Minutes - October 16, 2013
Montgomery County Schools
Classified Staff Advisory Meeting
October 16, 2013
Minutes
The Classified Staff Advisory meeting for Montgomery County Schools met Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at 9:00 am in the Staff Development Room at the Central Office. Members of the advisory who were present included: Chris Hadlock, EMHS; Robin Heath, WMHS; Laura Britt, MGES; Barbara Smith, GRES; April Greene, PSES; Tina Woody, TES; Jackie Jackson, EMS; Carolyn Vanhoy, SES; Debbie Allen, CES; Cindy Williams, WMS; and Andrea Vuncannon, Central Office. Also present from the Central Office; Kathy Johnson, Katie Hursey, and Dr. Dale Ellis.
Dr. Ellis called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance. He encouraged all to attend the Community Area Advisory meeting scheduled for this evening at West Montgomery High School. He also noted that the first round of random drug testing for student athletes had been administered and that all tested negative.
Next, Dr. Ellis reviewed information from the Community Area Advisory meeting that was held earlier in the week at East Montgomery High School. Topics included an update on Montgomery County Schools, the Healthy Living Curriculum, and Read to Achieve.
The following information was reviewed:
1. Budget
a. Continued cuts – we continue to receive cuts from the state (We started at the Central Office - $180,000)
b. Cuts in number of teachers and severe cuts to numbers of TAs – We carried as much as we could locally
c. Loss of positions – not loss of people. We maintained those who wanted a job here
2. Legislative/State Issues Impact Morale
a. Cut of Master’s degree pay for future teachers who complete programs
b. Phase out of Tenure over the next 5 years
c. Many changes from state that impact lives of teachers (Read to Achieve, Computer systems, and Guidance Counselor no longer able to serve as testing coordinator, etc.)
3. System Performance
a. We are performing higher now than we ever have on important measures of student achievement
b. Graduation Rate at all time high – 85.3% (State 82.5%)
c. Page Street from a “focus school” to a “reward school”
d. 2012 – 2013 test scores delayed creating another issue for teachers. Will receive scores in the next month
4. School Facilities
a. ¼ cent sales tax projects going well – big one was MS rooks but other projects are benefitting all schools
b. Significant needs arising for our high schools
c. We must find a way to significantly improve HS infrastructure – buildings are in excess of 50 years old
d. We really need to add a wing at EMS to equal what we have at WMS
e. You will hear a lot of talk about these needs over the next couple of years – ¼ cent sales tax covered short term needs, but long term needs are more dire
5. Other
a. Beth Lancaster (MGES) is system Principal of the Year
b. Adam Garner (EMHS) is system Teacher of the Year
c. We have the best staff imaginable
The Read to Achieve curriculum is a hot topic that was discussed. Nights have been held at each elementary school to discuss. This curriculum is a model to get all 3rdgraders reading on grade level. The research behind the curriculum states that if a student can read on grade level in the 3rdgrade, they are more likely to graduate high school. Summer camps beginning the summer of 2014 for students who did not meet grade level reading requirements will be in place to assist with remediation. Money has been set aside to fund these camps. The focus for schools is to ensure that ALL students are reading on grade level.
The Healthy Living Curriculum – Montgomery County has dropped from 2ndto 3rdin the state in teen pregnancy. While this is good news, there is a definite concern in the county amongst teens about this issue. The goal of this curriculum is to extend the curriculum past the 9thgrade and to ensure that it is taught more than one week per year. The focus is also to ensure that our educators are doing the best they can to teach this curriculum, while always promoting abstinence but also making sure that FDA approved preventative methods are part of the conversation. The forms for students to participate will no longer be opt in form, but rather opt out.
A list of anonymous questions was presented to Dr. Ellis. He explained that he does not answer anonymous questions. He will share them with the respective Directors. He reminded the team to please have teachers submit any questions or concerns to them directly to be presented at the meeting.
The following questions were submitted:
Mt. Gilead Elementary- I have concerns about bus drivers. Are bus drivers with a regular morning required to sub drive in the afternoon? Can bus drivers in the afternoon make up their time as an assistant so that they are not penalized for substitute driving? (I am penalized because I am paid a lot less as a bus driver.)Yes, drivers can be subs. No, drivers cannot make up the time.
WMHS- I am concerned that we have to wait to do high school parent conferences when the middle and elementary schools do theirs. They are on 9 week grading periods but we are on 6 week grading periods. Waiting until November 7 to have conferences puts us halfway through the semester. That is too long to be effective. We will not have a report card to give out then, just progress reports, so I do not expect as many parents to come in.The calendar committee is aware this is an issue. They are preparing for next year’s calendar and will take this into consideration to ensure it is addressed for next year.
There was a lot of discussion around the issue of hourly versus salary pay for assistants and bus drivers. Dr. Ellis along with Kathy Johnson will put together a FAQ about the issue. He asked for members of the advisory to discuss with their schools and bring feedback to the January meeting about how TAs/Bus drivers feel about this issue.
Issues were also raised about paper routes not being on buses. Dr. Ellis will look into this.
There being no further questions. The meeting was adjourned.