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Elementary School Task Force Meeting
August 16, 2012
Southern Berkshires Regional High School
Task Force Members Present: Louise Yohalem, Jean Chapin Emberlin, David B. Hastings, Anne Sommers, Susan Struzziero, Eric Martin, Nigel Peacock, Michele Shalaby, E. Bonnie Silvers
Absent: Donna Leep, Todd Mack, David Micklewright
Also Present: Erin Woodsome, SBSD Elementary Principal
I. Introductory Comments
Task Force Chair Louise Yohalem brought the meeting to order at 5:38.
After a motion to accept the minutes with amendments, they were approved.
II. Presentation by Erin Woodsome, Elementary School Principal on Expected Changes
The State Department of Education is requesting that over the next few years, goals be developed based on what we know about current needs at the elementary level.
There will be a new teacher evaluation system to determine progress using goal setting, data, outcomes, and other evidence.
Classroom observations of teachers will take place more frequently, several times a year, including informal drop-in visits, in addition to the current annual formal evaluation.
Evolving teacher and administration goals are all meant to bring the new principles of effectiveness found on the State Education website to life. The principles address support for schools, interventions, and assessment systems. A tiered system of support, similar to one now used in Maine, is envisioned that will better help schools to support students who will all be held to higher standards.
The standards for effectiveness include development of a school culture where students feel respected, comfortable, and able to take responsibility for their actions and progress. SBDS will begin an initiative this fall that is meant to enhance the elementary schools’ social and emotional climate.
III. Task Force Dialogue with Ms. Woodsome
In response to Ms. Emerlin’s question on what the Task Force can do to support her efforts, Ms. Woodsome suggested taking note of the elementary schools’ five-year plan. She also asked for help in communicating to constituents all of the progress achieved and the exciting initiatives planned. She singled out Undermountain School as worthy of special recognition.
Ms. Woodhouse also noted the District does have new goals related to community communications and is planning a health expo.
In response to Ms. Silvers question related to the State D.O.E’s call for “in-house” school assessment teams, Mr. Hastings stated that the District had begun work on this last year, and contemplates working through curriculum leaders, and finding the right people to develop the assessment key. Ms. Woodsome added that District goals have been drafted and distributed. The Superintendent asked that conditions
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be assessed and needs identified, so appropriate changes in the five-year plan can be made.
After Ms. Yohalem asked Ms. Woodsome -- based on her reading of Task Force meeting minutes -- whether the Task Force seemed to be proposing steps incompatible with the five-year plan, Ms. Woodsome replied she was unsure how to answer. There were items, she said, that might be done in addition to the plan’s contents. While she feels she does not know enough about the themes the Task Force is discussing, she does understand they might generate excitement.
Ms. Yohalem noted special excitement around Ms. Struzziero’s suggestion of an agrarian themed school and Mr. Mack’s for one focused on the arts.
When asked about enrollment and availability in the Early-K and Pre-K programs, she said there are some costs for families associated with the programs. An early childhood committee has been formed. She referred the Task Force to Sandi Hubbard for further information about early education.
Ms. Shalaby presented the idea of expanding the early childhood development programs into the smaller schools.
In response to a question from Mr. Martin as to whether these programs must be offered to children with special needs, Ms. Woodsome was uncertain, but said children without special needs must be part of the program along with students with special needs, as they serve as role models.
With regard to after-school programs, Ms. Woodsome said there are several clubs, with fees, such as cooking and gardening, that run in eight-week sessions. Weekly Big Brother and Big Sister programs exist without fees. There is a ski club on Winter Wednesdays for a fee. The District does not directly operate after-school care.
Mr. Peacock expressed concern, due to constant staff turnover, about where assessment will be placed in the organizational structure. Ms. Woodsome said she shared his concern about turnover, and said that in addition to slowing turnover she wants to develop an assessment system that is organic and easily sustainable by ongoing staff.
In response to Ms. Shalaby’s question on whether the union is on board with her proposed assessment changes, Ms. Woodsome said the union was participating in negotiations. The union, she said, is not an obstacle, and does focus on good teaching practices. There are ongoing talks around teacher observation evaluations.
Ms. Woodsome, in reply to Mr. Peacock’s question about how the District knows it is getting “good value” for its money, said indications of student success, benchmarks in reading and math and other in-school assessments provide the answer. Parent groups provide feedback, which is another way to gauge fiscal satisfaction. There are many cycles for assessment, implementation goals are set and reset.Ms. Silvers asked whether it would be beneficial for Ms. Yohalem, on behalf of the Task Force, to report to teachers on the Task Force’s work. Ms. Woodsome answered in the affirmative and said she would determine the best venue.
Ms. Silvers asked whether teachers as individuals have the opportunity to set and review goals. Ms. Woodsome said there are cycles – probationary and otherwise –where teachers get to develop curriculum and research information that will increase their effectiveness. New teachers also have mentors to guide them. Principal observation is only one factor in overall evaluation
Ms. Emberlin thanked Ms. Woodsome for her time and stressed the Task Force’s desire to help her and the District’s teachers to get where they want to go.
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IV. Criteria and Calendar for Selection of Consultant
It was decided to go with the consultant vetted by Ms. Yohalem, who is on the faculty of Columbia University’s Teachers College. Her graduate degree is in sociology and the business of education. She will be paid $1,500 for prep work, and facilitating a meeting of the Task Force.
Before signing with the consultant Ms. Yohalem will determine if the contract must be put out to bid.
Ms. Shalaby commented that the proposed consultant’s background includes being part of a rural collective, which shows she can work with large groups.
If the contract does not require a bidding process, Ms. Yohalem will ask the consultant to meet with the Task Force on September 20.
V. Data Subcommittee
Ms. Yohalem reported that the data subcommittee (Ms. Yohalem, Ms. Sommers, and Mr. Martin) met with Mr. Hastings, as the District’s Curriculum Director, just prior to the Task Force’s meeting.
The number of children coming into and leaving District elementary schools over the past several years was reviewed. For the most part, the number of children coming into and leaving our schools has been flat.
Ms. Silvers noted that we seem to be losing some diversity of students to Great Barrington.
There was discussion around the fact that teacher to pupil ratio is about 1 to 15 in the larger schools and one to five in the small schools.
Mr. Peacock stated that there would be more students in the small schools if more advertising was done.
Ms. Shalaby’s suggestion for creating early childhood centers was again raised. Such centers could draw families by offering more pre-school, day-care and after-school center options. Offering such options could generate revenues.
Mr. Peacock contended that there is no proof that the existing small schools cost more per student than the larger ones, and said the projected high costs of bringing the small schools up to code could have been avoided by ongoing maintenance in the past. Closing the outer schools could cost the District the support of those towns, he asserted.
Ms. Silvers questioned how the District could do more to make the schools true community centers.
VI. Conclusion
Ms. Silvers reported that she had submitted her application to run for the School Committee. Since she has not yet been elected, there is no conflict involved with her remaining on the Task Force.
It was suggested that all members of the Task Force attend the upcoming parents’ night.
It was decided that the Task Force would meet every Thursday in September.
Mr. Peacock said he would in the future make a presentation on the Design Lab K-12 school that Stamford University is now running.
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Mr. Martin requested that Amy Carpenter and Sandi Hubbard be present at the next Task Force meeting.
Ms. Yohalem said a meeting of the categorization subcommittee would be scheduled.
The meeting concluded at 7:35 p.m.
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