Minutes for the Amherst School Committee Meeting of September 9, 2008

Regular Meeting of the AmherstSchool Committee

Tuesday, September 9, 2008
High School Library

Present:

Andy Churchill, Chair
Sonia Correa-Pope
Elaine Brighty
Catherine Sanderson
Kathleen Anderson

Al Sprague, Co-Superintendent
Helen Vivian, Co-Superintendent
Matt Behnke, Wildwood Principal
Ray Sharick, FortRiver Principal
Michael Morris, Crocker Farm Principal

Public
Press

Debbie Westmoreland, Recorder

1. Welcome 7:09-7:11 p.m.

A. & B. Call to Order/Agenda Review—Mr. Churchill called the meeting to order at 7:09 p.m. He then welcomed everyone to the meeting and reviewed the agenda. He noted that a discussion of the work of the School Committee will be added to the New Business section.

C. Minutes—Ms. Brighty made a motion to approve the minutes of June 16, 2008. Ms. Correa Pope seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

2. Announcements and Public Comments 7:11-7:28 p.m.

Mr. Churchill distributed and read a statement regarding the “well-publicized growing pains of the current school committees.” He noted that he would like for School Committee members to have time to think about their responses so he will ask for comments during the New Business discussion. Steve Rivkin, parent, asked what the Amherst schools are doing to help students succeed in mathematics in the Middle School with the Impact textbooks that have been adopted. He asked what the goals are for the transition from sixth grade to seventh, including academic support for students who are struggling. He also asked what district expectations are with regard to students taking algebra in seventh or eighth grade. Mr. Sprague suggested inviting the math coordinator to report on this issue at the next Amherst meeting, along with the four elementary principals. Ms. Anderson mentioned again The Algebra Project, which was started by an African-American man out of Boston, noting that it was started because algebra is a gateway course that has kept children of color out of higher level math and science. Ms. Sanderson noted that the math committee, on which she served, made the decision to adopt the Impact text knowing that it is a higher-level text of which the schools will be using only two-thirds. This is due to the fact that the schools use Investigations in K-5, Connected Math in grade 6 and Impact beginning in Middle School. Mr. Sprague noted that the state standards are the course of study, not the textbooks themselves. Mr. Churchill asked that people submit their questions about the math program in advance of the report. Mr. Rivkin suggested inviting a member of AIMS, which is a local program that supports African-American students, to come to the meeting for the math presentation.

 

3. Superintendent’s Update 7:28-7:38 p.m.

Mr. Sprague introduced the new Amherst principals: Ray Sharick, FortRiver; Matt Behnke, Wildwood; and Mike Morris, Crocker Farm. He noted that installation of the portable building has begun at Mark’s Meadow. Dr. Vivian distributed revised slides of the schools’ adds and cuts lists to be included in the community presentation of the FCC. She then gave a brief update on the work of the FCC committee. Mr. Churchill noted that the committee will be presenting their Powerpoint presentation at a public forum on October 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Room at Town Hall.

 

Dr. Vivian also reported that the administration is working with the APEA to develop a new roll-out plan of the Professional Development and Evaluation plan that was approved at the end of the last school year. She noted that evaluation of non-professional status teachers, the mentor program and professional development are still going forward as planned. Some other elements are being reviewed to ensure the success of the plan. She also reported that the MASBO audit of the business office’s efficiency will be done in October. Mr. Churchill noted that flyers have been posted and widely distributed around town inviting community members to participate in a number of public forums to gather input regarding what the community wants in the new superintendent.

 

4. Unfinished/Continuing Business 7:38-7:49 p.m.

A. Schools Organization Committee Update—Mr. Churchill noted that the report of the Schools Organization Committee was made at the last Amherst School Committee meeting in June. He briefly reviewed the process that was followed. He noted that the sense of the School Committee members who served on the Schools Organization Committee is that this is an issue that is just too big to take on at this time, with four new principals and a superintendent search this year. The recommendation is that this issue be tabled for now and be revisited at the end of this year or in the fall. This will give the new principals a year in the schools for which they were hired. Ms. Sanderson stated that she concurs with Mr. Churchill because of several factors, including the new principals, the number of options considered, and the lack of unanimity of the Schools Organization Committee members regarding which option is best. Ms. Brighty noted that she would just like to make sure the school committee stays very aware of the impact of language-based and socio-economic differences between the schools—which was the initial concern behind the formation of the schools organization committee—because it has budgetary implications. Mr. Churchill stated that the committee needs to talk more with the people in the schools to get a better handle on the equity outcomes of any changes. Ms. Correa-Pope stated that it is important for the committee to have the perspectives of the day-to-day details the principals will find as they work in their new schools. Ms. Sanderson asked that the executive summary of the Schools Organization Committee be posted online. Ms. Sanderson then made a motion that the executive summary be posted online. Ms. Anderson seconded and motion passed unanimously.

5. New Business 7:49-8:54 p.m.

A. Accept Gifts—Ms. Brighty made a motion to accept a gift of $100 from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the Wildwood Schoolyard Ecology program; $1,331.98 from the Stop and Shop A+ Program for Fort River; and $150 from an individual for Mark’s Meadow. Ms. Correa-Pope seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Churchill expressed the thanks of the School Committee for all of these gifts.

B. Work of the School Committee—Mr. Churchill stated that he would like to have a discussion of what work the committee members would like to do during the course of this year, noting that the biggest task for the year will be hiring a new superintendent. He then distributed and reviewed a proposal for setting up a “How Are We Doing” subcommittee, which would work with district staff to develop a plan for analyzing basic data to determine how the district is doing. Ms. Brighty suggested including Regional people on the committee so it could be done with a K-12 emphasis. Ms. Anderson noted that the idea of anecdotes as data seems to be marginalized in the plan. She suggested that there should be a way to use anecdotes as data points. Ms. Correa-Pope agreed. Mr. Churchill noted that he agrees that having both quantitative and qualitative data is important. Ms. Sanderson stated that there have already been some great examples of principals taking initiative in collecting and distributing surveys and data, such as the ones done at Crocker Farm, FortRiver, the High School, and the Middle School. She noted that it is really important to have a set of comparison schools to develop a sense of what are reasonable expectations for outcomes. Ms. Sanderson stated that she feels it is also important for the School Committee and Superintendent to receive data from teachers, and suggested that an anonymous survey be conducted for teachers. Mr. Sprague noted that there is a large amount of data-based information already in the district. He also stated that School Councils are mandated by law to develop School Improvement Plans for each school. Ms. Correa-Pope said that, as an administrator herself, she takes advantage of parent coffees to give parents an opportunity to share their concerns and comments. She said that our principals should be given the opportunity to hear concerns first before parents bring them to superintendents or school committee members. Mr. Sprague noted that we will be hosting coffees and school visits for the community beginning after Open Houses. Mr. Rivkin, parent, stated that it would be nice to have data on how our graduates do in college, not just where they go to college. He also stated that he would like to see data on how students who do not do well in our schools are doing after graduation. Pat Shilling, FortRiver and Crocker Farm parent, asked if any models exist in which parents, students and teachers work together to develop goals at the beginning of the year and to assess the success of the goals at the end of the year. Betty Schum, parent, stated that it would be important for the committee to hear from students in order to get their perspectives as data gathering begins. Nancy Rafson, FortRiver and Middle School parent, agreed that children can tell adults what we really need to hear. Mr. Cutting, UMass graduate student, cautioned that the dynamic nature of the rental housing and the presidential election may have a significant impact on the amount of section eight housing in South Amherst, which could impact data collection. The School Committee agreed that they would like to pursue the “How Are We Doing” subcommittee. The Co-Superintendents will bring a recommendation about which staff members should serve, and how, to the next school committee meeting. Janet Kannel, FortRiver and High School parent, stated that she would like to see data experts included on this committee. Ms. Sanderson made a motion to set up this subcommittee. Ms. Anderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Churchill asked if there are other items the members of the School Committee would like to see on a future agenda. Ms. Anderson expressed concern that so many staff of color have left the district and she would like to make sure that the superintendent and administrators are held accountable for providing support to staff of color to encourage them to stay. Mr. Churchill asked what is done to support new staff in general. Mr. Sprague noted that Amherst is one of the best organized districts he has ever worked in for supporting incoming staff, including providing a mentor teacher to work with each new teacher. Ms. Correa-Pope noted that she would like to see a report on the ELL program. Dr. Vivian noted that Ms. Guevara, ELL Student Services Supervisor, is currently working on that report. Ms. Sanderson stated that the questions of whether we have too many administrators comes up on a regular basis, so a report on the expected administrative structure for a district of this size might be helpful as we hire a new superintendent. Mr. Churchill suggested also addressing the question of what it takes to staff an elementary, middle school and high school. Ms. Sanderson also noted that the way the website is conveyed and updated is important, such as adding reports and survey results on a routine basis.

 

C. Possibility of Televising Meetings Live—Mr. Churchill noted that the committee has discussed the possibility of having meetings in the Town Room at Town Hall so that the meetings can be broadcast live on ACTV. Ms. Brighty stated that she feels very strongly that the School Committee meetings should be in the schools, noting that they are broadcast multiple times on ACTV. Ms. Brighty also noted that there are parking problems and scheduling problems with using the Town Hall. Ms. Correa-Pope seconded Ms. Brighty’s comments. Ms. Sanderson stated that she likes the idea of the meetings being live and there are times at which the meetings are not recorded. Mr. Churchill commented that there is some sense that meetings that are not live do not have the immediate connection with the community that others do. Mr. Sprague and Dr. Vivian noted that some districts rotate their meetings between the various schools. Ms. Rafson, parent, agreed that it would build a sense of community if meetings were held in the various schools. Brendon Toller, new ACTV employee, noted that it would be difficult for ACTV volunteers to get to schools that are not on the bus line in order to film meetings. Ms. Sanderson suggested that if the meetings remain in the schools, the committee should consider either having a hand-held microphone for the audience to use or placing a microphone on a table at the front of the room for audience members to use.

 

6. Policies 8:54-9:08 p.m.

A. Policies for Second Reading—Mr. Churchill expressed concern about Policy 500.07 Financial Management: Funding Proposals and Applications. He noted that perhaps the policy should contain wording requiring that grant proposals that would take the district in a significantly new direction must be brought before the school committee. After brief discussion, Ms. Brighty agreed to rework the policy to be brought back before the Regional committee for reconsideration. Ms. Brighty then made a motion to approve the following policies as written:

 

Policy 500.13 Financial Management: Scholarships

Policy 500.14 Financial Management: Gifts made for General and/or Specific Purpose

Policy 600.10 Instruction: School Year/School Day

Policy 600.21 Instruction: Parental Notification Relative to Sex Education

 

Ms. Correa-Pope seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

B. Policies for Deletion—Ms. Brighty made a motion to delete the following policies: 1) 110.15 School Committee: Proposals affecting the length of School Year and 2) Policy 300.04 UMass School of Education Laboratory School (Mark’s Meadow). Ms. Anderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

7. Reports None

 

8. School Committee Planning 9:08 p.m.

A. Calendar Review—Elementary Open Houses on September 24; Public Forums with Jackie Roy on September 15, 16 and 17

B. Items for Upcoming Meetings

 

9. Adjournment 9:10 p.m.

Ms. Brighty made a motion to adjourn at 9:10 p.m. Ms. Sanderson seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Debbie Westmoreland

 

Approved 10/14/08