September 16, 2009
Media Center (library)
3:30 pm

1. Welcome and introductions

2. Climate Survey results of 08/09
a. Parent scores-only 37 returned, slightly lower than last year
b. Teacher scores-only 67% returned; some areas lower than last year

3.    CCM II-all need to sign-we will continue with the math, writing, and science family nights as we discussed last spring.  Heather Traynor and Jaci Gruber will coordinate the nights.  One night so far with 170 parents and students in attendance for K & 1.

4. New for 09/10
A. Detentions-will table until next meeting with more discussion needed.  How does BIST fit into detentions?
B. H1N1-following guidelines from Douglas Co. Health Dept.
C. Gator Aid time (school families)-each staff member will have a group of approximately 13 students to mentor on a monthly basis.  We will start in Oct. once the 40 D.A. sponsors present to the staff.
D. Posters of students for sale-SIT against the idea
E. Reteaching-classroom teachers will work with small groups in grades 2-5 while the reteacher works with the large group.  Reteaching para will work with small groups in K & 1.
F. On-line scheduling for science lab, computer lab, etc.  Discuss next month.

5.     Next mtg. 10/22 Science room at 3:30  


January 21, 2009
3:30pm Library

1. Welcome and introductions

2. Retirements for next year: a. Mary Jane Morgan b. Deb Williams c. Beth Reitz

3. Options: We will be likely be cutting .5 FTE which will create different options for next year. a. IF (Instructional facilitator) .75 READ .25 (full time person) READ/ELI .5 (part time person) b. IF 1.00 IF (full time) READ/ELI .t (part time) c. IF/technology 1.0 READ/ELI 1.5 (1 & ½ staff) Media .5 d. Eliminate art-keep all as is e. Other combinations that result in loss of .5 FTE?

4. Final decision on #3 above: Will hire a combination of .5 IF, .5 READ, .5 ELI. No change in art, media (library), or technology.

5. Help with interviewing-several parents will participate in the interview process.

6. SMART board-mobile-$2330; mounted $2000-2300 more. SIT decided to look into purchasing one mobile board. Mr. Chaussee will go to Willowdale to see how they use the five they’ve purchased.

7. Next mtg.: 3/4 at 3:30

School Improvement Meeting Update November 5, 2008

1. Progress on strategies Strategy
#1 - Develop and implement a plan to address the issue of the increasing demands put upon teachers.
a. Paras doing more reteaching-progressing
b. More common time for reteaching vs. individual classrooms-existing c.
Give grade levels four hours of plan time provided by a sub or dinner after hours (two grade levels so far)
d. Staff coupons instead of “trinkets”-existing
e. Greater attempt at parent volunteers-mixed results
f. District’s 194th PLC ½ day-existing

Strategy #2 We will develop and implement plans to unify staff through the promotion of mutual appreciation. 1. Team building through an expanded social committee-existing
2. Three committees developed to look at weak areas of climate survey-have not met yet
3. Distribute upcoming class lists to classroom teachers-started last year
4. Revise pass-on student information forms as needed-progressing
5. Contact EAP & PAYBAC for information regarding teambuilding activity resources-did one inservice.
6. Create and maintain social and teambuilding calendar for the entire school year with regularly scheduled events-existing.
7 . Display a staff “Getting to Know You” bulletin board prior to the first day of the school year-not done.

Strategy #3 - We will develop and implement plans to utilize human resources to address student and teacher needs.
1. Volunteer list in each classroom-done, but with mixed results.
2. Seek a grade level to volunteer to pilot the Gator-Aide program-still exploring this opportunity.
3. Establish a volunteer coordinator position and write a job description-done.
4. Write an informational protocol for volunteers to follow regarding confidentiality, expectations, and general guidelines for when they are volunteering-done, but not given to volunteers.
5. Disseminate list to classroom teachers so teachers can contact the volunteers themselves, or they can go through the volunteer coordinator-existing with mixed results.
6. Train teachers how to effectively use volunteers by brainstorming (PLC)-progressing.

Strategy #4 - We will develop and implement plans to improve internal and external communications.
1. Yearly calendar on staff server available at the beginning of the year-existing.
2. Electronic calendars for various rooms-progressing.
3. Develop a reference tool including: purpose of program, guidelines for each grade level, timeline for expectations, and a goal setting page-not done.
4. Discuss programs and/or information from the instructional team meeting with grade level team-existing, but not the program piece.
5. Set a question and answer time between grade level leader and administrator as needed-not done, but part of every IT mtg.
6. Have leaders participate in a “Teaching Adult Learners” course-not done.
7. Conduct monthly computer training classes that support staff web pages-as needed.
8. Have each staff member set long and short-term web page goals. An example of a short-term goal is student supplies, teacher expectations, and class rules. An example of a long-term goal is student assignments, weekly newsletter, and special announcements/activities-progressing.
9. Set time aside to work on staff web pages during in-service days-considering for next Feb.
10. Have staff members update web pages regularly-progressing with mixed results.
11. Use AlertNow to email Gator Tales beginning 12/5/08 with no paper copies going home unless requested. 12. Use AlertNow to email home monthly grade level newsletters.

Strategy #5 - We will develop and implement plans to fully utilize technology to support student learning.
1. Tech training day-did once, will probably do again ($).
2. Purchase more digital cameras-one
3. Have cameras available for student check-out-students use in enrichment groups.
4. Provide training for staff and students-not done-most know how to do.
5. Purchase more projectors-ideally three-in progress and depends on budget.
6. Provide training on projectors if necessary-see #5.
7. Provide good instructional sites for staff on a regular basis-existing.
8. Investigate the need and funding for teachers microphone systems-in progress-few requests.
9. Sent a team to observe use of Smart Boards in other schools-done.
10. Investigate funding and develop a time line to implement-very expensive.
11. Grant written to purchase one Smart Board-did not receive the grant.

Strategy #6 - We will work toward improving scores of all students in grades 1-5 in the Analytical Writing Assessment.
We accomplished this by involving all teachers in a Professional Learning Community. What do we do to prepare students for the AWA? a. Targeted students b. All-school scoring c. Look at data results d. State results on the web site

Critical issues: • Meeting the needs of students in regards to RtI. • Coordination and prioritizing of reteaching. Now using a reteaching application for students to be in reteaching. • ILP reports. • Learning stations. • To implement the new Investigations series. • To explore a new paradigm of grading and to report our findings/opinions to the district. • To explore the ways that boys and girls learn differently. • To provide students with community service opportunities. • Continue the B.I.S.T. philosophy of student management at Abbott and to have all teachers trained. • To continue the use the knowledge gained by our PLC groups, including the book Mastery Teaching and the Millard Instructional Model. PLC teams need to meet a minimum of two times a month and turn in minutes. • To have all teachers become more familiar of their strengths through Gallup’s Teach with your Strengths and the Gallup book, How Full is Your Bucket? • Each teacher will have a web page that is regularly updated. • To build staff cohesiveness through action plans. To explore reasons for low scores in some climate survey areas through short committee work involving everyone. • Update a volunteer plan to include a volunteer coordinator, an updated volunteer booklet, volunteer list, and ideas from teachers on how to use volunteers. • Again, explore the on-line calendar for room check out and specialists’ use of Group Wise calendar so busy searches can be conducted.

 

NCA Report of the Quality Assurance Review Team for Grace Abbott Elementary School AbbottNCAreport.txt