Tuesday, June 18, 2013

SWAN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

District School Improvement Team/Curriculum Coordinating Council

 

Monday, October 17, 2011

6:30 p.m.

 

MINUTES

 

Present:  Tammy Webb, Lori Ferrier, Karla Parker, Kelly Conger, Carrie Leddy, Shelly DuCharme, Colleen Schaeding, Craig Blower, Heidi Erlenbeck, Shelly DuRussel, Mat McRae, Rich Dyer, and Dave Moore

 

  1. Welcome:  Committee members introduced themselves and told the committee what grades their children were in.   

 

Dave Moore gave a history of how the committees were formed.  Originally these two committees were separate committees, but because the work in both committees covered many of the same issues and had the same committee members, the committees were combined approximately five years ago. 

 

Dave Moore reviewed that the purposes of the meeting were to update the DSIT and CCC teams on the current Strategic Plan, Curriculum Initiatives for 2011-12, and MEAP testing that is occurring within the district.  Future meetings will update committee members on work being done and give an opportunity for input on work done. At the April meeting, committee members will be given an opportunity to offer suggestions for the 2012-13 Strategic Plan. 

 

  1. Update on Curriculum Initiatives for 2011-12.  Rich Dyer stated that curriculum revisions are on a seven year cycle.  He updated committee members on the initiatives that included:  9-12 Home Economics, 9-12 Industrial Arts, Music 6-12, K-8 Language Arts, K-12 Human Sexuality/HIV/Aids and K-12 World Languages.  Two committees:  Special education (that will have three subcommittees:  transitions, assessment, and MiBLSi) and exploration of the need for a bond issue, sinking fund, or extension of a current bond.

 

  1. Approval of the K-8 Technology Curriculum.  Rich Dyer presented the revised K-8 Technology Curriculum.  The revisions of the curriculum were done in subcommittees in the elementary school and middle school. The K-8 Technology Curriculum was also reviewed by the District Technology Committee.  This document will be presented to the Board of Education for approval at the October meeting. 

 

  1. Approval of the MS and HS Visual Arts Curriculum.  Rich Dyer presented the revised curriculum.  Work was done by Bill Snyder and Kay Wejrowski.  This document will be presented to the Board of Education for approval at the October meeting. 

 

  1. Possible new HS courses for 2012-13.  Mat McRae and Shelly DuRussel presented the new high school course (Managing My Education) that their staff is working on.  They will be doing a full presentation at the December or February meeting. 

 

  1. MEAP Update.  Currently, MEAP tests are done in math and language arts for grades 3-8.  Tests are also administered in science for grades 5 and 8 and social studies for grades 6 and 9.  Rich updated the committee on the MEAP tests that started last week.  He emphasized the good work that teachers have done throughout the year to help students be successful on the tests.  He also explained the additional work by administrators to inventory and set up the testing times. 

 

Rich also discussed the increasing of the cut scores for the MEAP Tests and how that will change the proficiency scoring results. 

 

  1. SV Strategic Plan for 2011-12.  Dave Moore reviewed the Strategic Plan for 2011-12.  Each year the Board of Education develops aims for the district.  The five aims for 2011-12 include High Student Achievement, Safe Environment, High Performing Staff, Effective Communication, and Fiscal Responsibility.  Goals were developed to meet each aim.  Measures speak to how the district will complete the goal.  Reference to this plan will be made throughout the year with reports on progress being made with regard to the goals.  Also, building principals develop specific goals with their building school improvement teams. 

 

Dave gave committee members a summary sheet of the Strategic Plan, a sheet that including how the district will be monitoring and evaluating programs in place, and also the 2011-12 study committees for the year. 

 

  1. Update on new courses/programs.  Mat McRae and Shelly DuRussel updated the committee on the Freshman Transitions class and the Financial Literacy Class.  Craig Blower updated the committee on the new rotations and the new classes; 6th grade art, 7th grade Music Appreciation, 8th grade Student Productions, and the 7th and 8th grade Robotics classes. Shelly DuCharme explained how the base camps will be used at the elementary schools.  Shelly and Craig also discussed how the K-8 buildings also stated that they are using the new science materials and the technology that were purchased this year.

 

 

  1. Future meeting dates are:  December 19, February 13, and April 16.