Regular Open Meeting Brief – January 18, 2018
The entire meeting agenda can be viewed at: January 18, 2018 BOE Meeting
Program Evaluations
The Board of Education approved the program evaluations for Curriculum, Instructional Effectiveness, and Professional Development. The three main district instructional priorities are: increased use of project-based learning, deeper technology integration in lesson planning, and greater student collaboration in the learning process. Professional Development (PD) is designed to support educators in successful implementation of district instructional priorities. There is a strong sense of urgency to monitor mathematics instruction and provide effective PD in order to improve student achievement in math.
School Improvement Plans
Conn West and Butcher-Greene principals presented their School Improvement Plans. Both schools identified goals focused on increasing achievement in English Language Arts, Math and Science and promoting a positive school climate. Conn West also plans to enhance technology usage for instruction and Butcher-Greene will focus on increasing student attendance.
Assessment Tool
The Board was presented with an overview of the IReady Assessment tool. All third through ninth graders are assessed three times a year using IReady. This assessment provides schools with a student’s Lexile reading score and a detailed analysis of students’ proficiency, strengths and challenges, as well as instructional plans and materials to facilitate a multi-tiered support system. The district started using IReady at the beginning of this school year.
Community Survey
The district administered a needs assessment regarding Adult Basic Education. Analysis of the data showed that respondents were most interested in classes related to health and wellness, finances, and technology. The district plans to initiate a Community Academy to offer adult classes on the subjects.
2018-19 Calendar Adoption
The Board adopted the 2018-19 school calendar. The calendar is posted on the district web site under Families. Click on District calendar, then scroll down past the current calendar.
Board of Education Election
Filing for the Board of Education closed on January 16, 2018. Because the number of candidates who filed is equal to the number of positions available, the district will not hold an election for School Board Directors in April.
Board of Education Appreciation Week
Board of Education members received comments and gifts of appreciation from building principals and representatives of employee groups in recognition of School Board Appreciation Week.