SWAN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

District School Improvement Team/Curriculum Coordinating Council

Monday, December 19, 2011

6:30 p.m.

MINUTES

Present:  Kathryn Louks, Karla Parker, Kelly Conger, Carrie Leddy, Shelly DuCharme, Diane Fong, Craig Blower, Heidi Erlenbeck, JoAnn Schneider, Shelly DuRussel, Mat McRae, and Dave Moore

1. Welcome and Introductions – Dave Moore

Rich Dyer was not able to attend due to a medical issue in his family. 

2. Update on Curriculum Initiatives for 2011-12 – Dave Moore for Rich Dyer

• K-12 World Languages Committee met on December 7.  K-5 and 6-12 committees will start in January. 
• 9-12 Industrial Arts teacher, Pat Kennelly has met with Rich Dyer.
• K-8 ELA and K-12 Human Sexuality Committees will meet this winter.
• A math consultant, Gail Weeks, has visited high school math classrooms on two occasions and will be working with staff on math curriculum and presentation.
• District Special Education Committee has met in November and will be meeting in January.

3. New MEAP Cut Scores – Dave Moore for Rich Dyer

Dave Moore reviewed the document developed by Rich Dyer that was presented to the Swan Valley Board of Education at the November 17 board meeting regarding the “Study of New Cut Scores Applied to Prior MEAP/MME Assessments.”

4. Update on possible new HS courses for 2012-13

1. Managing My Education (MME) – Shelly DuRussel and Mat McRae reviewed their new proposed class with the committee.  The class will allow students to become more familiar with the features of and formats of various standardized assessments.  The course will be required for all juniors and be taken during the 2^nd trimester.  Attached is the DRAFT of the syllabus. 

5. Update on a Shields Elementary initiative that relates to the School Improvement Plan

Shelly DuCharme reviewed the base camps and progress monitoring this is being done with her students.

6. Update on a Havens Elementary initiative that relates to the School Improvement Plan

Dave Essmann reviewed the program that they have developed to help struggling readers.  They have also purchased the software program “Read Naturally”.

7. Update on a Swan Valley Middle School initiative that relates to the School Improvement Plan

Craig Blower reviewed the use of data in decision making with students.  He showed how the ScanTron machine is helping staff members analyze each question that they ask on a test.  Staff is also being asked to have students complete quarterly assessments.  He also presented a handout on the MiPHY data that will be presented to parents on March 8 at the Swan Valley Community Network Forum. 

8. Update on a Swan Valley High School initiative that relates to the School Improvement Plan

Mat McRae stated that his staff has been focusing on instruction and instructional delivery.  They are working on integrating technology into the classroom.  Teachers in the high school have been learning and are now implementing the concept of “flipping instruction” into their instructional delivery.  A third set of “clickers” have been purchased for the high school staff to use. These “clickers” allow all teachers to get immediate feedback on a concept that is being taught. 

9. Other

10.  Future Meeting Dates / Times

February 13, 2012

April 16, 2012