MDT Meeting Minutes for October 22, 2007

Attending:  J. Gamble, T. Welsh, P. Joos, B. Lewis, K. Beiley, E. Marcus, N. Martell-Stevenson, N. Rabiah, A. Yu, V. Otten, A. Broun, L. Singer.

School Plan:  A member noted the Wilson High website included the updated Wilson school plan.  Principal Lewis agreed to make the Murch school plan available for posting on the Murch website.

Blue Ribbon School Award:  The MDT discussed ways to celebrate Murch’s recognition as a Blue Ribbon school, the only DC public elementary school to be so named this year.  Discussion centered on some kind of school-wide activity possibly including blue ribbon decorations, classroom activities and/or a school-wide party.  Other ideas included: signs for the school grounds, T-shirts, bumper stickers, and updates to the Murch website/letterhead.  All agreed the school should explain the meaning of the award to the students and community.  Principal Lewis and the teachers/staff will develop plans for this agenda item.

Murch Test Scores:  Principal Lewis reviewed aggregated results of Murch’s performance in the Spring 2007 DC-CAS (DCPS’ standardized reading and math test for all 3rd – 6th graders).  Results were aggregated by grade and into four performance categories: Advanced, Proficient, Basic, Below Basic.  For reading, students scoring advanced or proficient: 3rd – 84%; 4th – 82%; 5th – 79%; 6th – 92%.  For math, students scoring advanced or proficient: 3rd – 69%; 4th – 78%; 5th – 68%; 6th – 82%. 

Performance of Murch’s white and black students (Hispanic and Asian student numbers were too small) were aggregated across the four grades.  For reading, 96% of white students and 77% of black students scored advanced or proficient (Spring 2006 results were 97% and 79% respectively).  For math, 93% of white students and 58% of black students scored advanced or proficient (2006 results were 93% and 62% respectively). 

At their September meeting, Chancellor Rhee and Principal Lewis set a target of reducing those performance gaps by 10% in reading and math at the Spring 2008 DC-CAS test.  Principal Lewis believed Murch could achieve the goal.  Teachers will look at individual students, taking the constructive response approach, and identify the instruction needed to get those students to the next proficiency level.  The 10 percent target could be achieved by a performance improvement by 5-6 students. 

Members welcomed the presentation and asked about additional resources to meet the goal.  Some noted Murch has a successful record in strengthening student performance longitudinally, but the gap persists because many newly entering students come with inadequate skills.  Principal Lewis discussed possible additional personnel resources to meet these challenges (see Personnel below).  She discussed the role of the Murch Instructional Support Team (a teachers’ committee) to advise how to improve academic performance.

Student Count and Budget: October 30 is the Murch student count date.  Principal Lewis estimates enrollment will likely be 502 to 504, above the 484 projected and used as basis for the draft 07-08 budget.   Principal Lewis estimated the 6th grade student count to be 58.  Several members affirmed last year’s MDT recommendation to add a third 6th grade teacher slot, resulting in class sizes of 19 instead of 29.  Principal Lewis reported no 6th grade discipline problems.  Others noted the large class sizes in 3rd and 4th grades, and suggested additional resources – derived from the per pupil formula – should be directed to meet needs in these larger classes.

Personnel:  Principal Lewis said funding exists for Murch to hire two full-time specialists (reading, math) for January-June 2008.  She awaits reaction from DCPS to her proposal.  These two specialists would work with teachers in classes, work with smaller groups of students both at advanced and lower levels, help teachers with planning, etc.  Their work would differ from the HSA-funded reading specialist, whose brief is to focus on approximately 24 students to raise their individual performance level.  Principal Lewis commended the work of the new front office staff.  She is revising the current job descriptions, which do not reflect actual duties. 
 

HSA Grants:  Karen Beiley reminded teachers of the $10K in Murch HSA Grant funds available to Murch teachers for instructional support for the 2007-08 year.  Approximately $4.1K has been allocated.  Karen encouraged teachers to submit applications for the remaining $5.9K.  Karen informed teachers their “science wish list” orders placed at the end of last year should arrive in the next few weeks.
Schedule for future meetings: Next meeting will be Monday, November 5. 

The MDT will meet at 5:30, followed by a 6:30 meeting with the community to hear input on the budget priorities. 
 
The meeting adjourned at 6:35.
Alan Yu
October 23, 2007