to the effect:  “I am aware that I have a D or an F”.
• What about starting this second semester? End of January?
• Consensus was for Core and Encore to go down to one paper copy on the same date
• We will need to get Cindy Wilkes on “alert” that parents maybe deluging her with requests for parent assist information
• We will publicize the computer station, for parents without any access to computers
• We can re-evaluate after going down to one progress report per quarter

Another issue raised:  Up until now, progress report time was the “ultimatum” for teachers to get grades entered—what will “push that now?”

• For one, there is already is board policy on teachers entering grades in a timely manner:
• AR 5124 Grade Reporting Regulations:  “teachers shall have one (1) week to assess and post student grades, unless otherwise communicated to parents.”
• We will also discuss specific issues/strategies at a future staff meeting

Concern: 
We do need to be gentle with the approach of this transition to the staff, We are trying to lighten the load not add more to teachers' plates. 
We do need to make the point that teachers discussing grades with students and parents still need to continue including making students aware of missing tasks.

This whole transition could be a very positive change in how we communicate between students/teachers/parents

Horn: to summarize:

• Starting in the 3^rd quarter, core teachers will issue only one paper copy of student progress reports.
• Right before Christmas, we can start the publicizing
• Take home packet for second semester is not printed yet so we will change the dates and possibly even have a reminder notification.

Update on Instant Recess:

• We have had some glitches with the structure and we are still working through it. 

Feedback on how tutoring is going:

• Overall it has been very positive.
• 8^th grade Feedback--Maxcy: Reading people are very happy, it’s not an extra prep, the lessons provided have been very good
• Math still waiting on that on-line program:  So there are some issues with who is creating and what exactly is the curriculum
• 7^th grade feedback-- Elkins:  Math folks are not sure what they are supposed to do, and they see that reading has been provided for, so there is a bit of a discrepancy there.
• The license for the math program is tied to the computer, and you can rotate computers and generate lessons for now…Deb Neal will be checking with Susie on license issue
• Encore Feedback In terms of encore and students missing classes, How’s it going?
• Some students they are only seeing once per week, and that makes it difficult.
• It is a lot  to keep in mind when planning--not to cover new concepts on Wednesday and Thursdays for example.
• We do have to keep in mind the overall goal which is literacy.
• Some parents have taken the “opt out" option (students taken out of tutoring) 
• 6^th grade feedback:  It worked well, smaller groups are helping and truly getting to know students needs in these small groups
• Student response?  So far seems pretty good too
• Anything to tell Math People?:  waiting on approval from budget from downtown,  Stephanie will check into that license issue and talk to Susie.

Review of School Improvement Plan

• 76% reading proficiency
• Goal is to get up to 83%
• this goal is lofty but attainable?
• Quarter test scores are in:
• Math:   
• All grade levels are above county average, we are about 4th or 5th in the system
• Reading:  
• Two grade levels above county average,  one grade level is at the county average.  Stephanie wants to talk to other schools for additional suggestions and we need to look and see if tutoring helps?
• Quarter tests are only one indicator of progress, but overall, we seem to be doing okay.

Miscellaneous Issues:

Morale concerns from all over…time is a huge factor.  People are tired sooner in the year than in the past it seems.  The office is especially hectic with Chris leaving.  Morale is an issue everywhere. 

What are some things we can do?

Maybe a faculty meeting with nothing on the agenda but positive things and food. (Encore may bring popcorn)

What’s causing the Morale issues?

• ALC: time issues? 
• Tutoring and less time for planning
• Economic issues…more is expected with less (no pay raise in four years)
• Deb—our staff is so conscientious so perhaps some stress is self-imposed.

What can we do to make people feel appreciated since financial is not an option?

• We need to look at what we can do here
• It was suggested that as a staff and administration/office need to be careful of “nit-picky” things—“copy sign" was sighted as one of those “things”
• Consensus was that when there is a problem with staff behavior (not monitoring in halls for example) that admins should speak to the people who are the offenders, not issue blanket statements-- Identify and address the people who are offending not general email to everyone.
• People not on duty is a security issue--negativity can build from these types of situations. 
  

Encore? 

Can another microwave be purchased?  Yes, we are getting a new microwave :)

Breakfast concern? We can not take away breakfast as a punishment for messes that are being left.

Ms. Gentry will consider options for students who do this.

ALC “alternative learning center”:  Issue with students leaving ALC?

• Will talk to Mr. Griffin

Dara Hedgecock:  Field Trip issues with 8^th grade--has this been resolved?

• This is a procedural issues with students no longer on teams.
• Everyone will have to be flexible when a teacher in 8th grade takes a trip.

Lackey:  change of class issues? 

• There have been some problems at class change recently with students being disruptive.  
• Admins have been made more aware of this just recently and will  try and beef up the monitoring.

Availability of office? 

• People calling and not getting an answer--admin availability is stretched to the limit and this is tough one to solve completely. 
• Parent volunteers are hard to get in the front office.
• Stephanie will get a prioritized list of people to call first.

Next scheduled SIT meeting not until February 20^th  -- We will try and meet instead on Tuesday, January 17^th