LSAT Minutes: 2015-2016

The meeting was called to order at 5:35 PM

Attendees:  Chris Cebrzynski, Jackie Hines, Emily Kallaur, Bethany Little, Lauren Miller, Richard Nugent and Vicki Otten

Minutes from the February 29, 2016 were unanimously approved

Emily Kallaur reported on the recent Ward 3 EdNet (a group of Deal Middle School feeder schools) meeting with David Grosso.  This was an opportunity for interested Ward 3 parents to express concerns they may have about education issues.  There was a great deal of concern expressed about LEAP, its impact on teachers and the lack of funding to actually implement the program.  Mr. Grosso recommended that people with concerns write him directly so that he will have comments on the record.

Mr. Czebryznski addressed staffing and relocation issues.

On staffing:

• Interviewing multiple people; pool is already dwindling and becoming shallow very quick
• LEAP: We will have two instructional coaches one to head LEAP teams (Tashima Hawkins our current ELA instructional coach will continue in that position) and we have made a new hire (from HD Cooke) for the math/science LEAP lead
• Christopher Lyons will be Pre-K LEAP lead
• Hired SEM (Student Enrichment Model) staff member and math specialist to be in classrooms working directly with kids
• We will be piloting departmentalization in Grades 1 and 2 with two teachers on each team:  one ELA and one math/science
• Hired instructional technology coach who will work with LEAP leads, SEM and others to create collaborate models and cooperative work bringing more technology into lesson plans and classroom activities
• 8 teachers are not intending to return next year
• We will have 4 sections of each grade level next year which fits with our projected enrollment of 600; if enrollment skyrockets in any one grade level, we will be creative in figuring out who to move around
• 20-30 families may make the shift to Lafayette or Hearst with new school boundaries opening up

Relocation efforts are moving ahead:

• UDC is a done deal
• Murch will have access to the UDC gym
• We may have some use of their theater
• We are already working on other avenues of collaboration with other programs/departments at UDC
• Start construction in June – four quads of trailers (with walkway, cafeteria, gym)
• Field Trip for staff to Lafayette on April 21st

In other news, Murch has started working with the DCPS Reggio Emilio consultant; she will be starting professional development with both Pre-K and kindergarten next year.

In addressing how the LSAT can be helpful in the transition process, Mr. Cebrzynski explained that there was a group of teachers and some parents working on transition issues.  Once we see the recommendations and list of needs that come from this group we can figure out if there is a role for the LSAT.

The group discussed how we might want to use the remaining LSAT meetings.  Some of the issues we talked about the LSAT addressing at the beginning of the year were:  professional development; new strategic plan at some point; DCPS survey.

Mr. Cebrzynski mentioned that he has been asked to set up a committee of staff members to look at two issues that were part of the DCPS parent survey: committee of staff to look at two issues:

• Observations and feedback
• Professional development

He suggested that one area where LSAT might be very helpful is in looking at the new evaluation system and figuring out how to create supports for teachers that truly focus on instruction.

Bethany Little suggested that, with our remaining time, the LSAT might focus on how to ensure that future LSAT meetings are substantive, really digging into issues within its jurisdiction.  Mr. Cebrzynski suggested one way to accomplish this was to align LSAT goals more closely with the ALT committee’s agenda.

The meeting adjourned at 6:50 PM.

Attendees:  Rosanna DeMammos, Jackie Hines, Emily Kallaur, Bethany Little, Lauren Miller, Richard Nugent, Vicki Otten, Manolis Priniotakis, Leslie Scott

Ms. Scott called the meeting to order at 5:35.  Minutes from previous meeting approved

 Mr. Cebrzynski discussed budget numbers and thoughts on staffing.  He will be submitting the budget the week of March 1st.  The main points of his presentation were:

• Murch received a reduction from last year’s budget.
• This was a strategic decision on the part of the school, wanting to keep enrollment low enough that we did not return to the new building in 2018 already over-enrolled.  This has been the case of a number of schools who have undergone renovation.
• Going with a lower enrollment number should allow us to meet that long-term goal. 
• The initial enrollment projection from the DCPS was 619.  Assuming a number of parents will hold their Pre-K or kindergarten students out of Murch during the renovation, Murch’s budget number was based on an enrollment of 600.

The DCPS budget includes two types of funding:

• Some are already front loaded into budget by DCPS to fill specific positions
• Others are discretionary

There will be four classes at each grade level.  The goal is to keep classes at 25 or less.  If this is not possible, Mr. Cebrzynski will consider adding a 5th class at that grade level.

The LSAT moved into a discussion of what positions are required to be filled by DCPS and where application of the budget money is allowed to be used at the discretion of the principal.  There was clarification and discussions of different positions and how each position might meet the overall goals of Murch and of DCPS.  

In restructuring some staff positions, Mr. Cebrzynski made clear that, as there continue to be rising expectations of what goes on in the classroom, specialists – both in reading and math as well as those who are supporting children who are English language learners or have IEPs – will be focusing their efforts on pushing into the classroom much more than pulling students out for one on one instruction.  

The DCPS teacher evaluation system (IMPACT) will end at the end of the current school year.  A new system to support teachers will be put into place – LEAP.  DCPS is requiring schools to have leaders for LEAP teams: 

• First and second grade ELA
• first and second grade math
• 3-5 ELA
• 3-5 math. 

Pre K and K will not have LEAP teams.  There are three different options for leadership for the four new LEAP teams at Murch, none of which include additional budget money from DCPS   Mr. Cebrzynski is looking at which options make the most sense for Murch.

Questions that need to be addressed in planning for LEAP:

• What do we take off teachers’ plates to make this work?
• Who is going to best support them in their planning?
• What do we need to ensure that each teacher is able to be as effective as possible?

Mr. Cebrzynski continues to meet with officials from UDC and from DCPS about the school’s housing for the next two years.  He is encouraged by the enthusiasm coming from UDC officials.  He believes that the UDC option will offer some real opportunities for collaboration and partnership between Murch staff and students and UDC students and staff.

The meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM.

Attendees: Emily Kallaur, Bethany Little, Manolis Priniotakis, Leslie Scott, Chris Cebrzynski, Tashima Hawkins, Jackie Hines, Lauren Miller and Vicki Otten.

LSAT meeting dates will be the last Monday of the month.  Meeting notes and “conversations” will be available on Basecamp.  

Mr. Cebrzynski reported on:

• Accumulation and use of testing and assessment data:  already staff has begun analyzing testing data from a number of assessments.  Beginning of the year assessments were given to all children in both reading and math.  Teachers conduct on-going informal and formal assessments.  Based on these different sources of data, reteaching, small group work and one on one instruction have already begun in many classes.  We are already seeing dividends from this targeted work being done.    Based on early data gathering, a small number of Murch students are already receiving Tier III services.  
• Comprehensive School Plan:  work on the comprehensive school plan began this summer.  Staff has identified five priority areas for the coming year:  guided reading; close reading; 5 E’s instruction in math; guided math instruction; and RTI (Response to Intervention).  The plan has been finalized with the ALT team.  Mr. C. will share the plan on Basecamp.  The role for the LSAT is monitoring and assessing implementation of this plan over the year. 
• Parent outreach/parent survey:  Mr. C reported that Murch had a 92% student satisfaction rate in last year’s student survey.  LSAT has been discussing the need to create and undertake a parent survey about parent engagement.  The goal of such a survey is to find out the underlying feelings about family engagement – why do people get involved in a variety of Murch activities and why others do not.   LSAT members discussed how there could be the widest possible distribution of the survey and all agreed that having the survey available for a parent/teacher conference day would be ideal.  Parents could complete the survey while in the school. 
• Priorities for LSAT this year:  Leslie and Emily will compile a list of ideas that could be the focus of LSAT activity for the coming year.  The suggestions will be posted on Basecamp and the Committee will discuss these options at the next meeting.