October 11, 2005

Present: Dave Eagle, Sue Mellon, Linda Kissane, Bill Elder, Roger Wells, Tom Dittus, Peg Jones, Nick Round, Carol Heller, Trista Tallon, Karen Pound

1. Feedback from Constituents

Concerns: kids taken out of electives; why not 10^th period; scheduling is a problem; clear school policy; missing Sarah Hussa; numbers too big or too small

Solutions: increase reading support at high school; look at what models other schools our size use

Most people liked it; special ed felt they needed to fix schedules; multi-level teachers felt that they were in meetings most of day; many felt that overall they were overloaded with information and didn’t have enough time to prep or look at schedules/paperwork

It was suggested that we combine ½ days but that cannot be done because the high school has to work off the elm school.

CST/IST

Most constituents like the IST groups. Most think it is a good idea to reduce special education numbers.

Dave provided information on this topic: The November faculty meeting will be on IST and some specifics about the model/idea.

Multi-Cultural

Suggestion for a ½ day Multi-Cultural Day (just like the ½ Wellness Day); another suggestion was a theme day; Bill Elder asked for suggestions of themes or ideas for speakers for Black History Month (issue of poverty, glamorization of the ghetto).

February will be Black History Month (Bill Elder is coordinating)

March will be SAGA City Exchange (Japan)

Gretchen Steen is working with the Children’s International Museum and will be a connection to them.

Other

Open House Suggestions: parents should just go directly to guideroom rather than the meeting; Dave was open to this suggestion

Math curriculum was discussed. Suggestion to formulate a plan to show how math touches all individual somehow, somewhere. Students are now tested by the State in Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 starting this year. We should look at weakness areas and positive areas and share with next level teachers. Math curriculum has dramatically changed to include topics that used to be taught in the following year. (i.e. 7^th grade now doing 8^th grade work.)

Attached is an up-to-date copy of Forum Goals for 2005-2006. After discussion and completing the Student Achievement Goal, it was suggested that we invite all AIS teachers to the next meeting to discuss and make suggestions how we may improve our schedule and help a larger majority of our students.

1. AIS teachers to be invited to next meeting. Strategy be shared. Other strategies?

2. Cultural Awareness

a. Black history month in February – what areas do you think should be addressed?

b. Speaker suggestions?

c. Curriculum connections?

d. What areas do you think should be discussed?

e. Japanese visitors in March

3. Open House – eliminate opening meeting – give information to guideroom mentors to distribute thereby saving time and ending earlier.

4. Staff Development Day – Pros and cons; to add another opening day we would lose one in October, March or May. Which is preferred?