Minutes November 28, 2012
Minutes
CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chappaqua, New York
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Date: |
November 28, 2012 |
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Time: |
8:15 p.m. |
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Place: |
Horace Greeley High School |
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Present: |
Board of Education |
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Staff Members |
Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent Mr. Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Mr. Andrew Selesnick, Assistant Superintendent for Leadership, and Instruction Mr. John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business Theresa Markley, District Clerk / Adm. Asst. to Superintendent |
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Visitors Present: |
Representatives of the Chappaqua PTA, school PTAs, building administrators, faculty, and other interested citizens. |
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President Tipp called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Alyson Kiesel moved to enter into Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of labor negotiations and a legal issue. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Alyson Kiesel moved to adjourn the executive session. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously. President Tipp welcomed the community. Alyson Kiesel moved to reconvene the public session at 8:25 p.m. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Presentations: Review of middle school 55-minute periods New grade six research course Dr. McKay commented on the new schedule for the middle school. She introduced Martha Zornow and Martin Fitzgerald, principals of SB and Bell respectively. Assistant Superintendent Eric Byrne commented on the earliness of the status report. More time is needed to provide accurate information and a full report is expected in the spring. Martin Fitzgerald noted the five steps or levels on how we evaluate 55 minute periods: Level 1 - Level of Satisfaction; 2. The Learning; 3. Organizational Support; 4. Level of Use; 5. Student Learning Outcomes. The goal is to maintain a balance of core and encore subjects, and still able to address the needs around literacy, math, and other subjects. There is a need for instruction that is not interrupted, more group work, more differentiation and more time for collaboration, reflection and class discussions. Both principals feel that there is a high level of satisfaction and will work through the dissatisfaction. This work will take more than a year and has the potential for 4 or 5 years of work to evaluate. Teachers have been able to go into material in more depth, but there are other classes that meet less, and it is important to find out how that part of the curriculum is working There hasn't been a normal school schedule with the snow and hurricane. Students were staying with family, friends, sleeping in their father's office, etc. and didn't have the ability to obtain instruments, books, materials so its more difficult to assess. Dr. McKay stated that we knew it was not going to be ideal or as good as having a class every day, but it is still doable to have foreign language and music in middle school. We have more time for English and math and writing. We are trying to keep all the good programs in all the schools because we thought it would be better academically, but it also has the economic plus of being less expensive to maintain. Sixth grade research course Martha Zornow reported that she and the two library media staff plus staff developers developed a pilot research course to develop better, more in-depth research skills that the teachers will use with the students. In addition, WISER is a new program students use to develop inquiry questions. The acronym stands for: Wonder Investigate Synthesize Express Reflect. Mr. Fitzgerald reported on the program using "fat" questions such as -- what is privacy? what is child labor? and they had to do some deep reflection and promote abstract thinking. These are topical questions at the sixth grade level and there is a library use relevant question in each one. |
1. |
Information
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Questions and Comments We welcome public inquiries, and in respect for each other's time, we ask that you limit your inquiry to three minutes. Board members may be contacted via email or phone. |
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2. |
Organization |
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Approvals Alyson Kiesel moved to approve the minutes of November 14, 2012. Karen Visser seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
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4. |
Recommended Action: Personnel Dr. McKay made the following recommendations, including the addendum:
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Recommended Action: Other
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6. |
Facilities
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7. |
Financials
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8. |
President Tipp gave Notice of Future Meetings - Tuesday, December 4 - Joint Town / School Boards Board tours: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 - Grafflin at 7:00 a.m.; Bell at 7:45 a.m. Friday, December 7, 2012 - Horace Greeley at 7:00 a.m.; Roaring Brook at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at Horace Greeley High School, 8:15 p.m. Presentations: Measuring the Board of Education teaching and learning question Extending the Elementary Day |
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9. |
Adjournment At 9:55p.m., Alyson Kiesel moved to adjourn. Randall Katchis seconded. The motion passed unanimously. |
Respectfully submitted,
Theresa Markley, District Clerk / Admin. Asst. to Superintendent
Victoria Tipp, Board President
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