ADVISORY COUNCIL MINUTES

April 22, 2008

Principal Perception Surveys: The question was asked as to why they were requested.
Larry noted the importance of subordinate, anonymous, supervisor feedback and the differences between subordinate generated questions and questions that the supervisor chooses.
The principle of choice (whether or not to engage) is critical to the value of the feedback.The group will develop a process, which will consist of a feedback committee to establish the basic purpose and principles, (K-6) (7-12), of such feedback mechanisms in all subordinate/superordinate relationships.
High School Testing Room:It was noted that signing up on the intranet is just beginning.
Nurse Issue:It was asked if updates can be sent when minutes are published. (LPN has been hired and will finish up this year with the student.)
Suspension:It was asked if there could be an alternative to suspension (quicker?)
In-school suspension rooms do this much.

March 18, 2008
Nurse Issue:Still no LPN for a child at Smith.
Sub-plan is in place. Judi Riley is interviewing candidate on 3/19.
Discussed a letter received by the Advisory Council regarding the additional roles needing coverage by our nurses.
CSEA Memorandum of Agreement-Delay and Early Dismissal Procedures were discussed with regards to Memo of Agreement. Employees should come in as soon as they can, and will receive their regular hourly rate for all scheduled hours – no docking of pay or paying overtime.
Copy of Memorandum is attached to these minutes. (Memo NOT attached in this format)
SAT Preparation:Other districts offer SAT preparation during the day. Is that something we can offer during the semester to our juniors to relieve pressure? Many of our students don’t have the funds to pay for the review class or to take the test.
Superintendent will check with other Districts and advise of his findings.

March 3, 2008 (for February)
2008-09 calendar: Number of faculty days and student days in January appears incorrect.
They were and have been fixed.
Are there enough snow days for next year built in? (3 days)
Why was 11/10 picked for parent conferences?
Tried to keep it consecutive with the holiday – w/3 student days in a row.
Comment about days off on Monday and/or Friday – concern about missing specials.
This can be alleviated through scheduling within the building.
Larry noted that our calendar is aligned with the BOCES calendar
Concerns about Lower Gym at the High School:
The metal chairs used for wrestling matches and JS events are falling apart and dangerous.
Students have to move the mats from upper gym to lower gym.
Scoring table is a permanent fixture – can something be done?
Spoke to Jeff and Steve (before he left) was wondering.
Larry asked what the response from Jeff and the HS Administration was.
Test Mod Center: (As per Jackie Stegeland)
Committee formed and will be visiting other districts on 3/19.
They will be meeting after their visits to discuss solutions, and more information will be coming.
Advisory Council Minutes:Could they be distributed sooner?Yes.
Elementary Substitutes:Is there a District “set time” for morning – afternoon subs at the elementary schools. Equitable half-days? (0-3 – ½ day; 3+ whole day paid).

Elementary Special Education Supervisor Schedule:
The Elementary Special Education Supervisor is in each building at least one day a week – the days and times are as follows:
Monday, 8:00 - 9:00 ~ Randall
Tuesday, 8:00 - 9:00 ~ Parker
Wednesday, 8:00 - 9:00 ~ Virgil
Thursday, 8:00 - 9:00 ~ Smith
Friday, 8:00 - 9:00 ~ Barry

Ongoing Nursing Shortage:Number of needy students is growing, and nurses are frustrated and concerned about students that need immediate attention.Although a procedure is in place, concerns are still being voiced.
To address coverage, building administration has scheduled sub LPNs/RNs as available. In the event no LPNs/RNs are available, sub aides and/or TAs have been scheduled to provide support. Substitutes may be placed elsewhere in the building with a staff member shifted to provide health care support. Finally, additional compensation has been provided to nurses for work beyond the school day as necessary to fulfill requirements.
Coffee Hour with Superintendent – scheduled for Wednesday, 3/5, at 3:45 PM (special education topic)
January 15, 2008
Question about the purpose of Advisory Council… can we keep things more brief and not spend as much time discussing possible solutions or explanations?A discussion ensued about AC purpose. It can be kept as brief or in-depth as desired. It was discussed at length that items coming to AC need to be brought to building principals or supervisors first.
There is some confusion and frustration around the increased number of students with disabilities being taught in the general education setting. In some classrooms, teachers are slowing down instruction so much that general ed students are bored.
The superintendent indicated that the Elementary Special Education Supervisor is in each building at least one day a week – the days and times are as follows:
Monday, 8:00 - 9:00 ~ Randall
Tuesday, 8:00 - 9:00 ~ Parker
Wednesday, 8:00 - 9:00 ~ Virgil
Thursday, 8:00 - 9:00 ~ Smith
Friday, 8:00 - 9:00 ~ Barry

There was also some conversation about special education instructional strategies and their general value to all students, in addition to some conversation about some specific strategies that teachers can use to keep all kids engaged (10:2 theory, stir the class).
Staff are also asked to bring questions about special education service delivery to the special education supervisor and then to communicate back to AC.
Training and support for teams of teachers needs to happen ASAP. Power of Two training will not be mandated but will be offered in a variety of ways to offer time and support.
There is probably going to be a principal opening (due to retirement) at one of the elementary buildings – will staff be involved in the selection process?
The interview process will be open and involve a number of faculty, staff, and parents.
Testing Room concerns (HS) were brought up. There are concerns about test security, and a timely return of exams to teachers.There are both procedural solutions being pursued. We are also fixing the imbalances in the number of students needing mods on given days.
There was a question about the nature of the capital project vote.As employees of the District, we are not allowed to advocate voting either way. Fact sheets are available on our website.
Larry Spring advised that he would present information to whoever asks, group or individual.
Priority and scheduling are main factors for order of project completion.
It was asked what could be done while school is in session.
If project is voted down, we will have exit surveys to then rework the project.
Turf field is 2% of project. Bleachers and track make it 10%. Purposes of field renovations are for gender equality and drainage.

December 18, 2008

• The Superintendent was asked to ensure more detail shows up in the meeting minutes.

Special Education:
• Special Ed at elementary level is not receiving time required IEP– it was shared that one teacher had too many students.
• Who has authority to modify placement of student?
o If services are not in compliance, the psychologist, principal, Spec. Ed. Supervisor, then Assistant Superintendent for Pupil and Personnel Services is the order of progression that the concerned teacher or parent should follow.
• Resource Room at secondary level. Teachers have been told that students w/IEP’s should not do homework there.
o Students w/IEP’s may get assistance in Resource Room with homework, but should not exclusively do homework there. Resource Room is a Special Education service that supplements general education, and should be primarily directed at helping students progress toward IEP goals.
• Many Special Ed teachers do not feel that instruction in the General Ed setting is conducive to a student with a disability being successful.
o Special Education teachers should be assertive with General Ed teachers to change instruction if they feel it is inappropriate.
• Time Constraints - not enough time to do work expected. Discussed possible solutions.
o Every principal has a goal to find time for teachers to collaborate.
o One possibility is Team Teachers – 1 day/month of release time to plan – use subs to allow for planning.
o Scheduling for 08-09 must be more in depth – Special Ed services first.
o 07-08 saw an $800,000 increase in Special Education staffing and more is needed in 08-09.
• Two models discussed for 7-12 Special Ed teachers to become content specialists – students go through that classroom, or SE teacher moves w/caseload (teacher becomes “expert” on student).
• Remedial teacher concerns – when beginning to remediate, time issues aren’t always a conscious part of behavior. The General Ed teacher is not always cognizant of the tight schedule of the service provider.
o Training needs to happen ASAP, w/frequency – would like to see a workshop for those teams of adults to learn how to work together (roles, responsibilities, etc.)
• The group asked Larry to invite Special Ed Supervisors and the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil and Personnel Services to Advisory Council meetings for a while.
• Life Skill class is up to 17. Serious issues w/restraints – historically, class is ½ that size.
o Checked – the class has a limit of 15 students and had 15 in it.
Retro Checks: are being or have been addressed.
Substitutes:
• Discipline - Concerns were expressed regarding inconsistency, leniency, and discipline issues affecting the substitute situation in that subs are saying they will come in but not for particular classes or grade levels.
o Student management is a #1 concern since last year, and is being monitored very closely.
• When TA is asked to be sub for entire day, should they be paid as a sub.
o Yes, should be paid the higher amount for the day.
Nurses:
• Are again being asked to cover all other buildings or for children whose 1:1 aide is absent.
o LPN’s have been added to sub list.
• A letter was read and presented from the nurses, stating their concern over the current staffing situation for nurses and proposing the addition of one full-time floating nurse.
• This situation seems to have abated somewhat.
Snow Days:
• There are 3 snow days worked into the calendar. The calendar should be modified as one has been used.
• Delays were acknowledged as a positive. Question about when to report.
o Staff should report to school as soon as it is safe to do so, and as soon as they are able to ensure their own children are safe for the day.
• Hourly employees are concerned about the early dismissals and delayed start time.
o All are being held harmless.
Capital Project:
• It was noted that complete heating system replacements are being planned for Virgil and Randall so more funds will be spent in those buildings.
Miscellaneous:
• Executive Principal:
o Ron Berry will begin as Interim Executive Principal at the JSHS on 1/2/08.
• Please look at adding regular ed teachers to reduce class size. Two classes into one makes that inclusion model hard.
o There were significant additions to staffing this past year and further additions are desired.
• Early P/T conferences – will teachers be polled?
o We will again have an open meeting on the calendar.
• Recent SS scoring – supplant students – modification training.
o Modifications need to be more consistent across the district.
• Lunch Menu –
o A group of students at the HS are working on a presentation to BOE on a change to the menu.

No meeting in November 2007.
October 16, 2007
The two items brought up were inclusion and the teacher swap.
Concerns and discomfort were expressed around the inclusion process. Discussed demystifying what “inclusion” is and how the district can provide more support for teachers.
• The District will be scheduling more training for staff around co-teaching models.
• Janice Walters will be redistributing the co-teaching resources that went out over the summer. (attached)
• Staff should remember that Janice starts her day in a different building each day and staff can seek her out for assistance at these times (or other times as well).
Teacher Swap:
• Tentative Dates are April 4th or 25th.

September 18, 2007
It was noted that the Buildings and Grounds looked great and opening day went well.
There is some discomfort with lesson plan monitoring.
The shift in 9th grade created larger class sizes in the other grades.
Special Education teachers are working to adjust to a different role and it will take some time.
There is a recognition that accountability has been increased for all students, teachers and administration.
A Teacher Swap will be planned. The group will work on developing a rationale, pick a date, and solicit questions that staff may have.

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