Mt. Logan Middle Schools
Community Council Minutes
November 11, 2021
3:45-4:45

Welcome

• Vote to approve September and October minutes
  • Motion – Elizabeth Blanchard, Second – Melisa LaMalfa, unanimous vote to approve minutes.

Training- School Safety and Digital Citizenship

• All SCC training materials are archived on the state's website at:CLICK HERE TO VIEW

School Safety and Digital Citizenship

• Responsibilities of the school community council: CLICK HERE TO VIEW
• District Resources:Safe Technology Utilization and Digital Citizenship Report for School Community Councils CLICK HERE TO VIEW


• CLICK HERE TO VIEW
  • Principal Wager is gauging interest in developing a parent group to focus on digital safety and citizenship, a parent that helps with the cyber safety tips would like to form a parent support group
    • It would expand into the home to discuss issues relating to managing screens
    • She has proposed a survey for parents on screen use and safe and healthy habits related to screen use
  • Discussion
  • What happens currently
    • Cyber safety tips, assemblies, there is a need for a plan and a more regular visit of these issues at school
  • Do the school counselors put on a parent night with this as a focus?
    • Yes, have in the past, not planned for this year. The librarian has done some trainings for students.
  • Cell phones at school
    • Parents have different philosophies, many provide phones, some do not
      • Much bigger issue at the high school than the middle schools, seems like it could be good to start talking about it sooner
      • Useful tool for parents communicating with families
    • Teachers see different levels of cell phone use, always a problem, have to remind students every day; some teachers have been able to curb it more than others, gets harder as they get older.
    • Potential harms for kids include human trafficking, pornography, etc. and there is easy access to them, especially for some students for whom there are no rules at home.
    • Many families have guidance at home for screen use but there are many who do not and their students are being exposed to a lot.
  • Decision to focus on how can we help the students and what we can offer them in school. There are concerns that a support group will not reach the families for whom home use doesn’t have rules.
  • A survey could be useful, but the SCC has a commitment to review the school’s data and decide what the school should be doing for students and then for parents. Only 12% of parents responded to the recent survey on the dress code.

Action Items

• Mr. Wagner will invite Jentri (parent who is interested in setting up the support group) to our December meeting.
• Mr Wagner will present the following at the December meeting (per state requirements)
  • School administration should add to the LEA report (at a minimum):
  • What devices are being used and how are students using them?
  • What are the main applications, programs, and sites used in different classes, grade levels, and subject areas?
  • What supervision practices are in place when students are online?
  • Are there management tools used that allow teachers to digitally monitor student use or limit access to some applications or sites?
  • What are the school rules when inappropriate information appears for students, staff and parents?
  • Are there safe reporting procedures for students, staff, and parents? How does the school balance access and safety that is grade level appropriate?
  • What does the administration see as important opportunities for students related to constructive, proactive technology use?
  • What does the administration see as the greatest internet threats for students?
  • What are the policies in place for tablets, cell phones, etc. brought from home?
  • Explain training currently provided:
    • To students about digital citizenship and safe use of technology
    • To parents and guardians about how to discuss and support digital citizenship and safe technology use with their children and how to report inappropriate content
• At the December meeting, the council will decide how to fulfill our requirements (per state requirements)
• Councils may create a subcommittee to help accomplish digital citizenship responsibilities entirely or in part and may partner with non-profit organizations to assist in the education components. It is the responsibility of the council to see that the following is completed each year:
  • Receive the report from the district and school administration (as described above).
  • Discuss the report and decide:
    1. If the filtering, management systems, and supervision practices are appropriate. If not, identify what needs to be addressed in context with administrative capabilities what the school and district are capable of providing under the current filtering and management systems, supervision availability, and financial restrictions. Establish an action plan to address identified concerns.
    2. If student education currently implemented is appropriate and adequate. If not, identify how it could be strengthened, set goals to improve the education and create an action plan to accomplish the goals.
    3. If the parent/guardian education component currently implemented is appropriate and adequate. If not, identify how it could be strengthened, set goals to improve the education component and create an action plan to accomplish the goals.

Teacher Reports on Needs and Potential SCC Spending

Based on the data we reviewed as a council during our October meeting, we realized that we need more teachers attending and telling us what the needs are from the data. Sarah Ann Invited departments to share wins with us as well as needs where they need support

• Math Department
• 6^th grade
  • Math does need to be a focus area. Our average score was 1, close to 2, that is scary for us. 6^th grade is the only grade that cannot use a calculator on the test. Do need some additional supports, have discussed the why behind the low scores and why they are disconnected from the formative assessments taken throughout the year. Working on retention and
  • Really like ALEKS, it’s a good supplement for the kids who are middle and high- performing on math, it keeps them going. This is the first year the 6 th grade has had it all year, not just from the middle of the year.
  • Mountain Math – a lot less expensive, used in elementary schools, helps with retention.
  • Math Academy – would like to bring back, a great tool for the middle to low- performing students who don’t qualify for additional services. Has shown success for students. Extra math class for kids who need additional supports. Stopped for 7^th and 8^th grade in 2020-21, stopped in 6^th grade this year. Math Academy replaced an elective as a class time.
    • Aides are really helpful because there is another adult who can help in the classroom – helpful in the class and for Math Academy.
    • It’s a nice middle ground for students who don’t qualify for special education or for students who are recently exiting special education.
    • Ended due to funding, funding decreased based on decrease in school population.
    • Did not receive GEAR Up grant last year
• 1.5 FTE instructional coaches paid for by the district
• Coaching is paid for by the school community council, questioning how
• 7^th grade
  • Similar to 7^th grade math.
  • Aides would be beneficial that could come into classrooms.
  • Math Academy or an extra FTE in math, would not have to split across 7^th and 8^th grade, making the class sizes smaller, which would help with remediation.
  • Honors class – 33 students, regular – 25 students.
  • Prefer FTEs over aides, also easier to hire teachers rather than aides.
• 8^th grade
  • Similar experience, do miss Math Academy, were able to use effectively.
  • ALEKS is an important tool, using it for students who have already mastered the standards the class is working on. Can also help for lower level students and bolsters population. Currently funded through TSSA.
  • Larger struggles are with students who are refusing to engage and opposing engagement in learning. Defiance from some students is starting to really impact student learning.
• ELA Department
  • Also see value in Math and Literacy academy. Cut back to literacy academy for two 6^th grade sessions and one 7^th grade session (.5 FTE, reduced from 1.5 FTE).
  • Trustland is currently paying for the current .5 FTE for literacy academy.
  • 6^th grade team has struggled without a real ELA curriculum, trying something new this year but doesn’t have everything we need.
  • Kids who went through literacy academy are seeing a lot of success in school.
  • Don’t have sufficient support to read assessments for students (both who have it in their IEP and not in their IEP).
• Science
  • 6^th grade – one of largest concerns was addressed this year already. Now using Gizmos that provides virtual simulations for kids that helps them better prepare for RISE.
  • Have been pretty successful in meeting goals, attribute to experienced science teachers.
  • Would like to be able to have access to continued professional development and know what is available.
  • 7^th grade – would like to be able to get kids out of the building and off screens. Logistically difficult in a middle school but would be nice to get kids out of the school to take advantage of the resources available in the valley.
  • Funding is needed for busing and subs when needed. Some experiences (e.g., Natural History Museum, Clark Planetarium) are funded, we just have to get kids down there.
  • Would like more experience-based learning. 6^th grade does Clark Planetarium, bussing is very complicated. Even free, local, activities can’t be used because there is no transportation.
  • If not able to get out, would love to have an outdoor classroom space that doesn’t interfere with PE. Have collaborative ideas for art and science in an outdoor space – potentially on the west side of the school. Would need bark, plants, picnic tables, benches, etc.
  • Dream – turn Municipool into STEM Center.
  • Needs: Teacher training time, Parent liaison, Student Dean to cover behavior concerns
  • Shout-out – Science Department was runner-up for outstanding science team
  • 8^th grade – behavior is the greatest problem, only about 25% of work was being completed and turned in. Have done some hard work and gotten that up to 99% in some classrooms.
  • Can better leverage the experts and consultancies available in the current staff. Need to engage them in really effective PLCs. When we leverage the expertise of our teachers, we get incredibly results.
  • Can we increase coaching by training each teacher to be a better peer coach?
  • End of year survey last year, only 60% of teachers reported they would want more time with their team.
• Whatever we invest in, let’s measure it and find out if our investments work.
• Academies have been cut back from 2 FTEs, those FTEs have to be balanced with other extra classes.
  • Funded at 30:1 for middle school.

We will use this information from teachers together with the data we reviewed at the October meeting to brainstorm ideas for activities for the 2022-23 improvement plan.

Adjourn

4:55 Meeting End
Melanie Pond motioned to adjourn, seconded by Melisa LaMalfa