Regular Meeting of the AmherstSchool Committee

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

High School Library

 

Present:            Andy Churchill, Chair                              Jere Hochman, Superintendent (arrived @ 8:03)

Catherine Sanderson                                Wendy Kohler, Exec. Director of Program Dev.

Elaine Brighty                                          Helen Vivian, Interim Superintendent

Kathleen Anderson                                  Alton Sprague, Interim Superintendent

Sonia Correa-Pope                                 Michael Morris, CF Principal

Debbie Westmoreland, Recorder

Public

Press

 

 

1.  Welcome                                                                                                    7:03 p.m.

A. & B.  Call to Order/Agenda Review—Mr. Churchill
called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. He noted that Dr. Hochman is
at the Pelham School Committee meeting and will be coming to the
Amherst meeting later.  Mr. Churchill then introduced the new Interim
Superintendents, Helen Vivian and Alton Sprague, who will begin work
with the district July 1^st.

C.   Minutes—Ms. Brighty made a motion to approve the minutes of May 20, 2008. Ms. Sanderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

2.  Announcements and Public Comments                                                   None

There were no announcements or public comments.

 

3.  Superintendent’s Update                                                                         8:05 p.m.

Dr. Hochman noted that he attended sixth grade graduation
ceremonies at each of the elementary schools this week. He said each
one had its own flavor, but they were all joyful and all celebrated the
kids and their achievements over their years at the school.

 

4.  Unfinished/Continuing Business                                                              7:46 p.m. (B)/8:07 p.m.

A.  Long Term Planning—Dr. Hochman explained the
background that was the impetus for the Budget Coordinating Group to
request a long-term planning process to identify various financial
scenarios for the town, library and the schools.  He noted that the
objective is to “develop a multi-year financial strategy we can all
embrace.”  Dr. Hochman explained that the school district will develop
scenarios including: 1. Level Funding; 2. Level Service; 3. Minimal
Enhancements; 4. Adequate Enhancement; and 5. Optimal Enhancements. 
The districts’ scenarios will then be combined with the town’s and
library’s scenarios by a Facilitation Team.  The consolidated scenarios
will then be taken through a public engagement process.  After public
input, a long-term plan will be developed.  Dr. Hochman then asked the
School Committee to brainstorm any ideas they would like to see
included in the district’s minimal, adequate and optimal enhancements.
Ms. Brighty stated that she would like to have foreign language
education in each school, provide elementary summer school, restore the
library paraprofessionals, provide more after-school transportation to
ensure equal access to programs, lower class sizes, increase computer
access, increase family outreach, and hire an assistant superintendent.

Ms. Sanderson said she would like to provide universal free
preschool at age three in the optimal scenario or free preschool for
free and reduced lunch eligible students in an adequate scenario;
provide fee-free field trips; provide student snacks; provide free
music lessons, including use of instruments; and purchase level 1
textbooks for sixth grade math.  Ms. Anderson would like to provide
professional development to ensure that all staff has high expectations
of all students, regardless of color; have a student media center with
TV and radio production; and provide a laptop computer for each
student.

Ms. Correa-Pope also supported offering foreign language in each
school; providing summer and after-school programs, with
transportation; providing more translators; and offering more reading
recovery or other reading programs.  Mr. Churchill noted that he would
like to increase time for enrichment teachers and offer more art and
music, replenish textbooks through a replacement cycle, increase
library funds, ensure that there are no forced mixed grade classrooms,
provide adequate central office staff for curriculum evaluation and
development, ensure that supply budgets are adequate to keep teachers
from having to purchase their own materials, and hire staff to oversee
the website.  The committee asked that Mr. Morris comment on what his
priorities would be.  He stated that he would expand the Parents as
Teachers program, provide a bilingual program to help immigrant
families navigate the schools, and expand the mentor teacher program.

 

B.  Schools Organization—Mr. Churchill noted that the
school committee heard a report of the Schools Organization Committee
at their last meeting.  The question now is how to move forward with
the information in the report.  Mr. Churchill noted that Rod Wright, a
Community Engagement Consultant, will be available to meet with the
Schools Organization Committee this Thursday, June 19 at 2:00 p.m. in
the Superintendent’s Conference Room at Central Office.  He invited
members of the committee to attend and distributed a copy of an
Executive Summary of the report that will be used in the meeting. Ms.
Brighty stated that she wants people to understand that this is just
the beginning of discussions of how to begin the public engagement
process. She noted that things will slow down with Dr. Hochman leaving
and an interim superintendent in place next year.  Ms. Sanderson said
that as a member of the Schools Organization Committee she does feel
that there is a sense of urgency for change due to the major
disparities in socio-economic status between the schools.  She also
noted that she believes that placement of sixth grade is a fundamental
issue that must also be discussed as any decisions about district
organization are being made.  Ms. Anderson asked if the schools
organization committee included only middle class parents.  Mr.
Churchill said that the committee was predominantly middle class and
that is one reason it is important to do a thorough public engagement
process. He said he believes we are in an inquiry phase with a sense of
urgency.  He is hopeful the consultant can prepare the school committee
for some of the common pitfalls faced in these types of discussions and
make recommendations for the best way to move forward.  Ms. Brighty
stated that she wants to be clear that she also feels a sense of
urgency, but does not want the issue to become polarized.  She noted
that what would usually be a two-year process may have to be a
three-year process with the changes in district administration. Mr.
Morris noted that the problem of physical space, with regard to sixth
grade, presents a problem in being able to have a full conversation
about sixth grade placement.

 

5.  New Business                                                                                7:06 p.m.

FLAP Grant—Wendy Kohler reported on the first year of the
Foreign Language Acquisition Program at Wildwood Elementary, which is
funded through a $450,000 three-year federal grant.  She noted that the
program at Wildwood focuses on Chinese instruction and has been
implemented in grades K-4 this year. In FY09, Chinese instruction will
be provided in grades K-6. Ms. Correa-Pope asked why Chinese was the
language chosen. Dr. Kohler explained that the grant stipulated that
funds can only be used for instructional programs in certain languages
deemed “critical languages” by the federal guidelines, including
Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, or Russian.  Dr. Kohler then reviewed
highlights of the program in its first year.  She noted that, based on
the success this year, the district has already been approached by
representatives in Washington to write another five-year grant. Since
Russian is one of the languages, it would be possible to support the
secondary-level Russian program through grant funding.  Ms. Sanderson
asked how the program will be evaluated.  Dr. Kohler explained that
there are qualitative evaluations from students and teachers and very
complex rubrics for monitoring students’ language acquisition.  She
noted that the evaluations are also a requirement of grant reporting. 
Ms. Brighty asked if writing will eventually be a component of the
program. Dr. Kohler stated that it may be at some point, but the expert
consultants have strongly recommended concentrating on speaking for
now.  Mr. Churchill said there are a few questions about where we are
going with the program since the district will have to pick up funding
once grant funds are no longer available.  Dr. Kohler noted that grant
funds currently cover all costs including the grant coordinator,
Chinese teachers, program evaluation, professional development for the
classroom teachers, and funding for her to oversee the current grant
through the third and final year.  Dr. Kohler stated that the more she
works with this program, the more she believes in the value of learning
any language at an early age. Decisions about the organization of the
district will impact how this program can expand.  Ms. Sanderson asked
how this program works for students who may enter the district in an
upper-level elementary grade. Dr. Kohler stated that the grant included
an after-school Chinese program for these types of students, which has
not yet been implemented.  Mr. Churchill stated that he would encourage
the committee to keep issues of equity and sustainability in mind as
they proceed.  Dr. Kohler said that equity is the primary consideration
in every discussion.  Mr. Churchill said it sounds like an exciting
program and he would be in support of any program that can be sustained
without destabilizing the secondary foreign language program.  Abby
Jensen, Wildwood parent, asked how the success of the program will be
determined.  Dr. Kohler noted that enrollment in the seventh grade
Chinese program will be one factor considered.  She stated that there
is a very complicated set of benchmarks for evaluation that will be
based on student progress toward goals related to an elementary
language program.  Eileen Moresko, FortRiver parent, noted that another
parent approached her about establishing language clubs at FortRiver
next year and they are planning to do this.  Mr. Churchill thanked Dr.
Kohler for the report and all her work on the program.

 

6.  Reports                                                                                          None

 

7.  Sub-Committee Reports                                                               None

 

8.  School Committee Planning                                                          8:40 p.m.

A.  Calendar Review—2008-2009 Meeting Dates Calendar:  Mr.
Churchill asked if any of the committee members have comments about the
calendar.  Ms. Sanderson noted that there are seven dates that conflict
with her required faculty meetings at work.  After brief discussion, it
was decided that Ms. Sanderson will email conflicting dates to Debbie
Westmoreland who will rework the calendar draft for consideration at
the Regional School Committee meeting tomorrow night.

B.  Items for Upcoming Meetings

 

9.  Adjournment                                                                                  8:44 p.m.

Ms. Brighty made a motion to adjourn at 8:44 p.m.  Ms. Sanderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Westmoreland

 

Approved September 9, 2008