SAC Meeting Minutes

DATE: 6/4/07 TIME: 4:30 p.m. PLACE: Perkins Restaurant

Members Present: Bonnie Adams, Annie Avrutis, Pam Colucci, Jose Diaz, Sue Harris, Laura Kingsley, Cindy Newell, Maria Ortiz, Henry Pugh, Charlotte Stallings, Kathy Van Praag and Myrelli Zamora

1) Welcome & Introductions – Annie Avrutis and Dr. Kingsley welcomed everyone, and new members Bonnie Adams, Jose Diaz, Sue Harris and Maria Ortiz introduced themselves.

2) Review of Minutes – Annie reviewed the minutes from the May 17^th meeting.

3) Review of Climate Surveys – Laura reviewed the Climate Survey Results from teachers, classified staff and parents, which were discussed by the Committee members. Parent comments were also reviewed. Some suggestions and comments were:

§ There was a suggestion to have mid-term reports for every student no matter what their grade. Currently, a progress report is sent home only if a student has a C or lower.

§ A few parent comments in the Climate Survey had concerns regarding security. No adult escorting children to the clinic was mentioned. Teachers related that they can’t leave their classroom, but they always have another student escort a child to the clinic.

§ Comments were made in the climate survey about rudeness in the front office. The committee members felt that this is not indicative of the attitude of the rest of the staff, but the front office is often responsible for the first impression of visitors. Henry Pugh related that in his office, they have a company policy of making eye contact within two seconds of someone coming in the door, and staff members need to smile speak to them immediately upon their arrival.

§ Recognizing staff members and students on the Honor Roll in the newsletter was suggested. It was also suggested that a list be put in the newsletter of the different methods that are implemented for students who need extra help so that parents are aware of all that’s in place to help their children. Recognizing struggling students who finally complete all of their Fast on Facts or have other academic successes would also be beneficial for those students.

§ As a result of classified climate survey comments, the committee discussed adding a classified representative so that there is one classified representative for non-classroom classified staff and one for aides.

4) Dr. Kingsley related that she is on a committee that is looking at revising report cards. They are discussing trying to standardize the grading process, and would like to have categories listed describing what made up a student’s particular grade. Committee members voiced concerns with discrepancies between classwork grades and testing grades for a number of students who have difficulties with testing, especially when it’s timed.

5) Review Test Scores – Dr. Kingsley passed out a summary of the test scores for Fruitville.

§ About 90% of our students made at least a year’s growth.

§ There are a lot of learning disabled children who are in regular education classes. Mrs. Colucci related that they are below grade level in reading and are being tested at grade level.

§ There were no fifth graders retained this year due to standardized testing scores.

§ Ten students had perfect scores on either the math or reading FCAT.

§ This year, a lot of attention was focused on writing skills for lower-achieving students.

§ Ad Team members were mentors for four or five students each from January through May, and those students had a higher percentage of making a year’s growth than the overall student population.

§ ActivBoards have been a wonderful classroom tool for teachers.

§ The fourth grade teachers would like every grade level to concentrate on teaching writing. They have given the lower grade level teachers suggestions and information so that by the time students get to fourth grade, they will have been exposed to what’s expected of them and some of what they’ve been starting to teach in fourth grade in the past will now be a review.

§ A writing lab was suggested by Jose Diaz. He noticed that Mrs. Johnson’s Wordsmith Club only had one boy and about 30 girls, and it was held after school.

§ There was a District consultant this year who was helpful to teachers in showing them how to be consistent in their grading and teaching.

6) Future Meeting Dates – It was agreed that next year’s meetings will be on Thursdays at 3:30.

§ August 30^th, 2007, will be the first meeting and the School Improvement Plan will need to be discussed.

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