John D. Runkle School
School Council
Minutes 9/24/09
Meeting called to order by J. Connelly at 4:10 PM
Attendance:
Joseph Connelly
Michael Noble - Absent
Ben Chang
Rosemary McElroy-Absent
George Sopel
Maxine Hunter- No longer a member
Susanne Stern
Jennifer Shapiro
Michelle Bernstein
Teresa Gallo-Toth
Danielle Halwick
Jim Stoddard
-
Dr. Connelly began the meeting by introducing the following new teaching staff:
Hannah Kimball
Gr.2
Stephanie Convicer
Gr.4
Kayla Myerson
Gr. 6 Science/S.S.
Cathy Stahl
PDD
Sped Teacher
Julie Spector
Sped
Bldg. Facilitation
All teachers were present. Each had an opportunity to make a few brief
comments.
-
Future Mtg. Dates
After a brief discussion the following dates were confirmed for meetings to be
held September 2009 through January 2010. It was felt a decision on School
Council Mtg. dates to be held the second half of the school year should wait
until after School Council elections.
Dates approved
September 24 4:00 PM (Thursday)
October 21 4:00
PM (Wednesday)
November 19 (Thursday)
December 14 (Monday)
January 14 (Thursday)
-
Jim Stoddard presented a slide presentation summarizing 2009 MCAS results for
Brookline and the Runkle School which was followed by an open discussion.
Everyone expressed their satisfaction with the overall student performance and
growth that had occurred at all grade levels.
-
Dr. Connelly presented an update on the Runkle School Building Project. He
indicated the finalized Schematic Drawings had been submitted to MSBA. It was
expected a formal vote on the scope and budget of the prepared Runkle School
project would be voted on by the MSBA. Runkle School Building Committee on
September 30, 2009. The third of three public meetings was scheduled for 7:00
PM Sept. 30, 2009. At this meeting the Design Partnership Design Team and
members of the School Building Committee would present a detailed review and
update on all aspects of the Runkle School Building Project. This meeting is
planned as an informational meeting.
-
Dr. Connelly presented a school opening report. He indicated the Runkle School
had experienced a very smooth and positive school opening preK-8 enrollments
were reviewed and discussed.
-
It was agreed a review of the SID plan and 2009/2010 School Council goals
would be reviewed and discussed at the Oct 21, 2009 meeting.
-
Public Comment
The make-up of the Runkle School Council was briefly discussed.
It was acknowledged we currently had two vacancies, namely a teacher
representative to replace Maxine Hunter and an unfilled community
representative position. Dr. Connelly reported to date he had received one
teacher offer to replace Maxine Hunter. The teacher was a special education
teacher who was currently working the primary grades. Many council members
expressed their desire to replace Maxine Hunter with an upper grade teacher or
to explore increasing the teacher representation on school council to allow
both teachers to serve. All members felt it would be beneficial to have a
teacher with special education experience on the council as well. Kayla
Myerson grade six teacher who replaced Maxine Hunter offered to serve as
Maxine’s replacement on the School Council. The School Council will take
official action at the Oct. 21st meeting to fill these vacancies.
Meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM
Respectfully submitted
Joseph J. Connelly Co-Chairman
School Council Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2009
(approved unanimously on 2/9/09)
Please note: Date and time change for our next meeting:
March 5th from 3:30 – 6:30 in the Runkle Library
Present:
Jen Shapiro and David Summergrad - Co-Chairs
Rosemary McElroy, David Godes, Mike Noble, Ben Chang, Danielle Halwick, Maxine
Hunter, Jim Stoddard, Teresa Gallo-Toth
Absent:
Michelle Bernstein
1) Opportunity for the Public to Speak – no one present
2) Minutes from December 11th - approved
unanimously – sent to Jenny Murphy to post, along with the corrected list of
SC members
3) Elections are coming in January: Jen Shapiro’s term is
up, as is the seat vacated by Tom Reed (PTO runs the elections)
4) Facility Update: the MSBA has selected Design Partnership of Cambridge as
the design architect for the Runkle Project. Check them out
online at:
http://www.design-partnership.com/
-
Once the contract with DPC is signed we expect to begin the design process in
February. There will be a number of meetings this winter to gather input into
the design from all the various stakeholders.
-
We expect that the Runkle School will re-locate to the Old Lincoln School in
June 2010, to be there for the 2010 – 2011 school year and probably the
following year as well.
5) Responsive Classroom update:
Teresa
and Danielle spoke about the status of the training
(all
teachers in grades K-4 and grade 6 have had the training)
grade
5 to be trained this summer
most
specialists had the 1-day overview
we
have reached the critical mass of teachers trained in the building
Future
training needs: grade
5 teachers, more specialists, paraprofessionals,
substitutes,
lunch and office staff, new staff who are hired
we
have a professional development learning strand (2nd year) that
focuses
on RC
becoming
an RC school is a 3 to 5 year process – the big challenge:
reaching
the common spaces; changing the culture
early
data has suggested that we are seeing fewer office referrals
parent
component: plan for a speaker who can help parents learn what
RC
has to offer: “Make RC Work for You”
Other
ideas to help parents learn about RC
Piggy-back
on other events like “Snuggle and Read”
Invite
each parent to a morning meeting
Pass
out the “Cliff Notes” at the 15-minute fall conferences
Present
more about RC at kindergarten welcome night
6) Planning for the SIP process
(the
AYP addendum is done)
We
received the documents the town sent out to help with the SIP:
Timeline
Sample
template
System-wide
goals and strategies
Book recommendation: The Power of Words
Still to come:
RC “Cliff Notes” (from Teresa and Danielle)
Planning an RC evening for parents
Future item: Wellness ideas:
February 12th meeting – go over the needs of the SIP
March 5th meeting – “pour in” the content
April 9th – revise and update
May 14th – draft feedback from Julie Hackett
May 28th, 7:30 am: SIP Presentation
School Council Meeting Minutes
December 11, 2008
Present:
Jen Shapiro and David Summergrad - Co-Chairs
Rosemary McElroy, David Godes, Mike Noble, Danielle Halwick, Maxine Hunter,
Jim Stoddard, Teresa Gallo-Toth, Michelle Bernstein
Absent:
Ben Chang
1) Opportunity for the Public to Speak – no one present
2) Minutes from November 13th - approved
unanimously – being sent to Jenny Murphy to post, along with the corrected
list of SC members
3) Elections are coming in January: Jen Shapiro’s term is
up, as is the seat vacated by Tom Reed
4) Facility Update: the MSBA has selected three firms as finalists for the
design process
Flansburgh Associates, Cambridge Design Partnership, and Miller-Dyer-Spears
A firm will be selected in January
-
If a design architect is on board by mid-January, we are hoping for drawings
to be ready for either the May ’09 Town Meeting or the November ’09 Town
Meeting. We would expect there to be a number of meetings
this winter to gather input from all the various stakeholders.
-
We are still hoping to meet the July 2010 target to begin construction. We
expect that the Runkle School will re-locate to the Old Lincoln School and be
there for the 2010 – 2011 school year and perhaps the following year as well.
5) ThinkMath Presentation:
Hope Wallace (from the EDC and the publisher, Harcourt) attended our meeting.
She had answered some questions that had been sent in advance, and she shared
some online resources with us. [Jim – do you have notes you would like to add
here?] Michelle will post the links for the math materials
online.
If parents or staff members have specific questions about the town-wide
implementation of ThinkMath, please continue to direct them to Angela Allen,
Brookline’s K – 8 Math Coordinator:
Angela_Allen@brookline.k12.ma.us
We will be planning a math night for the spring. (Date TBA?)
6) Brookline’s 5 Core Values
We discussed the document that the School Committee has adopted. We
spent some time on the newest Core Value: Educational Equity. Our
interpretation of Equity is broad and applies across the spectrum of all
learners. We need to look at ways we can provide extra
challenge and high interest opportunities for those who are ready to benefit
form them.
7) School Council Training: completed
by all who needed to attend
Book recommendation: Everything Bad is Good for YOU
Still coming:
RC quick sheet (from Teresa and Danielle)
Planning
an RC evening for parents
Future item: Wellness ideas: guest in January?
We will vote on these minutes at our meeting on January 8, 2009, then send
them to Jenny Murphy, Runkle’s ETS, for web posting.
School Council Meeting Minutes
November 13, 2008
Present:
Jen Shapiro and David Summergrad - Co-Chairs
Rosemary McElroy, David Godes, Ben Chang, Mike Noble, Danielle Halwick, Maxine
Hunter
Absent:
Teresa Gallo-Toth, Michelle Bernstein, Jim Stoddard
1) Opportunity for the Public to Speak – no one present
2) Minutes from October 23rd - approved
unanimously – to Jenny Murphy to post
3) Possible new member through January 2009?
We decided against this option – we will wait until the elections in January
to get back to our full complement of School Council members
4) Facility Update:
Things
are moving forward!
-
The Runkle Building Committee met again on Monday, November 3rd at
8:30 a.m. in room 202 at the Old Lincoln School. Rosemary
McElroy attended.
-
There was a walk-through meeting for approximately 25 prospective design
architects here on November 13th at 10 am.
-
David is leading “walk-through: tours for interested Town Meeting members:
Sunday November 16th at 11 am, Monday November 17th at 8
am, 10 am, and 3 pm.
-
The fall Town Meeting begins on November 18th – there is a warrant
article to fund up to $600,000 in design fees for Runkle’s project.
-
If a design architect is on board by mid-January, we are hoping for drawings
to be ready for either the May ’09 Town Meeting or the November ’09 Town
Meeting. We would expect there to be a number of meetings
this winter to gather input from all the various stakeholders.
-
We are still hoping to meet the July 2010 target to begin construction.
-
David met with Erin Chute Gallentine and Peter Rowe to talk about improvements
needed in the grounds and how that may fit into the project plans.
-
We were asked by the Runkle School Building Committee to help them consider
ideas about parking and traffic, in advance of a traffic study
that will be doe for the project. We
have over 75 employees who park here daily. The
drop off patterns cause a lot of congestion each morning at the intersection
of Chesham, Druce, and Buckminster. Below
is our brainstorming list:
-
Issue permits for staff who park on the adjacent streets so that others who
may be using that parking can be ticketed.
-
Add some parking spaces on the right side of the school driveway, at the
Clinton Road entrance.
-
Consider underground parking as part of new construction.
-
Consider underground parking under the playing fields.
-
Eliminate parking on both sides of Druce to allow for safer flow of traffic,
especially in the winter.
-
Create a drop off circle on the Clinton Road side (maybe under a portico)
-
Encourage more walkers and more use of the Clinton Road entrance
-
Ban parking on one side of Buckminster Road
-
Assign a crossing guard at the five corner intersection of Druce, Chesham, and
Buckminster
-
Increase signage to keep traffic moving at drop-off zones
ThinkMath Presentation:
Hope Wallace (from the publisher, Harcourt) is attending on December 11th
We need to think of what questions/feedback we want to share with her. (Jim
to follow up with the Math sub-committee)
AYP:
We reviewed the draft document for the AYP action plan (this will be sent out
to the Council as an attachment). We also looked at the
PowerPoint presentation David prepared to help people understand the various
acronyms associated with the testing.
Only one parent inquired about changing schools (someone who had inquired in
previous years as well, unrelated to the MCAS results
School Council Training:
December 1, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm at the Library: Rosemary, Mike, Jen
December 8, 8:00 am – 10:00 am at the Police Station: Danielle, David G,
Michelle, David S, Ben, Maxine
Book recommendation: Reason to Write
by Douglas Reeves
Proposed Agenda items for 12/11:
Approval of Minutes from 11/13/08
ThinkMath conversation with Hope Wallace from the publisher
AYP review revised action plan and SIP addendum
Facility Update
Brookline’s 5 Core Values – David is attaching this document to the email
RC quick sheet (from Teresa and Danielle)
Future item: Wellness ideas: guest in January?
We will vote on these minutes at our meeting on 12/11, then send them to Jenny
Murphy, Runkle’s ETS, for web posting.
School Council Meeting Minutes
October 23, 2008
Present:
Jen Shapiro and David Summergrad - Co-Chairs
Rosemary McElroy, David Godes, Ben Chang, Mike Noble, Teresa Gallo-Toth, Jim
Stoddard, Danielle Halwick, Michelle Bernstein
Absent:
Maxine Hunter
1) Opportunity for the Public to Speak ñ no one present
2) Minutes from September 25th approved unanimously
3) Possible new member through January 2009: Jen will share the name with
David who will invite that person to join through the January elections
4) Facility Update:
Things are moving forward!
-
The Runkle Building Committee meets again on Monday, November 3rd
at 8:30 a.m. in room 202 at the Old Lincoln School. It is a
public meeting.
-
There is a walk-through meeting for prospective design architects here on
November 13th at 10 am.
-
The fall Town Meeting begins on November 18th ñ there is a warrant
article to fund the design fees for Runkleís project.
-
David is in touch with Tom Reed about inviting some Town Meeting members to a
walk-through of Runkle prior to the day of Town Meeting.
-
David is meeting with Erin Chute Gallentine and Peter Rowe to talk about the
grounds and how they may fit into the project plans.
-
We are still hoping to meet the July 2010 target to begin construction.
ThinkMath Presentation:
Michelle Bernstein, math specialist at Runkle, led us through a presentation
that gave us a netter understanding of the materials and sequence of the
ThinkMath program. She described the professional development
that teachers have had and continue to have to learn to use ThinkMath
effectively. She reminded us that ThinkMath is a program for K-5, not
the whole curriculum. The
Brookline Learning Expectations and Massachusetts State Framework describe the
curriculum.
We may invite Hope Wallace (from the publisher, Harcourt) to come to a School
Council meeting. (she is attending on December 11th!)
For next meeting:
AYP Draft Plan and Presentation (David will invite the AYP Assistance Team
from the district)
MCAS results and Adequate Yearly Progress
The School Council is required to be part of the creation of an action plan
to support improving our MCAS testing since two of our ìsub-groupsî did not
achieve AYP for two consecutive years. This plan will be
developed by staff and town-wide coordinators, and then shared with the
Council for input and further development. The plan will be part
of a School Improvement Plan amendment.
Book recommendation: Reason to Write
by Douglas Reeves
Proposed Agenda items for 11/13:
Approval of Minutes from 10/23/08
New member?
AYP discussion and draft plan
Facility Update
Brooklineís 5 Core Values
RC quick sheet (from Teresa and Danielle)
Future item: Wellness ideas: guest on December 11th?
We will vote on these minutes at our meeting on 11/13, then send them to Jenny
Murphy, Runkleís ETS, for web posting.
School Council Meeting Minutes
September 25, 2008
Approved Unanimously: 10/23/08
Present:
Jen Shapiro and David Summergrad - Co-Chairs
Rosemary McElroy, David Godes, Ben Chang, Mike Noble, Teresa Gallo-Toth, Jim
Stoddard, Danielle Halwick, Maxine Hunter, Michelle Bernstein
1) Opportunity for the Public to Speak ñ no one present
2) Possible new member through January 2009: Jen will check on the person who
was the runner up in Januaryís election
3) Committee Updates:
Wellness:
Jen Schultz and Katherine Reynolds Cohen Co-Chairs, and Rosemary McElroy
Initiatives from last year: grant for pedometers; signage for
cafeteria, celebration day in the spring
New initiative: include Recycling under the topic of Wellness (talk with staff
members: Michelle, Maxine, and Teresa, as well as Susan Barrett from the PTO)
Safety and Respect:
Jen Shapiro, Danielle, Maxine, and Teresa
Monitor and publicize the 2nd year implementation of Responsive
Classroom
Parent updates, evening presentations, special ìeventî
One-page talking points document: Teresa will produce it
Shared reading for the community
Math:
Mike Noble, Jim Stoddard, Michelle Bernstein, David Godes
The task before this committee is to ìtuneî the ongoing implementation of
ThinkMath and to look at the Brookline Learning Expectations
We will spend a large portion of the meeting on October 23rd with a
presentation on ThinkMath by Michelle and the other specialists
Better understand the terminology and practices (e.g.: copying materials, etc.)
Facility:
David Summergrad, Tom Reed, Paul Saner, Arthur Segel, Christina Suh, Vanda
Khadem, Marian Voros, Scott Newman, Emily Leonard, Karen Breslawski, David
Redgrave, Cliff Brown, Jen Shapiro, Deanne Dixon, Tracy Paradise, Teresa
Gallo-Toth
MGT (the firm hired to create a master facility plan for Brookline) scored
Runkleís building as a:
76/100 for the physical plant
43/100 for meeting program
The MSBA has been favorable about our project:
Chosen as one of 80 out of 460 proposed projects in the state
Selected as one of 14 out of 80 projects to move forward
We are still hoping to meet the July 2010 target to begin construction.
The Runkle School Building Committee has met once; next meeting on October 6th
The facility sub-committee will meet on October 14th
4) MCAS results and Adequate Yearly
Progress
The School Council is required to be part of the creation of an action plan to
support improving our MCAS testing since two of our ìsub-groupsî did not
achieve AYP for two consecutive years. This plan will be
developed by staff and town-wide coordinators, then shared with the Council
for input and further development. The plan will be part of a
School Improvement Plan amendment.
We will vote on these minutes at our meeting on 10/23, then send them to Jenny
Murphy, Runkleís ETS, for web posting.
Proposed Agenda items for 10/23:
Approval of Minutes from 9/25/08
New member?
ThinkMath presentation
AYP update
Facility Update
Brooklineís 5 Core Values