School Advisory Council
Meeting
February 16, 2005
In attendance: Dan Kennedy, CSM Mike Collis, Bridget Jones,
Jim Young, Cindy Wallace, Anthony Vignocchi, Madalyn Andrews, Robert Graham,
Jann Vasiloff, Cadet Katie Vasiloff, Cadet Kyle Seeger, Cadet Katherine
Valdesuso, Col. Stephen Cork, Prof. Robert Lechner, Dr. Hugh Burns, Mark
Gruwell
Chair, Cindy Wallace called
the meeting to order at 11:30 a.m.; January minutes were approved as written.
Headmaster’s Report: The closing on the sale of the
property will be at 1:30 p.m. today. We
will own the building and grounds due to the diligent efforts of Col. Cork.
Commandant’s Report: Looking forward to finalizing
the purchase.
Old Business: CSM Mike Collis has replaced CSM Matt Collis
as a member of the SAC committee due to Matt’s relocation; Capt. Richard
Petrucci will replace Bridget Jones while she is on maternity leave beginning
next month.
Cindy passed out a roster of
the SAC committee and where each member stands for next year. Most will be returning to complete their 2
year terms. The incoming freshmen
parents will be approached for nominees at the orientation meeting in
March. Ballots will go out in the next
newsletter as soon as the slate is complete.
There are some by-law amendments that need to be addressed (see
attached); this will be finalized at our March meeting. Cindy reiterated that she believes that the chair
for next year’s committee should be elected prior to the end of this year so
that work can be done over the summer in preparation for the SPE which is due so
early at the start of the year.
Internal school Strategic
Plan for Excellence: At our previous
meeting we had discussed the need to expand and customize the district’s SPE
for internal use in our school. The
first to be addressed was reading. Dr.
Burns and Mark Gruwell discussed what was being done in the classroom,
workshops for faculty, higher order questioning all relating to FCAT. The strengths of our school include: smaller size, teacher interaction between
students and teachers, strong and flexible staff. As discussed, the key is to identify high
risk kids, choose reading material that will interest the kids and keep them
reading.
It was discussed that some
subjects such as math do not lend themselves to the type of reading
suggested. It was also discussed that
for the students who have passed FCAT (or those who have do not need extra help),
they should be given as much instruction time in their subject areas as
possible. Jann Vasiloff mentioned that
while there is a definite need to assist those who are at risk and that for the
most part FCAT is their focus it should not be to the point where it infringes
upon the learning time in other academic areas, particularly in some classroom
settings.
The possibility of pulling at
risk kids out for special tutoring was mentioned. Mark Gruwell is helping some students during
his planning period, but no one wants to label kids and have them feel self-conscious
about their abilities. Hiring a reading
specialist was mentioned. Dr. Burns
stated that he felt that the faculty then tends to want the specialist to take
on the task solo, and it is more effective if it is a collaborative effort
among faculty. Mr. Kennedy said that the
district has gone to hiring reading specialists with success.
CSM Mike Collis said that we
need to see what our FCAT scores are this year.
It was agreed that it takes a combination of student, parent, teacher
and desire to be successful. Cindy
mentioned that we are a choice school and that both students and parents sign
contracts promising to adhere to certain standards, and if on their part they
are not upholding those principles perhaps they are not a good fit with our
school.
The meeting was adjourned at 12:30
p.m.; next meeting will be March 16th at 11:30 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jann Vasiloff, Recording
Secretary