SIT meeting minutes

School Improvement Team Meeting, Monday October 18, 2010

1) Call to Order

2) Attendance

Present:
Brad Royal -Admin
Jill Friesen – encore
Tamara Hughes – encore
Stephen Kottenbrock - Admin
Deborah Cummings - encore
John Downs - Tech
Elizabeth Hobson – 6 th
Matt Fossa – 7 th
Robin Moon – 7 th
John Cardarelli – S.S.
Kirby Carespodi – 8 th
Kelly Hall – L.A.
Brent Atkinson – 8 th
Edmonds – EC

Mark Schnably – Science

M.Hunter/J. Fangmann- PTA

Not present:
LaJoi Wilson-Moore- Admin

Dave Jenkins – Math

Lisha Vannoy - guidance
Daniel Bryant--6th grade
3) Minutes

• -Motion to approve last meeting minutes?  Fossa motioned to approve minutes. All in favor.

4) School Improvement Plan

• a. Vision/Mission Statement –has not been changed since the inception of TJMS. 
• John Cardarelli’s article-Mr. Atkinson read article. Not just about academics, but increasing well rounded students.Guidelines for mission is open....no guidelines. Mr. Atkinson summarized our original mission statement, discussed Thomas Jefferson’s vision.
• Mission –what we do everyday
• Vision-where we want our students to be.
• Ideas shared:
• -we want 21st century learners and people
• -social responsibility (includes bullying, caring)
• -Downs read a definition of a 21st century learner (blog)
• "In a 21rst century classroom, as a result of their education, students will be learning consumers and producers, ethically responsible and contributing local and global citizens. These self directed learners will be able to adapt to rapid change and will be adept information managers, who will know how to gather, evaluate, synthesize, and communicate information"
• “Sharing knowledge in a public forum” Cardarelli discussed.
• -applying knowledge tor real world challenges.
• Atkinson stated “Vision drives Mission”.
• -“think globally” discussed by Fossa, “Don’t be too specific, keep it broad.”
• Mr. Downs “self directed learners” and “in depth information managers”
• Mr. Fossa will type the vision paragraph and send to SIT team members to make changes in “reply all”.
• Needs to be ready in draft for Staff Meeting on Monday.
• Mr. Fossa reviewed the points discussed to go in the paragraph.

b. Goals 1-4 break out sessions (make any changes on the PINK copy!)

• SIT broke into groups to work on Pink copies.
• Goal 1: W-M, Hall, Fossa, Carespodi, Atkinson, Richardson/Edmonds
• Goal 2: Kottenbrock, Vannoy, Friesen, Fangmann, Hobson
• Goal 3: Covington, Cardarelli, Jenkins, Schnably, Bryant
• Goal 4: Downs, Hughes, Cummings, Moon, Hunter

• Break out ended. Whole group reconvened

• Robin, Brent, Adminstrators as a committee will work on a safety plan for our school.  will focus on two areas 1) formation of ALC (alternative learning center) and 2) The entering of school discipline data  (several schools on the district are following this same format)

5) Afternoon Release – Richardson proposed the idea of:

• Release bus riders first, then car riders.

Discussion

• Buses roll out at 2:04-2:05.
• Parents may get impatient and cause an accident.
• Strategies were discussed to reduce chaos.
• Each teacher has a plan for their team for smooth dismissal.
• For example, Fossa's team dismiss all students to lockers at around 1:40, pack their bags and return to class for team time/reading, and walk out and straight to buses at 2:00
• Mr. Kottenbrock stated that less than a handful of kids have missed their bus. Hall duty posts should take care of socialization...getting them out of the door.
• Atkinson agreed with this strategy. At next staff meeting, Mrs. Hobson suggested to remind staff of posts.
• Ms. Hall suggested students split up car riders/bus riders out of different exit doors. And, areas and teams to come up with a specific plan for car-riders and bus-rider dismissal. For example, perhaps car riders in the annex should not be allowed to enter the main building again.

Mr. Atkinson asked if we need SIT to develop a plan for this? All voted no.

minutes taken by Julia Edmonds...