SITE COUNCIL RETREAT – NOVEMBER 14, 2007

 

Attendees:  Jonathan Friduss, Walter Barry, Vito La Sala, Terry Noeth, Katia Peterson, Vivian Boudreaux, Suzanne Doran, Susan Scheel, Madeleine Smeets, Andrea Carlisle, Salma Kandil, Jan Van Houten-Prehn, Susan Bailey, Suzanne Barbarasch, Linda Frommer, Simone Buteau, Maryssa Sklaroff

 

Welcome -   Minutes Approved

Introductions

 

 

Open Forum – Organized dining area (Many tables have been added; oftentimes student choice to sit on grass); students present indicated they prefer sitting on grass

 

Report on Safe and Caring Schools – Pre-Assessment & Implementation

Presenter: Dr. Katia Peterson

 

1. BACKGROUND: Working with staff and students and will present to parents in January

Goal – how to create better school environments

 

Started with staff training in August; because there are so many programs, don't want to overwhelm staff and students (Social Norms, Peer Helpers) – How do we align programs?

 

2. UPDATE

Library support in displaying books to match themes

AVID – how to communicate better with one another

Advisory Students – Positive bystanders, breaking the silence (created posters and quilts); making it cool to care

PTA Parent Ed – Jan. 16 will present; role of the parents

Leslie Goldman – Posting items to Jordan Web Site (theme of the month, materials, suggested reading); create a space on the web site specifically for parents to address middle school concerns; not publicized as of yet; advertise on enews

Katia has been visible with groups such as: Peer Mediators, Sage Team, Drama, AVID, certain Advisories

Same messages need to be modeled at home

Adopt a Hallway program

 

Q: Are we doing this as we are addressing a problem or are we implementing a vision?

Addressing bullying, social norms data will support positive trends

Q: How can we get parents to meetings?

People should come based on Katia's strengths as a presenter/speaker; add to knowledge base on this program and can use day-to-day with children <<concern about communication with parent community – will happen>>

 

3. STAFF SURVEY RESULTS

Overview of data –

School and classroom climate

4, 6, 9 – Just getting underway

10 – I teach students strategies to help them deal with bullying behavior – Jan-Feb will be a big push to address this issue (need to note data on what seeing)

11 – Need to teach all students conflict resolution skills (will be given to students through Advisory)

12 – How do we infuse into daily routine?

13 – All staff needs support

14 – Often used and not recognized

 

Skills and knowledge

1 – 89% (consistently and often)

2 - 86% (consistently and often)

3 – 95% (consistently and often)

4 – 9% (consistently)

5 – 11% (consistently)

6 – 9% - talk to friends first, then teacher, counselor, parent

7 – Usage of conflict resolution skills (0% consistently, 22% often)

 

How would parents respond to this survey?

Request for student input – One student noted that Dr. Peterson's presence in her classroom helped

Another student noted – discussed in Drama advisory; still a lot of verbal bullying

 

Social Norms Survey Results

Presenter: Ms. Sharon Ofek

Social Norms – a way of thinking – theory that people's behavior is influenced by their perceptions; science of the positive (usage of data to capture the positive behavior in a population)

Norms – descriptive (describe behavior); injunctive (attitudes, friends – strong influence on behavior)

Some examples of incorrect norms (power of suggestion – cigarettes with a line through, use of clichˇd statements); need to use data & stress the positive behavior

 

Why do people misperceive norms? Media – highlights problem behavior, scare campaigns, exaggeration, selective memory

Can lead to – engagement in negative behaviors, negative peer pressure, exaggeration will persist

Role of perceptions about peers

Social Norms Marketing – align perception with reality

 

Survey Data (given anonymously) – 900 + students enrolled, 845 students surveyed, 787 surveys valid (honesty filters)

Showed response data – definite gap between perception and reality – need to address Other slides – focused on negative BUT ended with a significant leap in positive (what students will leave with)

 

Goals – reduce misperceptions and bullying behaviors

 

Graph data – Kids that don't bully significant (80-90); recipients of bullying behavior quite marked (physical, social, verbal, electronic); many students may not even know that they are bullying

 

Additional graph data – perception of alcohol and drug usage off from reality

 

Data across middle schools fairly consistent

 

Wording of questions brought up – i.e. partaking in wine for religious purposes

 

Areas of concern – bullying, perceptions of peer behavior

 

Orgs – PA initiative, Social Norms Committee, this year Social Norms Action Committee Kids (SNACK) – involving students in wording and implementation of program

Number of planned activities for year (selection = binder reminder, expectations, door decorating contest, PSA on JTV, web page)

 

Next steps – wants to continue with "Most of Us" survey, parent education, more student involvement

 

Q: What is the resistance to PSA?

Q: What is the resistance to survey? Keep getting same results, why keep administering?  Data is having an impact, but takes time to gather – long term commitment

Issues of financial commitment (minimal); site autonomy (want to do own thing)

 

Any additional questions, please email Sharon Ofek

 

Review Technology Plan/Discuss Funding

Presenter: Ms. Leslie Goldman

 

Changes in information literacy, communication, content/media

Shift from technology as a tool to technology as an environment

21st century learner – creative, multi-tasking, collaborative, just in time, mobile, 24/7

 

How do we keep up with the millenials? Achieve PAUSD technology objectives and goals?

 

NEEDs: 1 computer to 3.75 students; 1 to 1 computing, increase number of SmartBoards

Need a laptop cart in special ed/resource classes, writing, AVID, every science classroom (additional 15)

 

SmartBoard procurement – Phase 1 – Math and Science

 

Need more technology funding!!  Vision – 300K a year

 

Q:  How do we avoid making technology piecemeal every year?  Need to form a subcommittee, people with passion

 

Q: What about the District budgeting for technology? Why is this not built in to meet district level goals?  67K per school per year; not aggressive enough

 

Need to get to one-to-one computing

 

Bridge funding – bring to Bond passing (assumption will pass) – continuous funding Historically - no continuous funding

Need to have a community conversation

 

Comment raised by student – parents won't allow kids to have laptops

 

Q: Do we allow students to bring laptops?  Not unless mandated in an IEP. Also need consistency – one option

 

Strategic planning is coming up for the district – technology needs to be included!!!

 

S Bailey – placed on a matrix – student total of computers 268/4; must replace 67 every year; work with current inventory 100K a year, 32K for teacher computer replacement etc.; just to keep where we are 132-160; not including maintenance and peripherals, lab technicians etc.; 300K is the goal for hardware

 

FROM Leslie GoldmanÕs Nov 14 presentation

Year                            Projected                                 Actual Spent

2002-2003                   $119,200                                 $107,620

2003-2004                   $143,700                                 $108, 820

2004-2005                   $133,800                                 $91,670

2005-2006                   $213,400                                 $186,400

2006-2007                   $155,000-196,400                   $240,000

2007-2008                   $228,000 (updated 12-07)

2008-2009                   $172,200 (updated 12-07)

2009-2010                   $150,000 (updated 12-07)

2010-2011                   $210,000 (updated 12-07)

           

Review SIP/Final Report

Presenter:  Suzanne Barbarasch

Need to formulate some goals for the year; decided to postpone some of the department reports and program reports

Review the Final Report and then the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA)  - 10 minutes

  1. Initial impressions
  2. Divide into staff, parents, and students – develop list of priorities

 

Initial Impressions

  1. Data points on successful initiatives – to see what works (data analysis)
  2. Reduce what we have
  3. Growth in Math – instituting finals – does it work
  4. Wish we had a comprehensive focus on the arts
  5. Need a social studies/history piece (district form)
  6. ERB and STAR
  7. Decrease in Eng/LA API – Implications (though increase in proficiency); concern about decrease in scores of African-American population
  8. ERB (two problems in norming; prompt)
  9. Consistency in reporting between departments
  10. 14-15% not making a year's growth in LA; what can we look at to improve; what is Cruncher software; 16% in math not making a year's growth; achievement gap Task Force; AVID - URM overlap, different, same - (Jordan highest % of special education students in district; no reading proficiency req.)

 

Setting Priorities for 2007-2008

 

Group 1 – Overriding issue – communication (primarily parent outreach); increase school based sports activities; school mandate for reading proficiency; should cycles be inclusive of all curricular area

 

Group 2 – Technology funding strategy; streamline and reprioritize programs; communication with parents; easier access to test data

 

Group 3 – Technology plan; close achievement gap; more assessments with more student feedback; vision planning & goals for future; study & organization skills; best practices; rethink 6th grade wheel; assessment of programs

 

COMMONALITIES:

  1. Prioritize social-emotional (co-curricular) programs – assess and/or review - 6
  2. Communication with and engaging community (parents and students) to achieve objectives (related to vision) - 3
  3. 6th grade wheel offerings/study skills - 9
  4. Technology plan – short and long term - 6
  5. Achievement gap – access to test data - 2
  6. Advisory - 3
  7. Vision/strategy for curricular areas - science, social studies, the arts - 5
  8. Reading – subcommittee - 0

 

PRIORITIES:

  1. Wheel offerings/study skills
  2. A. Prioritize social-emotional (co-curricular) programs – assess and/or review

B. Technology plan – short and long term

4.   Vision/strategy for curricular areas - science, social studies, the arts

  1. Communication with community/Advisory (will look at in Cluster Groups)
  1. Achievement gap
  2. Reading

 

*Subcommittees on areas of interest; 1 and 2 year plans

 

 

Student Council Report

6th grade elections - Oct 24th (primary elections) and 25

Pres – Jonathan F

VP – Jun Seung Y

Treas – Jared F

Sec – Vivian L

First met Nov. 2

 

Associated student body training – CPA

Met with students on how to run student council - Nov. 6

 

Looked at clubs – constitutions  & fundraisers

 

1x month – send rep to Environmental Team (want a grade level rep. at each meeting) rewards for recycling (pride cards, candy); upgrade one or more water fountains and installing a bottle filler

 

Craig Carlson – magazine drive – meeting with him on other fundraisers; cookie dough sales (mixed reviews), gift sales and treat sales; rule can only do one fundraiser for student council

$ raised - $45,489.50 & approx 3K in Internet Sales

Net amount - $21,500 (What Jordan will get) – numbers decreasing

Brought up – donÕt renew subscriptions until next drive

 

PTA Report

Oct. Parent social – successful (made about $600)

Annual giving – raised 20K more (taking requests)

Directories are out today

Ally Meyers – What's Right with your Student at PTA mtg tonight

Tina Bono – brought in brand new hire – Rec Dep liaison

City librarian will come to Dec. meeting

 

Principal's Report

English

Scores proficient and above has increased

Type 3 in all curricular areas

Grammar being infused into writing

Reading staff development (strategies)

Three reading classes at each grade level

 

Math

Moved from 40-60% taking higher lane in Math

#s of 7th grade Math students scoring proficient and above – move 36%-53%

Added biotech and video prod

Aligned AVID and leadership

Piloting Renzulli program

 

Ms. Barbarasch here until Winter Break; acknowledged great Assistant Principals and office staff along with teachers; feels leaving the place in great hands to continue various initiatives

Will do a JTV spot with interim principal