LIVE BLOG: Framingham School Committee Meeting 3/17/15

Framingham Patch will be live blogging during the Framingham School Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 17, 2015.

Editor’s Note: The signal in the King Building has improved and appears to be stable tonight; and I brought a portable wi-fi for back-up.

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Editor’s Note: While the blog is in process please excuse typos. I will fix after the 4-hour agenda/meeting is complete, during the day on Wednesday. I will try to hit refresh as often as possible during the meeting, so updates are current.

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The meeting has been called to order at 7:05 p.m. by School Committee Chair Beverly Hugo

Prior to this meeting there was a closed session of the SC meeting.

There are only 6 members present tonight. Michelle Brosnahan is not at tonight’s meeting.

Request to update our streaming on our web site. Technology department is working on cable access - it will not be ready for tonight.

First 15 minutes is for public participation.

***

FTA Union co-presidents at the microphone

Sarah speaking - share concerns for PARCC

Last spring spoke at this podium expressed concerns. Presented petition with 200 signatures to pause PARCC.

Issues with technology, age level of questions, loss of learning time,

teachers not fully trained on PARCC test

We are building the plane and we are flying the plane.

Last spring when SC voted 4-2 to not go ahead with PARCC

Revisit in fall, and SC re-voted PARCC to begin this school year.

SC did not hear us.

Don’t they know how awful this is for the kids.

FTA survey -- concerns -- teaches and parents have tried to take the test. Has not gone very well.

Hope you will hear us know.

Survey last week -- 200 people filled out

out of 200, 55% last of preparation for PARCC

48% concern with technology readiness

74% concerned with wording - grade level appropriate

71% concerned about stress level

many concerned with repercussions of data collected

Test inappropriate for SPED and ELL students.

Concerned children never get to be children and just learn.

What we have to say should be held in the highest regard

have you spoken directly with teachers and principals about PARCC

Have you looked at some of the sample questions

Have you seen some states have opted out of Common Core.

State Commissioner sits on the board and that is a conflict.

Please do not throw around the phase that we will be held harmless.

(Teachers and audience clapped).

***

Lisa Zanella - teacher at McCarthy Elementary speaking

Last spring - presented with petition for 200 names - asked wait a year to implement PARCC

At that time you agreed with us.

In early vote, you took another vote.

What changes between the spring and the fall to change your vote.

You were unaware of some of the SPED restrictions on PARCC exams.

My goal is to look my 9 year old in the eye and say you are prepared for 4th grade.

You are ready for 4th grade.

It saddens me that education has come to this.

****

7:16 p.m.

Linda Renault -- nurse at King elementary school

bring up concern with -- taking days from April vacation

FTA leadership -- spoken to staff and family members -- only 3 prefer to take April vacation off.

Confusion with the survey.

Some people didn’t care as they planned to be away

Not everyone received the survey.

Not sure how many bilingual members received the survey

How many not on Facebook were able to access the survey.

It was a limited snapshot that you received in the results.

Discussion with FTA was to make up days in June. - 2 additional days will bring us up to Friday and not adding an additional week.

The night that press release went out -- there was a misunderstanding - the phones at FTA blew up. FTA president’s battery went dead. People were really upset.

Ask that take survey with a grain of salt. Some people didn’t understand it. Not everyone in the community had an opportunity to respond.

***

7:19 p.m.

Andy (missed last name) -- parent of 4th grader at Potter Road.

I’m a college professor - I’m a vocal outspoken to standardized testing.

Over reliance on standardized testing.

I have seen first hand the damage it has done.

PARCC does not prepare them for college.

I against an over reliance on it - 10 days of testing is ridiculous. I think we need to push PARCC back.

Parents need to band together and say we have had enough.

Editor’s Note: I hit the wrong time zone when I originally published the blog so the time date is off. I have since fixed it.

Kim Comastas and Cortney Edman - TWPTO co presidents making a statement.

Took practice PARCC test it was confusing.

This is not a great learning environment.

Ex board raise awareness about PARCC.

Opportunity to meet with several administrators, students, parents

Many flaws with the PARCC assessment test

Best interest to refuse to take the PARCC this year

Lesson supplement the existing curriculum

Teachers can not learn a new curriculum while simultaneously teaching it.

Tests are not at grade level.

They cause confusion

They have a high expected failed rate.

MCAS was untimed - PARCC is timed

Limited computer device - lack of teaching keyboard instruction - district struggles with.

7:25 p.m.

Mass does not have a PARCC out option

Parents need to write to principals to have their child refuse to take the test - Kim speaking still

If school has not met the 95% rate of PARCC -- no federal funding has been withheld.

We firmly believe the hasty implementation

Our recommendation to have parents refuse to take PARCC This year.

***

Susan Ardnt - co chair FSEPAC

Thoughts and concerns about PARCC

SPED students need non standard accommodations - graphic organizers and individualized math reference teachers were allowed on MCAS tests.

These are not allowed on PARCC

Concerned that children taking the test in 3rd grade -- do not have access to the computer and will struggle and are not familiar with the keyboard. That is not giving all students access to the test.

7:30 p.m.

***

Went on the blogs and the internet and saw many of the concerns parents were having - Hugo

Thursday wrote to DESE at state - asked questions like graphic organizers and opted out

Invited someone to speak to SC meeting.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would get someone.

***

Deputy commissioner of DESE will speak tonight.

Jeff Wulfson is now speaking - DESE

7:32 p.m.

We have not made a decision at state level if we should address PARCC.

we are only state in consortium -- that has not made a final decision.

One reason is the high regard we have for MCAS

Make sure any new test is a better test

We are in a 2-year test drive of PARCC

Last spring we gave field test to a sample of students around the Commonwealth

This year it is a full-scale implementation - and districts had option to try out PARCC or stick with MCAS tests.

We have a 50-50 split across the state.

We are pointing towards a state board by October/Nov. 2015. - decision on whether PARCC is a good test.

State board will be wrestling with the concerns you heard from the audience tonight.

Had teachers review test questions to see if grade appropriate

Had colleges looking at the 10th & 11th grade test to see if align with expectations

New chairs - SAGAN -- announce public hearings across the state between april through the summer.

Governor asked his commissioner to do his own study.

PARCC consortium is doing its own study.

There will be a lot of material to digest before we can make an intelligent recommendation to the state board.

It is not a forgone conclusion... on decision on PARCC.

Hope everyone will participate in the process ...

It is the state board that is the final decision makers.

We have a lay board in Massachusetts - varied backgrounds - confident they will come to a good decision.

Invite everyone to come to hearings to be announced

Actual testing is under way - we are one of the last states to start (8-9 states doing it this spring)

Began the test window yesterday - 20,000 students log on via the online test

no idea on numbers on paper test at this time

Doing our best to support the districts on the testing choice they made.

We are spending a lot of time working with the other states doing PARCC.

We want to seethe content of the test - want to see the operational issues, want to look at time it takes for this test for MCAS - all questions that need to be answered.

Wulfson: issue of common core and the PSARCC test have gotten intertwined.

They are not the same.

Massachusetts adopted new curriculum frameworks in 2011, based on the Common Core. Done with a lot of public input and public discussion

Wanted to make sure if a student moved from Lowell to Framingham not miss anything - that all communities curriculum were aligned.

Alarming number of our students who passed MCAS required remedial courses in college said Wulfson.

Feedback from educators -- has been positive said Wulfson.

Not universal but overwhelmingly positive he said.

Should Massachusetts drop Common Core is not an issue d- we are very happy with it.

Extremel;y disruptive to districts to pull the plug on that said Wulfson.

PARCC is the testing issue - verdict is still out on PARCC - said Wulfson.

that will be the biggest decision the state board will make this year -- said Wulfson.

****

SC members questions

Andy Limeri - glad to hear doing public hearing -- hope they are not during the day and not in Boston.

Wulfson said they are finalizing schedule now and to have them during the evening hours.

Limeri -- still difficult for people to make hearings - will email - written comments be accepted?

Wulfson said they will prefer written comments and will district to the board members. We are also reaching out to the various associations of educations -- having directed discussions with each of those groups as well.

Limeri question -- accommodation for SPED via IEPs.

Wulfson said developing a new test here - need to come up with appropriate accommodations. Needs to address students individual learning needs. Test experts from 12 states sitting a round the state in developing PARCC.

There are a very large number of accommodations - some to all students and some for IEPs -- online platform provide for others. By in large happy with the range of accommodations. Two areas of difference -- MCAS offered -- individualized math references sheets and graphic organizers lively debate among testing experts if they were appropriate. Decision made this year not offering those. Commissioner is aware of that and we are looking at that issue. we will study the results and we will re look at that especially if move forward with PARCC.

We need to do what is right for Massachusetts. Commissioner is prepared to make a differentdecision

In regards to testing time -- IEPs reflected - no time to revise the IEPs -- advised SPED directors - if requires additional time on MCAS then there will be additional time for PARCC.

For next year -- ask people to amend IEPs Wulfson said.

7:50 p.m.

Limeri -- how will you know the effect of not having the graphic organizer need to allow some people to take it will graphic organizer - so you can see adifferent. Those are a powerful and important tool.

Need to have a group of teachers look at PARCC --

Wulfson said we will be surveying all the teachers who proctored the test.

Limeri you want more than just a survey

***

SC Don Taggart speaking -- several questions

Opt out option -- idea what the statistics are? numbers?

What is the profile on the student for comparison if they opt out> How do you address that? No accountability.

***

Wulfson said - we don’t use the phase opt-out. Implies we allow a choice for parents.

State wide assessment is required. Not saying parents have a right to opt out

fully understand many students will not be taking the test -- at parents direction.

Informed districts have to use their own judgements -- not going to embarrass students - unfortunate they are being used as a pawn here.

Don’t have any information on numbers ...

Couple of dozens calls in the last week. Yesterday was our first day of testing - dont have hard data.

A student who does not take the test will not have results.

Think that is a disservice to the students - valuable data for classroom teachers.

think unfortunate trying to evaluate this test - more students participate - from all levels - better analysis will be.

Hope parents who want to come forward - participate in debate about PARCC- understand debate better if student have taken PARCC.

Taggart question -- criticism -- MCAS -- results came next fall... teacher no longer had the student when results came out. What is timeframe of PARCC test results?

Wulfson said first year - results will be delayed. Need to figure out what score gets you into the five performance levels.

• Many goals of a new test -- obviously is to take advantage of emerging online testing. Hope to adopt a test so that everyone will take online - then can do a better job getting useful results back to teachersbefore the end of the school year. that is the goal
  

Districts will get results in early fall -- parents get individual results in later fall - Wulfson said

Taggart -- concern for students who in general trouble with test - ranging from elementary to high school -- say end of 60 minutes - give it to me you are done? Can’t image that is not going to produce results -- skew the results. Find that personally disturbing.

Wulfson said MCAS untimed test -- schools block out very large time. Hope with time test - hope reduce how long take tests. Windows for PARCC testing is generous.

A students struggling after 3-4 hours -- is very unlikely any amount of additional time will improve that student’s performance Wulfson said.

8 p.m. Heather Connolly - SC member questions -- graphic organizers --how should a student who had a graphic organizer with MCAS now without one for PSRCC be prepared

Wulfson said I’m not a person to answer that question

Hugo suggested Framingham could be a test site for a district to allow graphic organizers with PARCC

Eric Silverman SC - enthusiasm for PARCC has waned developmentally inappropriate reasoning and questions

If we go forward, will there be significant re-tooling of the questions? Do we envision the test will look the same?

Wulfson said we will have the option - member of the consortium - Massachusetts one of the more influential members. The first couple of years of MCAS were very contentious. MCAS has evolved over the years. If the test is so far off from what I think it will be - then there will be a strong push - this is not for us - and need to rethink our strategy. If they think 80% right - then possible -- Pearson is the testing contractor.

Wulfson said decision is by no means a done deal. My staff in Malden is preparing a request for proposals for the next MCAS contract. Science is not a PARCC test - graduation requirements through 2019 - pass MCAS ELA & Math.

We are keeping all of our options open at this point.

Hugo -- have 17 students who have opted out and 4 are pending in Framingham

How does that effect the school’s score?

Wulfson said we do measure participation.

In regard to school levels -- participation rate for scores will not be used to negatively change a school’s ranking.

That is a problem we will need to deal with at the state level. Trying to get as many kids to take the test, so we can analyze it and decide if it is a good test.

Audience questions ----

Teacher at Barbieri speaking (Reynolds) -- curriculum should come first. Issue I have with this test. Curricuulm should drive the test.

We feel children, teachers, districts have been pawns

Question - is there any discussion - reducing the amount of testing - number of days - number of years? why tested every year from 3-10 grade. Takes away from the learning.

Wulfson said several issues around testing time. Trying to develop a test that minimizes prep time.

Want to focus on tests that are helpful.

Hear concerns but not sure we have any answers -- test every year 3-8 grade due to federal law.

Hope Congress will reduce the federal requirement - then we can decided if we want to move to another schedule Wulfson said

We have started to more emphasis on growth percentile than the actual score. -- very important in the urban areas -- very not fair to compare from students here to my town in Brookline -- Wulfson said

Are students improving or moving ahead? If we don’t test every year we lose important data Wulfson said

QUESTION -- Susan Ardnt -- speaking -- reason for accommodations not available due to multi-state test - what are you doing for data collection?

Wulfson said don’t know if that is possible. will be looking for feedback from teachers on students. And have data on how students done on past years on MCAS.

Sarah McKeon - FTA President - teach kindergarten speaking

Prefer to use the words opt-out as oppose to refuse.

Concern about charter school people on the board.

QUESTION - Cortney Edman -- 3 questions

when state board will vote on PARCC ?

Wulfson said - October.

Edman question -- curious about Pearson - intertester results

Wulfson said number of field test validity studies

Edman - if PARCC -- which graduation =class?

Wulfson said no earlier than 2020.

Magda Janus questions - could a website be devised for a Q&A. before we make a decision about PARCC.

Wulfson said doubt that can be done.

Janus question -- won’t matter for district on scores -- will the results stay on the record?

So how is this fair? Schools and district not punished but students will are held accountable.

Rosemary J - FHS speaking - she is an ELA as second language ELL -- asking about provisions

Wulfson said same provision as MCAS.

Math is available in some languages Wulfson said

Math coach at Dunning & potter road speaking -- question -- how is the test being rated? Students only answering about half the questions in the allotted time. Average students finished 8 out of 17 questions.

Wulfson said I don’t have an answer for you.

Supt. Scott said he can call the DESE to try to get an answer

Scott teachers spoke about anxiety about changing to PARCC when I first got here. Marveled at that. Important to realize state standards have been changing. We have been preparing students for next generation of testing.

When walk through classrooms now - hear students talk about thought processes and learning. Ways preparing students to analyze text.

There is no way that we have finished preparing our teachers or students for next generation of testing said SCOTT.

I think ultimately we want to push assessments down to the classrooms. Help the state tit validate that.

I do believe in talking to parents - I hear the stress. Our mission is very simply to improve the quality of instruction for students so we improve their learning said Scott. Howe we will create the feedback for teachers and students to grow. We are working to align curriculum for next generation standards. We should take the opportunity to practice in this given year.

8:30pm

Hugo -- we will send you copies of this to DESE Wulfson .

She also thanked the teachers for there efforts in this trial testing year.

BUDGET HEARING (this was scheduled on agenda for 7:45 p.m.)

SCOTT speaking -- Town Manager began on January 7th with budget workshops - guidelines for each department.

we have had continuing conversations with town officials - challenges? new emerging needs.

Scott reviewing the budget chart (handouts made available to those in the audience.)

This year $109 million - CFO recommending level services at $114 million

Scott is recommending $116.5 million

Scott says he has a $2 million prioritized essential additional staff.

4th year struggling to expand resources at the school level Scott said.

Superintendent expense line goes down -- vocational education is in that line item Scott said.

Increases in HR -- due to one time purchases for software for online hiring -- working very effectively - as role that out.

Business expenses up due to the Perini lease

Utilities are up -- based on actual usage this year Scott said.

Transportation expenses are up - due to contractual issues and the additional runs for KIng Elementary Scott said.

Need to build our capital infrastructure Scott said.

SPED tuitions continue to increase -- known students in district and in placements and for possible pending placements.

At the state level there was a cut to circuit breaker which affected Framingham this year Scott said.

It was $440,000 difference Scott said.

Governor has proposed a 65% funding ratio for circuit ratio -- usually it has been 72% Scott said. There could be a significant impact.

Gifted & talented department decrease -- due to moving director from that line item to educational operations line site - Scott said.

Editor’s Note: Snow days vote on agenda for 10:10 p.m. and we are about 45 minutes behind on the agenda.

Scott said not be able to add cost to advance technology for the district in this budget specifically devices that would help us to move 1-1 on devices.

$2.3 million for technology is significant but not enough for our 5 year vision. $2.9 million would be necessary said Scott.

Kindergarten grant - in Governor’s budget - may mean district would need to pick up $300,000 said Scott

Fund related to our multi-year budget plan - $685,000 figure - place holder - to begin an out of school after school programming - nature of support need to provide for families - to avoid summer slide - what we need to do to close the achievement gap - at some point we need to put money in the budget for that - this may be a difficult year to start that said scott.

8:52 p.m. - Budget workshop on March 30th

Hugo inviting parents/public to speak

Scott Wadland - parent of twins at Fuller Middle speaking - question look like we are relying on chapter 70 funding to balance out budget. How much of a risk is this?

Scott said - does make us slightly Golden that the governor is looking to increase Chapter 70. NO guarantee those numbers will stay where they are. We don’t know how those chapter 70 funds will fluctuate.

COO Dr. Gotgart -- in the governor’s development of budget - chapter 70 is the top priority of funding.

Seeing a 12% increase in the governor’s budget said Gotgart. I think chapter 70 is safe.

Framingham’s case is still underfunding what we are receiving said Gotgart.

Limeri -- we are scheduled to get $4 million less than what the law says we should receive.

$4 million is still a major gap and still the biggest in the state.

I have seen cases chapter 70 went up and town funding went down. At least this budget has the town budget is up said Limeri.

There are things that shuffled around - chapter 70 seems good and town’s general funding is okay - Limeri said.

Kim Comatas -- TWPTO president -- parent - Town Meeting member

Heard confusing information about K aides -- sounds like we are taking out aides from another column but may be replaced in another column? Are we back to trying fund K aides from magic money?

Scott had some cuts this year to K aides -- 9C cuts were made to try to balance the budget. Lost $60,000 this year.

Figured out a way -- emergency provisions -- make sure we meet K needs.

We are concerned that the grant will continued to be cut said Scott. Governor said he will zero out that line nextyear - $322,000 said Scott.

Comatas speaking - is eliminated K aides on the table?

Scott - No. They are so vital - they are a part of the team. They are essential to making it work.

Comatas -- $2 million of tech -- what is it for?

Scott - the capital funds are not in here.

$1.2 million in operating budget Gotgart said and the rest is in the capital budget.

Comatas -- parents asking about China -- costs - and how much it costs the district? How much it costs - analysis?

Scott speaking our budget is transparent. We would be willing to do that.

Like to go to a few conference each year. They feed me with ideas.

China trip is a conference -- most of the expenses were covered by the government of China - each participant pays $900 said Scott. The trip should have costs $5000 or $10000 but government paid for everything except for the $900.

Chinese teacher at K school and also taught at FHS this year -- discount for $13,000 for that salary. This year, we are applying the grant for critical foreign languages grant -- did receive that in former district in Dracut - hopefully get a teacher for free Scott said.

Want to expand courses at King and at the high school in Chinese -- very excited to grow that capacity scott said.

Create travel experiences - create learning partners -- Scott said.

9:09 p.m.

Scott - having conversations on integrate our language learning models from K-12. We are not supporting the program to meet its goals.

Dick Weader - TMM - chair of standing committee on Education & clerk of the capital budget committee.

Charter school reimbursement was $900,000 last year and this year just over $300,000 - we are losing some. So the extra in education aid from state is only about a $1m

emergency roof request - $1 million

9:13 p.m. School Improvement plan agenda item (was scheduled for 8:45 p.m.)

SC to here plans on Potter Road, Stapleton & Wilson Elementary

School administration offices are moving (Patch had a report today)

Scott - half staff will be moving this week. Emails and phone will remain the same. Other half of the staff will move next week. The parent information center will remain at the King Building.

Some SC meetings will need to meet at Town Hall said Hugo.

There will be some construction in this room said Scott...

9:19 p.m. POTTER ROAD School improvement plan

Larry Wolpe speaking - Vice principal - speaking on collaboration

Wolpe - the biggest issue is space - we have 25 classrooms.

We are a level 2 school.

Challenges -- high needs population -- science and technology scores dropped

Keeping students engaged in reading is important - says the Potter Road college

School newspaper grades 3-5

Parent involvement - highlight a November event - shift in reading curriculum- offering tools to support children at home.

MATH program overview --

students have shown evidence in place value knowledge and can apply it.

Targeted areas for growth - see trend - measurement and fractions.

second goal -- by end of school year median will increase by 5% on standardized testing.

Have had tremendous growth in math over the years and like to see it continue,

parental involvement - April 29 -- host a math night - geared towards parents - shift to Common Core.

great workshops for parents -- parents will be treated as students -- parents do the math in a guided setting.

Potter Road -- did something unique - differentiated workshops for each grade level - what research based videos of other educators. Time set aside for analysis and discussion of the videos.

Ordered about $2,000 worth of math manipulatives

Collaboration time built into schedule has been very valuable. One week ELA and one week math. Help to troubleshoot lessons.

Student engagement - more hands on interactive math lessons

ELL coach talking about goal #3 -- 9:31 p.m. - sub groups - ELL and SPED students.

New 3rd and 4th grade SEI program this year and it will expand to 5th grade next year

4th goal -- science and technology -- saw drop in scores in MCAS said Wolpe

have a wonderful 5th grade teacher -- showing discovery videos

have robotics and lego league clubs

Final goal is by June of this year -- create a collaborative model to meet the needs of everyone said Wolpe

Wolpe we want a full-time ELA and a full-time Math coach

9:42pm Wolpe showing a video of him singing the effort song with students to SC.

SC questions

Limeri -- what are your needs?

Wolpe - need an additional 5th grade teacher due to enrollment.

We have 4 4th grades at moment. Like the ELL coach to come on full-time. Like a full-time math coach (Hillary). She does an incredible job. Need some SPED assistance. IT is increasing. We don’t want to have too many students per case level.

ELL - I work at potter road one day.

***Supt. SCOTT speaking on the critical list -- see the potter road teacher/ELL teacher.

Hugo - full-time math coach?

Scott - may not have met the critical list. Try to figure out a priority schedule. You will need to push the budget up further.

STAPLETON School improvement plan (9:50 p.m. )

New principal and new VP at the school

new principal is speaking

They have a new .5 math coach and a new ELA coach.

3 academic goals and 2 school culture goals

Principal - reading &math coals are aligned to PARCC

Science goal linked to MCAS still

reading action steps --

Math roll out of engage NY - anew curriculum

Julie Gelardi - math coach meets with teacher weekly - she is also teaching half time

word with SAGE teacher to teacher fractions

Science action steps -- meet with grade levels during collaborations

action steps shared on all 3 academic goals -- MAPS assessment to show growth said principal.

Intensive training on think Math and Engage NY

VP speaking -- Positive Behavior Intervention - PBS -- problem solving program

this was introduced this year.

focus on hallways, cafe, dismissal -- effective discipline strategies.

Recent faculty meeting -- school wide behavior was discussed -- X2 referral data and staff observations

finally, positive acknowledgment -- rewards & incentive will be introduced this spring

last goal #5 -- school culture goal -- Principal speaking -- faculty & staff meeting -- collabration goals.

professional development feedback

exercise an open door policy

set clear expectations

10 p.m. SC LImeri question -- how can we help you?

Principal speaking -- a .5 math coach to full time would be great - help model lessons and in house professional development.

Like a fulltime behaviorist and social worker to help with K-2 population

****

Hugo -- finance subcommittee report -- speaking -- next meeting is April 14.

WILSON School Improvement Plan

Principal & assistant principal and IB coach

Every child is a star didn’t work for us ... striving for excellence is the new motto at the school

Principal speaking - changes to mission statement- we are an IB candidate school

Core values at school

IB attitudes every classroom has this says the principal. Students learn to be cooperative, curious, be respectful, be open minded.

Applied for our authorization -- visit April 9-10 - IB will send 2 individuals

Still have the bilingual strand at Wilson

Yesterday, visit by state representatives

We have 5 ELL teachers and a full-time ELL coach.

Partnered with Umass nutrition program

We have a Portuguese modern language program -- K-5 -- for those not Portuguese.

Have a lot of professional development to go with IB.

Last year - United Way gave Wilson a $25,000 grant for 16 teachers to do PD.

21st century program

After and before school program -- model for our district

Jewish Family services is a huge partner for our building

Have a pantry in our own building - with non perishable school.

Mass Bay -- parent learning programs - how to use computers, large immigration, math one tomorrow night for families, Ron Burton program, Jewish coalition of literacy, book bags we sent home with students through foundation. Book in a bag program.

Getting ready for second musical production -- doing musicals -- The Jungle Book.

Established this year a student council for grades 4 & 5. - have a pulse on the building we don’t see says the principal.

10:10 p.m.

Principal very proud -- 59% of students are ELLs

86% growth of ELL population this year said Principal.

we are moving in the right direction. Need to work on proficiency rates said principal.

as alevel 3 school need to ramp things up as much as we can.

seeing kids using academic language

incorporate IB words in daily use.

asking why questions ... sometimes asking teachers too many why question

increasing communication with parents

beginning to use student led conferences (McAuliffe charter school does that) atWilson said Principal.

The student will start driving the conversations about how they are learning in the classrooms.

have specials at one-hour block .. art teacher happier .. music happier.

45 minutes of collaboration time

have 4 coaches at building -- full-time math ELA and ELL -- rotate each grade level each week.

Parents more connected -- shifted PTO meetings -- educational piece to those meetings now too.

First PTO meeting this year --150 parents. Seen average 25-30 parents per month. Huge shift from last year.

Culture is changing over at wilson elementary

health nutrition is new this year said principal

Family-sized snacks seen - said principal. partner with UMASS amherst -- nutritional program - geared to Title schools - educational students - bulletin board - grades 5-4-3. Meet with classrooms one day a week for 45 minutes. Now working k-2 now.

10:17pm

SC Limeri question -- needs?

Principal -- very fortunate -- needs based on now are the IM requirements now - 5 year budget requirements,

Find out authorization 90 days after visit.

Portuguese language program - just addressing 30 minutes per week right now.

Will need another Portuguese foreign language teacher

we are expanding -- standard classrooms are very full -- TBE classrooms (15-20 students) 5-7 or more acquired enough to more to a regular classroom the next year and creates need for another teacher.

Space -- we are comfortable - no one is out in the hallways said principal

Limeri speaking -- congrats on getting to the place where you can apply for IB certification. Good luck?

Student=led conference model - how does it work? Do parents get time with teachers?

Teachers go through process with students on self-assessment. Students had a voice in the evidence in the conferences. It is 3-point conversation. No mandate and no one way to do it.

Supt Scott speaking -- 10:22 p.m. - make wonderful things happen - so proud of you. Principals/coaches embraced it.

Recommendation -- accept the 3 SIP - Potter Road, Stapleton & Wilson.

Vote - 7-0 approved unanimously.

10:24pm

IB presentation- Amy

offers three programs -- primary years program is focus at Wilson

We can make the world a better place to live -- one of our mantras

California, Texas, Florida, NY, NC - states where most IB schools are

Wilson hoping to be the 3rd IB primary school in Massachusetts (Springfield & Provincetown)

Collaboration needs to be consistent for all grade level teams.

5-year self assessment program required with IB

have a world language program - must be offered for all students

Program of Inquiry -- 6 themes -- write curriculum under ...

5th grade have to create a culminating project -- can be individual or group - have to do research paper - need to work with a mentor but can not be a teacher.

12 attitudes -- IB

Have monthly - global gatherings -- honor children for their IB attitudes. This month’s word was open-minded.

want our students to have responsible actions and to reflect on their choices.

Unveiled a new book swap program ... at Wilson Elementary.

1037pm

Hugo -- how exciting. You have come so far.

what part of your success do you owe to the IB program?

Students and parents becoming more empowered - owning school and owning curriculum said VP.

Don Taggart - how long ago started process?

First visit with the Sc and former superintendent was 4 years ago,

Taggart -- movement with School Choice - coming or not coming?

Scott - too soon - almost unfair to answer that.

Had more visitors and more questions -- said VP.

We are on the other side of town and it will be a way before we draw people said the VP.

This is one of the jewels in the making in the system -- Scott.

setting high standards is doable and attainable said Scott

Silverman speaking -- thank all 3 schools on improvement plans .... IB program is outstanding and wonderful. Compliments the rise of mandarin in the district. Great to see the district internationalize itself.

10:42pm

Scott -- Universities are watching - 6 BC graduate coming here to work on doctoral research

10:45 pm School calendar -- working on snow days.

7 total snow days this year 2014-15 calendar.

Hugo speaking saying survey results are available.

SCOTT speaking - recommendation option 1 -- add 6th & 7th days -- Thursday and Friday in June.

“believe the heavens are holding up - no more snow coming down.”

Diaz -- with respect to this year’s calendar -- lots of information with the surveys

Survey was not totally inclusive but gave us some ideas said HUGO.

Motion to add June 25 & june 26 as the two snow days to make up 7 snow days. - SCOTT

Stockless - which snow days used?

Scott - Friday and moving back from the week as needed.

Editor’s NOTE: There are 6 school committee members present tonight

Limeri - at this point in the year prefer to add on to June.

Taggart - I agree with Mr. Limeri. April vacation is very close by.

Diaz -- parents & staff requested we take the days from June

Connolly speaking -- question regarding Good Friday?

Scott - would require a change of policy which would require 2 meetings

Limeri - not just waive the policy - so only require one meeting

State has made clear that half days can not make up full days of snow -- SCOTT

Some are trying that but it may not be wise. said Scott

Taggart -- Good Friday is two weeks from this Friday ... Let’s just do June.

Silverman -- But preference is true for most parents -- to continue with June. I am hesitant about scheduling classes on good Friday, before a much deeper how we want to treat religious holidays in the community

Limeri -- by goodness we could get more multi cultural? (he said jokingly)

Limeri - MOTION -- Use June 25 & June 26 as current days - need further days June 29 & June 30

Hugo - difficult situation - not going to please everyone. Very few high school parents. Time when students do the college visits - sophomore and juniors also. School on good friday and april vacation - high absentee -- high costs for subsituitutes

Hugo - for the motion

VOTE - 6-0 VOTE

10:59 p.m.

2016-17 school calendar discussion now.

Scott recommended action -- approve the exceed the 5 days ...

June 23 & 24

Monday June 27-30

***

Option 2 - take Thursday and Friday in June and start with April vacation on Tuesday

Discussion by SC members

VOTE -- 6-0 YES for Option 1.

11:02pm

11:11 p.m. Communications Task force met last night said SC member Jim Stockless

Greg Palmer will be a co-chair

first meeting minutes and data from survey available.

Next Meeting Monday

11:13 p.m.

Hugo -- hard copy of the supt goals for evaluation

Request from one SC member to move the evaluation to April after the town election said Hugo.

Limeri - I have a deadline - it does not matter to me.

Hugo - i may have a deadline

Limeri -- contractual needs to be all done by June.

Hugo - instead of March 30 to complete must be completed by April 30.

Hugo - request to do a 360 evaluation of the district -- staff, principal, etc...

this will inform us of what is working in the district. In june & July -- plan goals at a retreat.

Scott --will continue the research and update the board later.

***

Bills & Payroll:

11:18 p.m. Motion to adjourn