MDT Meeting Minutes for January 14, 2007

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

Instructional Support Team (IST):  Nora Rabiah briefed on activities of the Murch Instructional Support Team (IST), which met twice before this MDT meeting.  The cursive writing curriculum was the main topic at the IST meetings and this MDT meeting.  There is no uniform curriculum now at Murch.  At K-2, teachers are using “Handwriting without tears,” while from 3-6, teachers use a number of different curricula.  The IST is examining different curricula and materials in order to establish a uniform standard across the school.  The school may later seek funding for materials and/or training from the HSA once a curriculum is chosen. 

Several parent members raised concerns about the music and art curriculum.   In music, some noted increased class time devoted to music worksheets and less time for singing and playing instruments.  In art, others raised concerns about a drop off in art work done.  Principal Lewis pointed out that this school year DCPS introduced for the first time curriculum standards for art and music.  This has caused the teachers to adjust course work.  Parent members were unaware of the changes to the art and music curriculum standards, and suggested the school communicate this information to the broader parent community.  A member suggested the school review these standards and if it seemed appropriate the MDT should go back to DCPS to seek changes to the standards.  Principal Lewis proposed a focus meeting with parents on art and music, to take place prior to an upcoming HSA meeting.  She will also provide an update to the MDT on this issue at the February meeting.

There was a brief discussion of math computation skills.  All recognized the Everyday Math curriculum was good for developing problem-solving skills, but students also needed supplementing materials to strengthen math computation skills.  The IST will look at materials for drilling and then determine how to implement a curriculum continuum at each grade level.  All agreed we should seek an approach that is sensitive to children’s different developmental levels, de-emphasizing time-limited tests at lower grades while preparing students for timed tests at the higher levels. 

There was insufficient time for a full discussion of the other IST issues (keyboarding, research skills, enrichment opportunities for advanced students).  All members agreed the MDT would take up a specific IST-related topic at each MDT meeting.

HSA surplus: This discussion occurred in conjunction with the IST discussion.  There was some suggestion that HSA might help fund curriculum and/or teacher training for the cursive writing, math drills and/or keyboarding curriculum. 

Out-of-Boundary Process:  Principal Lewis sought MDT input/support for her proposed policy not to accept any new out-of-boundary students for 5th or 6th grade, unless there is a serious possibility that Murch could lose a teacher position because of the student-weighted formula.  Principal Lewis noted this policy would not apply to potential No-Child-Left-Behind (NCLB) students (Note: Murch has 11 NCLB students of a school-wide population of over 500). 
A member asked if class sizes might become small enough to risk losing a teacher position.  Principal Lewis projected that next year’s rising 6th grade class would likely be about the same number as this year’s 6th grade.  She also believed numbers in the rising 4th and 5th grade classes are also at a level where Murch likely had little risk of losing a teacher position.  A member noted that under the proposed policy some new out-of-boundary students would not be able to rise to Deal via Murch.  The MDT endorsed the Principal’s policy.

On a related front, Principal Lewis pledged to circulate to the community statistics on in-boundary and out-of-boundary students, NCLB, etc. by the end of January.

Principal Search Process: Amanda Broun briefed the MDT on a January 8 meeting of DCPS Director for School Leadership John Davis with several Murch parents who had participated in the two most recent Murch Principal search processes.  Davis welcomed the opportunity to learn about the past search processes and hear suggestions for improvements.  Davis understood and accepted the point that the Murch parents were offering these suggestions without prejudice to the position of the MDT that Murch forego a search and convert Principal Lewis from interim to permanent status.

Davis informed the parents that he and his staff are awaiting approval from Chancellor Rhee of a proposed approach for the DCPS-wide search process.  Davis hopes the approved approach will go to schools in February.  Under the Davis staff proposal, all schools with interim principals would form search committees.  Chancellor Rhee has said she wishes to evaluate all interim principals.  If Rhee approves of a school’s interim principal, the school search committee would then determine whether to recommend converting the interim principal to permanent without a search, or whether to conduct a broader search.  Davis also pointed out that Rhee will be looking at placements for principals from the 23 schools proposed for closure.

A teacher representative reiterated the strong support among teachers and staff for Principal Lewis to become the permanent principal.  Another teacher member suggested the teachers should draft a letter to the parents outlining their reasons for support for Principal Lewis.  The MDT agreed there would be no further action on the search process until we receive the official DCPS communication.

Other issues:

Personnel: Principal Lewis announced the addition of three new staff member: Julia Porter, teacher’s aide with Ms. Bickart; Amrit Chohan, floating aide; and Lisa Bregman, teacher’s aide in 3rd grade.  A member mentioned the parent nominating committee would soon be meeting to consider MDT and HSA candidates for the 2008-09 school year and asked MDT parent members to consider their plans for next year.

Murch Blue Ribbon School: Principal Lewis sought a volunteer to help the Blue Ribbon committee to implement the proposed commemoration activities.  Karen Beiley would raise the issue at the next HSA meeting.

Parent-Teacher conference timing: There was extensive discussion on a parent request that the school consider shifting timing to accommodate parents with work schedules that conflict with the current 8:30-3:30 schedule.  Murch teachers voted in August to go to 8:30-3:30, a change from the previous noon-7:00 schedule.  A teacher member pointed out that under union regulations, once a schedule is agreed to, all teachers must offer conferences over the same period.  Another teacher mentioned that notwithstanding the union regulations, she has done more after school parent conferences on different days because parents could not make it under the new schedule.  This has had an impact on her course preparation time.

Several parent and teacher members expressed concern about the different signals this sends about families with stay-at-home parents, two working parents, parents who have to travel long distances, and parents who do not have flexible work schedules.  The DCPS decision to move conference days to Fridays causes difficulties for some teachers who are observant.  If Murch were on a 12-7 schedule, those teachers could not conduct conferences in the evening.  Teacher members agreed to take the issue back to the next teacher staff meeting. 
The MDT meeting adjourned at 6:45.

Next meeting: Monday, February 11, at 5:00.

Alan Yu
January 22, 2008