School Family Council Meeting
Meeting Minutes
January 25, 2010
In attendance: TO BE POSTED
Introductions and Review of the Minutes
· Ms. Woerner brought the meeting to order at 3:08 p.m.
· Introductions were given by all in attendance.
· The minutes from the September and November minutes were approved.
Rally for Education
· Elizabeth Reichelt spoke about BUILD and how they have rallied for education not to be cut. The Baltimore Education Coalition is worried again that funding will be cut.
· Governor O’Malley fully funded STATE education. The budget was released last week. Seventy percent of Baltimore City School funding comes from State funding.
· Annapolis is under immense pressure to cut the State budget and there is a strong chance that funding could be cut.
· Baltimore Education Coalition is trying to recruit people to go to Annapolis to keep them from cutting funding in Baltimore City. Teachers and parents are invited to a rally Tuesday evening, 1/26/10, to learn what is in the budget and break into legislative groups. Each group will develop a plan to help educate and involve the community for the rally in Annapolis.
· Representatives will be going to committee meetings that are held in Annapolis to be there in support of Baltimore City Schools. If you are not residing in the city it is still important to advocate for city schools and to support city education. Sample letters will be given to teachers.
Attendance Report
· Maxine Brooks gave a report on attendance. The report listed the number of referrals to the nurse for the middle school and the elementary school as well as lateness and absences. The entire report can be found in the SFC binder in the main office.
Climate Report
· Mr. D’Ambrosio gave a report on the Climate Committee.
· There has been a large drop in the number of office referrals from last year this time to this year. It has decreased by 30%.
· There has also been a decrease in short term suspensions by 16%.
· In-school suspensions and after-school detentions have been used more this year as disciplinary actions.
· There are a variety of after-school programs and in-school enrichment programs offered to all students this year.
· We are looking at implementing a Character Education Program at Roland Park. In eighth grade students are mixed for their SPAR classes to provide more opportunities for students to get to know each other rather than traveling only with their homerooms.
· We are also looking at a community service component to use in place of suspensions or detentions. A concern was expressed that all students in the middle school are not receiving gym. Eighth graders are provided with the opportunity to select gym either first or second semester. That problem is being looked into and creative solutions are being worked on.
· In sixth and seventh grades the SPAR classes are designed so that students can sample everything and then choose their SPARS in eighth grade.
· The Green Committee has been looking at certain spaces for outdoor classrooms and spaces for more outdoor education.
· An intramural league for other sports teams is being discussed. Coaches are needed in able to have more sports activities after-school. Middle or high school students could possibly help or even lead elementary clubs with the supervision of an adult. The Engagement Team is going to look into that and into high schools and colleges that may have people interested.
· The middle school is going to start having dances, mixers, and socials. The concern was brought up that the last social was only for students in Ingenuity and wanted to see if next time it could be held for all sixth graders. There is a social in the works for all sixth grade students. Last year there was a very successful eighth grade dance for all eighth graders. Social events can include all students in that grade and planning for those are in the works.
· Middle School Family Fun Night is February 26th and all middle school students and families are invited.
Engagement Report/Community Relations
· The Engagement Committee gave a report on community relations.
· Sandy Fink discussed a book entitled “Beyond the Bake Sale” that discusses parent engagement.
· A faculty member is needed to work with the Engagement Team to partner with the Johns Hopkins. They have a program designed to engage parents and community members in the school. To belong to it you must pay $200 a year and have one faculty liaison who will receive a stipend. That person is yet to be determined.
· The SFC is looking for one business partner and one community member to join the SFC, preferably someone that is not already involved with the school.
· The climate survey is ready to launched, but the committee does not want to send it out at the same time as the city-wide survey. The committee is looking at using Survey Monkey to poll parents to see what they think the SFC should address going further. A mock-up of the survey in on the school website for all to look at.
Curriculum and Instruction Report
· Ms. Woerner gave an update in curriculum and instruction.
· The focus right now is on MSA and Stanford Ten preparation. Students are completing multiple reading and math benchmarks. Fifth and eighth graders are also taking one science benchmark.
· Mia Clapp requested having a session on MSA and Stanford Ten before the tests and after the tests on data after so that parents have help understanding the data and the significance of the tests. This would particularly be helpful for parents new to the school. We are looking at incorporating health into the SPAR schedule next year in the middle school.
State of the School
· Ms. Cole gave the State of the School.
· Our entire school system was recently rated B+ overall.
· The upcoming budget session was discussed and how we were able to use money from the old budget to assist at Roland Park. Help was given in first grade and the homework club is helping out students in the middle school. The question is, how can we add additional assistance?
· Ms. Cole shared three different budget scenarios including one if our budget stays exactly the same, one if our budget is cut, and one if we receive more money for our budget.
· Other focus points of the budget were discussed such as using data to adjust staff for next year, possibly adding more math teachers in the middle school, as well as school safety (cameras, safety personnel), increased custodial help, and parent involvement workshops.
· Ms. Cole encouraged parents to write down their priorities for the school budget and bring them to a budget meeting. She also encouraged parents who cannot make a meeting to give their input to another parent to turn in for them.
· Lionel Foster left Family Engagement Network 7 for another job so a new person is needed to fill the position.
· The Visionary Arts Award Gala is honoring Roland Park! Ms. Cole is encouraging parents to purchase a ticket.
· Climate Surveys will be sent home on Wednesday with a postage paid envelope, one per family. Ms. Woerner suggested that each family have the form completed within two weeks of the pass out date.
· Ms. Cole extended a special thank you to all teachers who attended tonight’s SFC meeting.
PTA Update
· Susan English gave an update on the PTA
· Susan will meet with Ms. Cole and Frankie Sherwood to discuss a writing program in Advanced Academic and regular education classes.
· Alicia Rucinski extended a “thank you” to the PTA for the wish list idea and Alicia will look into purchasing more Lucy Calkins books for writing programs in the school.
· “Sin and Sensibility” author will talk to elementary parents on February 1st and middle school parents on March 9th.
· There is a PTA board meeting tonight to discuss roles within the PTA.
· The elementary school play will be seen by students on Tuesday of this week and the evening performance will be on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room.
· Susan English is going to meet with several other schools in the area to see how they run.
Future Agenda Items
· To be posted on the website prior to the next meeting when possible.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:45 p.m.