A community of learners
becoming leaders, embracing
change, and shaping the
future
Ipswich Public
Schools
Winthrop
School
65 Central
Street
Ipswich, MA
01938
(978)356-2976
SCHOOL
COUNCIL MINUTES
Tuesday,
February 2, 2010
Art Room 6:15
– 8:15 p.m.
Members
present:
Jay Dooley, Don Della Valle,
Katie Burkush, Michele Wertz,
Kathy McMahon, Cathy Hoag,
Rachel Roesler, Margaret
Maderios
1. Review
and Assign Roles and
Responsibilities 6:15
– 6:20
Note Taker: Sheila
Gatekeeper: Don
Timekeeper: Jay
2. Approval
of January
Minutes
6:20-6:25
Rachel made the motion;
seconded by Don. Minutes
were approved.
3. Parent
and Staff Feedback and
Questions 6:25-6:35
Michele shared
an update from the subgroup
of parents looking at
bringing more locally grown
produce into food programs
(Edible Education) Winthrop
parent representatives
include Jen Norton, Landi Van
Allen Laura Russell, and Kate
Eliot. Michele shared that
having a teacher assigned to
the committee from Doyon has
been very helpful and urged
Winthrop teacher involvement,
as well. Deb Trevarrow
attended the first meeting as
a representative of Early
Act. Sheila will approach
one staff member that is
currently working with
Cuvilly to develop a closer
connection between the school
and this community resource.
The committee would love to
see a nutritional component
in the curriculum. They are
considering such suggestions
as encouraging students to
rethink school lunches,
recycle through composting,
developing an experiential
learning program/project to
involve students and
exploring the Farm to School
project.
Dave
Archambault, Doyon principal,
has agreed to meet with the
Health SAC and the Food
Service Managers to share
some of these suggestions.
The committee is currently
waiting to hear back from
Dave on his progress.
Rachel asked for
clarification of the Race
to the Top funds that are
part of the US Department of
Education grants. Sheila
explained that, from what she
has read, there are
particular conditions that
states must meet in order to
be eligible for these funds.
The first is that there must
be a system to expand charter
schools in the state.
Secondly, there must be some
measure of accountability
between student achievement
and teacher effectiveness.
Seventy percent of the towns
in any given state must agree
to these conditions in order
for the state to be
eligible. Massachusetts is
in line for these funds. In
order for a district to apply
for these funds, the School
Committee, the teachers’
union and the town
governmental officials must
all sign the grant. In most
districts, getting all three
signatures is challenging.
At this time, Ipswich has not
discussed applying for these
funds.
4.
Technology for
Learning
6:35-7:35
The Council
was asked to brainstorm the
skills and characteristics
which they attribute to
personal success. Results
included:
See and accept
various points of
view multitask
flexible (yet logical
thinker) Resourcefulness
(only as good as the team you
are with) desire to think
outside the box
Cooperative
patience
compassion toward others
organized
Computer
literate
communication skills (oral
and writing) like a
challenge
Relationship
building/teamwork/interpersonal
skills/encourage others to
succeed
Problem
solving skills
can see the big picture and
the details
math skills
and solid accuracy
Can delegate risk
taker “quick on my
feet” sense of
humor creative
Sheila shared
that the teachers had been in
these same types of
discussions. We’ve used the
results to consider the
educational outcomes we need
for our students and which of
these outcomes would benefit
from updated and enhanced
technology resources. The 21st
Century descriptors that were
written approximately 10
years ago were distributed as
an example of the type of
documents that we will need
to articulate. Council was
asked to review the documents
for further thoughts
regarding what parents may
want to see for educational
outcomes.
Suggestions were solicited
for the organizational
structure of the initiative.
Should there be a Steering
Committee? Should the
Council, or a subgroup of it,
continue to act in this
regard? One suggestion that
was made was to identify the
expertise that we may need on
the committee and “advertise”
for members. The Council
believed that soliciting
members based on expertise
may be the best way to go.
One question that members of
the Council anticipate will
be asked is why the override
didn’t address this need as
intended. The Council agreed
that it would be important
for us all to be sharing the
same information. Sheila
will work with the business
manager to draft a statement
which includes the impact on
the economic recession on the
override plans and school
funding.
Michele also reminded us that
we need to track the amount
of money that comes in during
each stage of the appeal to
help target an approach for
the future.
Don, Jay Dawson and Katie
offered to join Sheila to
share our progress on the
initiative with the Doyon
FRIES. This sharing will
take place on Feb. 9 at 7:30.
5. Budget
Update
7:35-7:45
Sheila shared that at the
latest budget workshop, the
administrative team was asked
to identify $500, 000 worth
of cuts in the proposed
budget. The proposed cuts
from Winthrop are consistent
with the Council’s direction
of reducing programs versus
raising class sizes. This
figure was determined after
the School Committee
identified that the school
budget should come in at a 1%
increase after consultation
with the Town Manager
regarding the levy limit,
etc. On Feb 10th
the elementary school budgets
will be presented to the
School Committee. Following
budget presentations there
will be a budget workshop on
March 2, with the
final public budget hearing
on March 4. Due to
the March 2 budget workshop,
the March School Council
meeting will be canceled.
6.
Demographics Committee
update 7:45-7:55
Michele and
Sheila gave an update on the
progress of the Demographics
Committee. Some of the
outcomes of our meetings have
been: the kindergarten
round-up will begin sooner in
the year, host an open forum
to discuss the flex area,
develop a policy for how
decisions will balance the
needs of the school district
with the rights of parents,
identified that the school is
committed to full day
programming. The latest
question to be explored has
been “How is the flex area
being defined?” Our next
meeting is
Feb. 24.
7.
Other
7:55-8:15
Reminder of upcoming budget
meetings:
March 2-Budget Workshop
(final budget decisions are
proposed)-CANCELATION of the
MARCH COUNCIL meeting due to
this public meeting.
March 4-Public Hearing
(School Committee votes on
final budget that will go to
the Town)
March 24-Elementary Budget
Presentations to FinCom
Meeting was
adjourned.
