Minutes: Jan. 26, 2011

Certified Staff Advisory

Meeting Notes

January 26, 2011

3:30 p.m.

 

The Certified Staff Advisory meeting held at the central office started on time at 3:30 p.m. 

Dr. Ellis reviewed the highlights of the Community Area Advisory meeting held at West Middle and Star Elementary earlier in the week.

Click HERE to review the presentation.

·         Your Schools 101 Update: Dr. Ellis reviewed the timeline for implementation and possible course offerings to help parents be partners in their children’s education.

·         Proposed Attendance Policy Revisions: Dr. Ellis reviewed proposed attendance policy revisions.

Currently, there are not attendance standards—that’s what we’re trying to do now.  The core thing we do is instruction.

The following feedback was gathered:

• Great to see something being put in place. I think it will help kids.
• We need a policy in the elementary schools.  If we start at the elementary level, it may help prepare them for the middle school policy
• Attendance policy in place by next year will be good to have parents and students respect attendance=success
• How many hours can students make up?
• We discussed this in PLC today. We have students who have missed > 12 days already (as reflected in benchmark scores)
• I am excited about having an elementary attendance policy.
• NCHSAA and 14 days for eligibility with tardies
• Are there a certain number of days to make up?
• We will need to re-educate parents on total attendance policy and what is expected
• Local school board policy on absences...when can this be used for excusing an absence?

Next on the agenda, Frank Fiorella, director of child nutrition presented information on the child nutrition program.  He stated that he has to ensure the child nutrition program is ethical, fiscally responsible, doing what is best for the students and following state and federal rules and regulations.

He shared that when he first arrived in Montgomery County he had to establish standardized recipes—per federal law, which requires the child nutrition program to analyze and produced standardized menus for breakfast and lunch.

He expounded on being fiscally responsible—up until last school year, the child nutrition program was borrowing money from general fund ($80,000-100,000) to break even; however, through attrition and changes put into place, he’s been close to breaking even, without using the general fund.

Frank also gave a general update on reauthorization of child nutrition.

Free breakfast for all students is now process; however, it has gotten off to a slow start.  Please encourage students to take advantage of the free breakfast.

After a brief presentation, Frank took questions:

Q: Lack of variety for vegetarian choice.

A: I agree. And we will work on it. Cost factor. We’ll continue to look for cost-effective options.

Q: Recommended daily serving?

A: Will keep up with trends.

Q: Taste test last year at East—Wings..they really like them.

A: Commodities have to be processed by Feb. 7. Will see if we can get more wings for next year.

Q: Elementary. Can you provide pictures of what they are serving? Kids get confused.

A: We will get pictures and put them within our program and print them out with nutrition information.  We can get it done. I’ll start working on that. We should be able to do pictures sooner than later.

Dr. Ellis opened the floor for questions and answers:

Q: Why no ISS at WMHS?

A: School-based issue. Bring up to principal and SIT.

Q: Should dropout prevention overrule academic and attendance standards?

A: To me, academic standards are the same for every child. We need to make sure we’re doing everything we can for students. Can’t give up on kids—sometimes we’re their last hope.  Maintaining high academic standards to help ALL students be successful will always be important; dropout prevention is important and we don’t give up on children.

Q: Big issue: Some students don’t have to pass, just come back and you will pass. It is great to get kids back, but sometimes a support system isn’t in place to keep them.

A:  Standards are still the same. We need to make sure support is in place.  Will discuss at secondary meetings.

Q: Can we have a prep class for students who aren’t prepared for a particular class? Foundation courses?

A: Yes, will discuss at principals' meeting.

Q: remediation during summer for lower grades? 1-2

A: Basically, the financial piece. The second thing is how effective is summer piece. I’m supportive of it. Will keep it on the radar.

In closing, Dr. Ellis briefly visited the budget arena:

“I made a promise, if you want a job, we’ll do everything we can to make sure you have a job.  We won’t let people know in May. Until I absolutely know we don’t have funds to keep folks, we will not let people go prematurely. We will look at every possible option. I’m very committed to this.”

Dr. Ellis adjourned the meeting.  Advisory members will be able to review the attendance policy and strategic plan at the next meeting on April 13.