LSAT Minutes
Tues. Nov. 7, 2017, 5:30pm
In attendance: Alicia Garfinkel, Vicki Otten, Emily Kallaur, Lauren Miller, Lauren Reed, Maurice Werner, Chris Cebrzyinski, Megan Lavin, and Jen Stark on the phone
- Administrative
- Review meeting minutes from Sept. 2017
- Minutes were approved
2. Items for Discussion
- Principal’s Update
- Will have writing data/info for Dec meeting
- I/E and Encore—review of first quarter implementation
- Handwriting/typing needed some differentiation
- Schedule change for this new session
- LEAP teams meet for 90 minutes but no sub coverage is needed
- 4th/5th grade have a library and lunch option
- 3rd graders won’t have subs first thing in AM
- SEM – Also on Wednesdays
- 6 weeks, 3 cycles
- Kids sign up based on interest (and grade level)
- Ex: knitting, poetry, nature walks, board games, boys on the run, medical training, embassy adoption, etc.
- 1st-5th graders
- Hope is that this will lead to students choosing what the choices are, versus the adults picking them, and evolve further
- Comprehensive School Plan overview
- DCPS/School Vision- “Every student feels loved, challenged, and prepared to positively influence society and thrive in life. We are committed to the social/emotional and academic success of each student in order for each child to thrive and reach his/her full potential.”
- Literacy, SEAD (SEL), Writing Across the Curriculum
- For kids who aren’t doing well in writing, how are we finding out and what are we seeing? – collecting data now
- PARCC data review
- Budget issues and process
- Emily went to budget meeting AM of Tuesday, November 7th led by the Chancellor (community engagement forums)
- DC is fastest improving urban school district
- New budget process could be coming next year
- Budget process and staffing model will be similar this year as in the past, but some changes…process will be more transparent, flexibility for schools
- Nov and Dec – monthly forums; public budget hearing next week (Ward 3 EdNet group is preparing a statement)
- Enrollment projections will be finalized in December – we will get initial projection at end of November and we can submit a petition if we don’t agree with the number
- Initial budgets are created in January and budgets (proposed allocations) will be sent in Feb and March
-Comprehensive staffing model has not been updated yet, but there might be some changes
-Auditor found technology is not up to date in many schools
– Figuring out HSA role in budgeting for next year
- Other academic issues: departmentalization, ideas for next year in new building
- Departmentalization:
- 1-2 grades last year (math and ELA for half the team), not doing it this year – found that there wasn’t a benefit
- Studying changes for departmentalization for 3rd grade (maybe 4th) – what will be the greatest benefit for kids, how do teachers feel? Reach out to kids for information? (Could part of the problem be just being in the trailers?)
- Departmentalization:
New Building Ideas:
-Working with an eco-group to have kids involved with exploring new building and how it works with environmental science (green roofs, water retention, light, etc.)
-teachers will be trained, gardening materials/supplies provided
-Assemblies in new space
-Discovery Theater sends groups to schools (instead of us going to the theater)
-Group of parents and teachers get together to help plan?
3. Other
- Overcrowding in Ward 3 schools
- Group met in October – working on recommendations and ideas
- Early childhood centers?
- Shifting 5th grade somewhere?
- Adding trailers
- Strengthen schools in other areas in DC!
- Group met in October – working on recommendations and ideas
- Nursing coverage
- Health Committee passed bill requiring nursing coverage for 40 hours at every school – Mayor needs to fund it when she creates her budget
- Other business and review meeting schedule for the year
Minutes respectfully submitted by Alicia Garfinkel