REPRESENTATIVE
COUNCIL MEETING
NOVEMBER 3, 2014
NOVEMBER 3, 2014
Attending: J. Slonim, M. Richardson, T. Mullenax, J.
Oden, H. Smith, E. Ruebuesch, A. Campa, J. Hunsche, C. Townsend
I.
Dates
A. Board Meeting on Tuesday, November 11 will be attended by Terry, Hilary, Julie and Anne. Elizabeth R. will take Julie’s place on the 11th
A. Board Meeting on Tuesday, November 11 will be attended by Terry, Hilary, Julie and Anne. Elizabeth R. will take Julie’s place on the 11th
B.
Board Meeting in December has been moved to
Monday, December 8.
i.
Those signed up to attend are Vera,
Melanie, Alice and Anne. If you cannot
make a Monday evening meeting, please find someone to take your spot.
C.
IHEPO Semester Luncheons:
i.
HS:
October 31 / Senior Trip $ / Bamboo Kitchen
1.
Appreciated, good to eat together,
$335 cost, plenty of leftovers
ii.
ES:
November 21 / Student Needs Fund
iii.
MS planning to use funds for Holiday
Gifts for needy families
iv.
PS still undecided
D.
United Way Presentation on Tuesday, January 27
from 7 – 8:30 pm for parents. Presentation on Wednesday, January 28 during Block B in HS. Speaking on Milennials and how they see the world. Brad Kirk organized, will be using emails and flyers to inform
II.
Financial Report (Janine)
A.
We have money
B.
See attached report
III.
Administrator Visits during November
(Anne)
A.
Administrators will shift buildings to
see others in action
IV.
Substitute Situation (Anne)
A.
Internal sub pay is official,
$17.71/hour, partial hour=partial pay
B.
Paid if giving up a planning period
V.
Insurance Committee and Waiver
Stipend (Anne)
A.
If we have the waiver stipend, ALL
staff members will be taxed as IF they have received the waiver stipend
B.
Only 36 staff members would choose the
waiver, Board has decided to avoid the tax for the balance of the staff to
benefit the 36.
VI.
District Leadership Council
meeting (Terry)
A.
Met last week
B.
Reviewed “Are We Making Progress?”
Survey
C.
Trend is positive
D.
Outstanding Items: Administration makes it easy to do my
job: 27% jump to 43%
VII. Social Committee (Cherita)
a.
Social:
Nov. 21 Friday before Thanksgiving
i.
50West,
opening early for us, get there at 3 out of respect to the special arrangements
made by 50West
ii.
Happy hour prices
VII.
Other items
A.
Conferences moved up?
i.
ES that would fall on Halloween-bad
ii.
HS would allow us to have our extra
evening in late September and maybe have an impact on 1st quarter
grades.
iii.
Friday is not booked for all at HS;
packed for MS
VIII.
Dr. Miles visit: questions? Blue text = Dr. Miles
A.
Origin of desire for Spring
Conferences at HS ?
i.
(Social Studies dept): we have plenty
of access to parents
ii.
Raised by administrators/no specific strategy on district
level
1.
PS/ES have it why not the older kids?
iii.
With additional testing it is
additional loss of instruction.
iv.
Can we spread out the two evening
conference schedule?
v.
Parents first priority
vi.
Staff members considered
vii.
Post conference not in the best interest of the
student
1.
Possible greater motivation if conference can be held prior
to end of quarter.
B.
MS:
Master Schedule options
i.
Inequities and confusion as to
placement/numbers of students
ii.
Which courses are offered when…e.g. no
world languages offered 6th period causes other courses to have
inequitable class sizes.
iii.
Committee to be formed for next
year=very positive. Announced to MS
staff tomorrow
C.
Any movement among Superintendents
about the race to testing?
i.
Common Core Repeal bill is on the table
ii.
Limit to testing type of bill is on the table
iii.
State Supt. Ross discussing ways to limit the amount of
testing.
iv.
BYO solution not available now (for students to use own
computer for test/shutting down browser/USB install of test)
v.
District investing in significant technology to give our
students the best possible opportunity to do well on new assessments
vi.
Can we say NO?
1.
Yes, then students don’t have the criteria met to graduate
2.
Raise questions about why we didn’t take the test.
vii.
Can we as teachers DO anything?
1.
Continue to raise the questions, object
2.
Make visible the impact on instructional time.
viii.
Larger agenda at play that we just
don’t know
1.
Identify poor performers and
eliminate.
D.
Job Sharing:
i.
What are the possibilities?
1.
Adds to costs for benefits and work load for evaluation
2.
Not opposed to…but with structure have seen it successful
3.
Prior experience it was easier and effective at elementary
level
4.
Research is needed
a.
Subcommittee could be formed
b.
Consider one position/one building
i.
Trying to make it cost neutral
ii.
Then process neutral
E.
Division of labor…are we using
individual strengths to the best of our creative design?
i.
Delivery of instruction/Assessment
writing/Assessment Analysis
ii.
Teaming is now happening…but common
planning time is critical
iii.
Early release? Late start?
iv.
With the elimination of days and measuring hours, we have
additional flexibility
1.
Full days of PD
v.
John: used to have 2 lunches and
departments could eat together. Does allow for good informal conversation.
vi.
What is ideal for full day PD?
1.
Once a quarter?
2.
Once a month?
3.
Day to day is the hard work
4.
Could we add days to the
calendar?
5.
PD time is not time for new
tech/faculty meeting/…needs to be true collaboration with colleagues.
vii.
Subs
1.
Not enough for coverage
2.
Know it is being worked on
3.
Pool is dwindling as Unemployment rate goes down.
4.
What about building subs?
a.
Not cost effective
5.
On Dr. Ault’s list: address guest teacher issue
