Minutes - January 25, 2017
Certified Staff Meeting
January 25, 2017
The following individuals were present: Anissa Gillis, MGES; Kyle Greene, WMS; Deborah Robins, EMS; Janet Deaton, EMHS; Stacey Crump, SES; Crystal Thomas, CES; and Katie Morris, MLA. The following were absent: Phil Bailey, GRES; Katie Kimrey, WMHS; Chareta Green, TES; and Amy Yarboro, PSES.
Dr. Ellis welcomed those in attendance.
Early College Update
The Early College is opening in the fall. Right now working to recruit 50 rising 9th and 50 rising 10th graders. We are encouraging everyone to apply who might be interested. We would like to have an equal representation from East and West, but we will accept those who are interested that meet the qualifications. We have recently hired a Counselor and a Career Development Coordinator (CDC) position. Dr. Seawell will be advertising in the next few weeks for an office position (data manager/bookkeeper/). Please share this with anyone who might be interested. These classes will meet at MCC for the first year. MoVE – Montgomery Virtual Environment is also coming as part of the Early College. This is targeting home school students. There are 177 home schools in Montgomery County. Home school students would be able to take classes through MoVE. If the student takes two classes in a semester they would be considered a full time MCS student and those who take 3 total during the year would be eligible for playing sports. This would allow MCS to receive ADM for that student, and allow the student to participate in extra-curricular activities offered by the school. The student would be able to graduate from MCS or home school. Please encourage anyone interested to contact Dr. Seawell. This program is available to high school students now, but we hope to make it available to middle school students in the future.
Consolidated High School Update
Land has been cleared for the consolidated high school. Administration has meet with the architect. They are now conducting environmental studies on the land. Once that is completed meetings will be set up with the design committee and the architect to get feedback for design of school. Dr. Ellis encouraged anyone from MLA who might be interested in serving on the committee to please let him know. Montgomery County Education Complex – the main goal is economic development. Dr. Ellis has met with West Middle and West Montgomery and plans to meet with East Middle and East Montgomery students to get feedback on the name, mascot, and colors of the consolidated high school. This feedback coupled with Facebook comments will help to develop a survey that will be administered to all students and the community. The goal for the survey is to have 5 options for name, mascot, and color. The deployment of the survey will be in partnership with the Montgomery Herald. It will be available on our website and Facebook. We hope to have a county wide celebration that allows the students to be involved as much as possible. This decision will have to be made by April. Please note that someone has started a Facebook page with the Uwharrie Mountain High School Grizzles. This was not started by Montgomery County Schools.
We hope that by June or July there will be a bulldozer on the land beginning the building process. The goal for the school to be open in the fall of 2019. A position is currently listed for a Construction Manager, please share this information with anyone who might be qualified.
East Middle School Wing Update
Bill Mingin is working diligently on this project. We are 30 days out from being able to release the project out for bid. The project will $2.5 million dollar. The county is going to pay $1 million and the school system $1.5 million. The county will reimburse the school over the next seven years - ultimately, paying for the project. The goal is for this project to be completed and open by fall of 2018.
Budget Update
Dr. Ellis had a good meeting with the new governor of NC. Due to the political nature of NC with the governor and the general assembly, there will be things that are difficult. However, he says they both agree that not enough funding is being given to public schools. This year, there is a push for a raise for everyone with a big push for salary increases for assistant principals and principals. We are 41st in the country for teacher pay and 50th and 51st (when the District of Columbia is included) in principal pay. Dr. Ellis discussed merit pay. He will continue to lobby to regional representatives for pay increases across the board for everyone. There is a push for a call for a new election in 2017 based on the unfair nature of the districts. This has been held up in the Supreme Court. If there is a new election, we believe there would be a pay increase - if no election, no increase. There is also a new state superintendent. Dr. Ellis shared his concerns about the new superintendent at the board meeting. The new state superintendent is in favor of vouchers for students to attend private school. Betsy DeVos, the new Secretary of Education, is also a strong proponent of Charter Schools.
Dr. Ellis attended the Public School Forum meeting where the governor, Roy Cooper, addressed those in attendance. Our country and state are very politically divided. The one thing that the governor and legislature agree on is public schools. The 4th circuit court of appeals has ordered that we need to have another election in 2017. The lines that were drawn in 2010 have been deemed unconstitutional. Elections generally mean good things for public schools. We should know within another month if that will happen. The two things they are focusing on are raises for teachers and raises for principals and assistant principals. We believe merit pay will continue. Merit bonuses were given out to 3rd grade teachers and certain AP and CTE teachers. Thus anyone not categorized as one of these teachers was not eligible. Thus, merit bonuses were only available for about 40% of classified staff and 10-15% of teachers who were eligible which is not fair. The ultimate hope is that a raise across the board would be instated. Governor Cooper is looking to reinstate a form of the Teaching Fellows program. Dr. Ellis is very confident that teachers will receive some type of pay increase.
Questions
Some of our 3rd-5th teachers are wanting to video lessons to use in math stations. We can do that and put on canvas if the lessons are 5 minutes or less. The problem is that the lessons will be longer than that. It was suggested that we use YouTube. That site is blocked for students. Is there any way that it can be unblocked so they can use it to for these purposes? Rodney followed up with the DLC. He said to touch base with the DLC to find a way to make it work.
Do you get a salary increase by completing your master’s degree? A staff member thought they had heard that the state has started giving master pay again. Unfortunately, no.
Can students have access to YouTube for nursing and other videos? We have a process in place to work on this.
Can the issue be corrected for students doing homework at night that are constantly being told to log in as well as other error messages? MCS has an open case with light speed to try to resolve this. Please make sure that if a specific teacher is having issues than please make Rodney Neal aware.
We need resources to help with phonics with middle school students. How can we get them?
Get with your principals and have them bring that up with Dr. James.
Is there a uniform policy being followed for phonics in the elementary level? Yes, definitely. Letterland is being used to fidelity.