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Minutes - January 17th, 2024

Budget Updates

 

The budget passed last year was a four percent raise, and a three percent raise this year. The three percent raise in the budget will be guaranteed. It could increase once tax collections are over. If the tax collections are significant, they should be able to do more for employees. We only know the guaranteed three percent raise in the upcoming year.

 

TSL Grant Update

 

We have been working on the professional development side of the grant. Teacher and school growth can bring millions of dollars to our teachers. Part of the grant pays for significant professional development, and everyone should receive a survey soon. At the end of the three-year goal, we want a two-year extension. The two-year extension could bring 35 million dollars over five years instead of 20 million over three years. Professional development aims for teachers to receive the bonus they deserve. Discussions should be happening at the school level with teachers and administrators. Montgomery County Schools is the only district across the board that received the grant based on growth. Montgomery County Schools believes that growth is the measure that matters for students and their education.

 

 

Questions?

 

  1. We would like to address the considerable intake of ML students but no extra support for ML teachers. The ML teachers are overwhelmed with the number of students they need to cover. We have many non-English speaking students this year and no extra staff. The ML teachers are being stretched thin, and the students are losing the support they need.

There was an issue with needing more ML teachers. ML teachers are pulled to cover other positions when they are not filled. 

We understand the concern about ESL and the recent increase in enrollments, specifically non-English speaking students. Ms. Lowder will discuss these concerns at the February district ESL PLC meeting. We will discuss how to serve these students best. Training opportunities, resources to support multilingual learners, and strategic scheduling will be discussed. Once this meeting is held, Ms. Lowder will go over the information received with school and district-level administration.

 

  1. Many students still need help with the English language from not being in the country for very long. Can we receive more training and resources to teach these students the language when we don't speak theirs? 

During the February ESL PLC meeting, Ms. Lowder will discuss training opportunities and resources for teaching. We have many training opportunities available to support Multilingual learners. These trainings are both in person and online through WIDA, as well as PTEC.We will go over these during the meeting. We will conduct a needs assessment to determine what resources are needed.

 

  1. Is it possible to offer a night program for our MCHS students who have a night job (or trouble waking up late), similar to MLA's "night program" that starts at 2 or 3 PM? Do students have to qualify for MLA to be eligible for the Night Program? For example, Moore County Schools offers an evening program for students who have jobs or just need more time to get their act together, allowing them to graduate from their assigned school, not Pinkney Academy.

Generally speaking, students who attend the night program are convicted felons or incapable of being in school during the day. We we will explore options for these students.

 

  1. We have almost 100 ESL students, and many who do not speak English, but we only have one ESL teacher, and she is being pulled to teach an English 2 class at MLA first period (and part of 2nd block as she commutes from MLA) and one at MCHS 4th period. This leaves only one period for ESL students to be served. We need another full-time ESL teacher.  

Wade Auman and Jessica Lowder will meet with school administration to discuss scheduling options for the existing ESL teacher to serve ML students better. We will discuss scheduling options to ensure these students have peer support in their scheduled courses, with input from the ESL teacher. We will also advertise and try to find another ESL teacher. With growth, it is time to expand.

 

  1. Currently, all music classes are offered only in 4th block, limiting enrollment in music classes. A full-time music teacher would mean that we could provide various music classes, including percussion (drum line), advanced chorus, madrigals, orchestra, concert band, jazz band, marching band, chorus, etc., and our music program could grow dramatically. Our music teachers are split between middle and high school, with only one course per day taught at MCHS. A more robust music department would bring value to the school and community. 

At the high school level, enrollment drives everything. If we want to add music classes, we need the enrollments to drive it. 

 

  1. Will we get the low-income bonus we’ve gotten in the past two years?

Yes, that will be paid in May. The amount will be larger than last year's.

 

 

School calls

 

90% of the time, the call is made the day before with good, accurate information from NOAA. Last week was an interesting situation. The forecast constantly changed day-to-day, so we called it the day of. Teachers and students can accomplish more in the classroom on a half-day than on a make-up day. Too many make-up days will cause us to move into spring break.