• Review  of  the  Staffing  Model:   The  staff survey  has  not  been  circulated  yet  because  Sabrina  wants  to  review questions  with  LSAT  and  Mr.  C  before  finalizing.    The committee agreed  to  ask  her  to  post  the  questions  to Basecamp  so  members  can  review  and  provide  feedback.   During  meeting  discussion,  the  following  additional  topics were  suggested  for  possible  inclusion  in  the  survey:
  • What  curriculum  areas  are  underdeveloped  or  absent?  One  example  might  be readers/writers  workshop which  has  received  less  support  in  recent  years.  Another  possible  topic  is grammar.
  • By  grade  level,  how  does  the  writing  development  of your  students  compare?

Mr.  C  noted  that  he  would  like  to  have  teachers  at  the end of  the  year  write  down  a  list  of  competencies  they  believe students  should  have  before  leaving  their  current  grade level.

• Review  of  school  data:   Mr.  C  provided  to  the  group  several  points  of  data.    Overall  review  of  the  CAS  schools  shows  that  the  school  is  moving  in  the  right  direction,  in  particular  within  the  black  subgroup.    However,  for  the most  part  the  school’s  scores  are  staying  within  a  very small  band-­‐ they  are  “static  with  slight  growth.”    The group  noted  that  overall  scores  of  “advanced  proficient” went  down  last  year  with  the  “proficient”  group  increasing.   School’s  focus  in  past  few  years  has  been  on those  students  who  are  in  the  below  basic and  basic groups.This  year  the  school  takes  the  PARCC  and  Mr.  C  reported that  it  likely  will  be  at  least  2  years  until  we  will  be  able to  make  any  real  analysis  of  those  scores. The  committee also  noticed  that  the  composition  score  from  the  last  year’s CAS  test  went  down.    It  was  noted  that  this  year  the  CAS changed  its  grading  system  to  consider  grammar.   Grammar  has  generally  been  deemphasized  in  primary education  over  the  past  decade.    We  discussed  the possibility  that  in  light  of  this  change  in  scoring  criteria, the  school  should  have  a  renewed  emphasis  on  teaching grammar  and  writing  skills.    Because  the  expectations  haveshifted,  the  school  many  need  to  incorporate  an integrated  approach  to  teaching  writing  and  grammar school-­‐wide.
• Wilson/Deal -­‐ Mr.  C  reported  having  an  informal conversation  with  Principal  Albright  during  which  he commented  that  the  majority  of  Murch  students  are  at least  as  well  prepared  for  Deal  as  students  from  other  feeder schools.    Beth  Colleye  has  opened  a  conversation  with  a member of  the  Deal  LSAT  about  how  best  to  exchange information.    Murch  teachers  commented  that  in  past  years they  have  unsuccessfully  reached  out  to  their  Deal colleagues  about  sharing  information  and  would  be  happy if  the  LSATs  are  able  to  facilitate such  exchange.    Mr.  C.  commented  that  one  of  his  goals  would  be  for  advanced Murch  5th  graders  to  be  able  to  take  math  at  Deal.    Mr.  C.  noted  that  the  Wilson  feeder-­‐pattern  principals  informal  group  has  disbanded.
• Enrollment  projections.   Current  enrollment  is  627.  District  projection  for  next  year  was  644 and  Mr.  C  did  not  contest  it
• Renovation-­‐ Murch  is  the  first  elementary  school  to  be  relocated  during  renovation.
• DCPS  Budget  Engagement  Meeting:   The  Chancellor  is again  holding  budget  engagement  meetings.    This  is  a  working  session where  the  schools  and  the  Chancellor exchange  information  and  share  their  priorities.    Murch’s meeting  is  Jan.  20  at  Coolidge  High  school,  from  7:00-­‐9:00.    LSAT  member  attendance  is  not  mandatory  but has been  helpful  in  prior years.
• February  meeting  topics  for  discussion:
  • Results  of  Jan.  budget  engagement  meeting.
  • Planning  for  2015-­‐16  budget
  • Results  of  teacher  survey