WA School Council Minutes
Time: 8am - 9am
Location: Principal’s Conference Room Members:
Dan Twomey, Amanda Welch, Lauren Clark, Kristin Morris, Russ Coward, Michele Curtis, Christine Schurman, Mark House, Mia Votano, Sahil Dua, Hansen Shieh
What is the School Council’s purpose?
❖ Policy
❖ School improvement
❖ Budget
❖ Helps the principal with decision-making
FEEDBACK
1. Did not weigh in with budget or hiring - just SIP a. Last year - challenged start time (HS)
School Council was used as a sounding board - all stakeholders together working on how to improve (KM)
(LC) The first 5-10 minutes would be an update from the principal (what is going on in the building)
Meeting during the morning to ensure students are present
SPIRIT RALLY
1. All 3 students are a part of STUCO (hectic/smooth)
Moved to turf from the field
STUCO completed a dry run
(RC) manageable, well-behaved, very enjoyable
(KM) many options for all students
(MC) important for all to feel welcomed
(CS) asked about anything but a backpack
SIP-GOAL #1
A. Core values, Vision of a Graduate (Dr. Chew’s vision for students)
B. Writtencurriculum-todaytheCCsaremeetingwiththeirdepartments
a. When we moved to a 5-2 schedule, classes began to meet for more minutes, but with less frequency. Departments are working on updating pacing guides
C. #5:DEI work(WA has a group that is building-based)
a. (KM) referenced Jordan/Palestine issue....possible underlying tension with fundraiser; one
student in her class was discussing family currently living in Israel
SIP-GOAL #2
Changing school time is a budget issue. Busses drop kids off around 6:55 because they also do the MS runs
School start time affects the other schools - change needs to occur with the busses
DT and JB talked about lights outside the building
Looking at Master Calendar, trying to build in more 1⁄2 day PDs (DT and AW)
About 34 teachers piloting peer observation program (groups of 5 or 6 from different disciplines)
Some teachers have tied this process to their professional goals
c. (MC) Asked teachers if they felt segregated from other departments
(AW) Mixing has benefits, but we can see both sides
(RC) not a lot of rooms are available, which could disrupt the flow
(DT) smaller enrollment this year (1400-ish)
i. (LC) about 20 new students over this past summer
SIP-GOAL #3
DT asked LC to give an update about Cartwheel
LC - wanted more data to present to the district. Each grade level completed a mental health screening. After the students take this screening test, the counselors reach out if their numbers identify them as a student in need (counseling dept. collects all the data). Cartwheel provides 1-1 therapy, group therapy, and family counseling. Cartwheel is unique to WA (we have 50 spots) - that should be roughly 5 referrals a month, but we are already over this cap. October projection is 10. About 50 other HS in MA also use Cartwheel. Cartwheel is basically an extension of our department
(MH) asked LC about the amount of referrals: are we seeing what we expected or is there more? LC said last year there were limited spots - referral rate is higher.
This is year 1of UDL roll out - there was some work last year.There are future PD planned for UDL (as well as assessment work).
Panorama data
Therapy dog (December-ish)
SIP-GOAL #4
A. Solar panels conversations along with roof, HVAC etc in the works B. Giving Garden has been fruitful (grant via trustees)
Has increased bee numbers
Need an outdoor faucet to wash produce
Dan will be asking trustees for some items for the Giving Garden
C. Mr. Barnas - sustainability
OTHER
● (DT) upcoming meeting with trustees for portable AC units - they would go to the hottest classrooms, probably the second floor where the science labs are (tough to move)
○ Building is 20+ years old-solar, new roof ● (KM) asked to look into rooms with no windows