Monroe Middle School

Jan. 2 Inservice: Rick shared that the Sheldon Wallace Regional curriculum articulation meeting scheduled for the morning of January 2, at Holt Elementary has been canceled. Instead, on the morning of January 2 we will have our annual (90 minute) TESA training in the Library. This training is required for all those who use TESA each year. Training will be from 9:00am to 10:30am. Arena scheduling for selecting student helpers will follow at 11:00am in the Library.

Site Council discussed what types activities might take place in the afternoon. Professional development activities, team planning time or committee time are all possibilities. We brainstormed a number of ideas. Rick will meet with different staff members to see if they have interest in sharing specific skills/ knowledge or strategies with others. This "smorgasbord" approach will allow folks to participate if they wish. Activities for staff to choose from would be held from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. Staff will then have the rest of the day for planning.

Process for Adding/ Dropping Classes: Rick shared multiple reasons why classes are added or dropped. Examples were: Need for more or less sections due to enrollment.
Meeting instructional needs within a discipline due to student ability. Sections needed or not needed to meet special needs. Example: 7th grade Science Resource. Maximizing staffing. Making the most efficient use of human resources. We have staff with special skills. Minimizing staff member preps. Meeting the needs outlined in the School Improvement Plan. An example of this Accelerated Reading, Read Right, BeThink-MeThink (math - study skills support).
Another reason classes have been added or deleted is the efficient use of facility and resources. Example is our computer labs. With TESA and class use of labs more now, we don't have predictable open labs spaces. We are teaching fewer computer classes now than we have in past years.

The key question was, "Is there a process for adding and dropping classes?" Dorothy noted that there is an agreed upon flow chart in the staff handbook. This will be reviewed at our next Site Council meeting.

Rick recognized that new class and proposals should be brought to Site Council. New classes should support our School Improvement Plan. Rick reminded the group that Site Council does not make staffing decisions. That is an administrative responsibility. Rick certainly looks to Site Council for advice.

We agreed to put this on the agenda for the next Site Council Meeting, January 3.

Positive Behavior Support State Conference: This was informational item only. Rick shared that the Climate Committee will be attending the 5th Annual Oregon Positive Behavior Support Conference at OSU on February 27 and 28. A local patron of Monroe made a $1,000.000 donation recently. An additional $ 900.00 will be taken out of EEF funds that have collected over recent years to fund this activity. The total cost will be in the neighborhood of $1,900.00 depending upon how many go.

Shana Rothenberg (parent) has been collecting donations throughout the community to support our M&M drawings each week was recognized for all her hard work. Thanks from Site Council.

Staff Development Requests: Shirley Betourney's request of _ day sub = $90.00 to attend a state PE conference was approved. Math teachers requested Smart Board training. They asked for _ day subs = $810.00. Request was approved.

GANAS Group: Site Council discussed the merits of creating a GANAS group at Monroe. Rick will be contact with other administrators who have GANAS in their buildings and report back to the group.

Site Council Legal Make-up : We have been unable to fill to fill the 6th certified position on Site Council. Rick suggested that we go with five certified, one classified, one administrator and that the parents have one vote, no matter how many show up, at a meeting. This would meet legal requirement of teachers having the majority vote on site council.

This was agreed to.

Work Group Updates: The only group that had anything to report was the Climate Committee. Margot reported that the committee was going to attend the state conference in February. Shana Rothenberg is collecting prizes for M&M drawings. This is a big help.

Irlen Syndrome: Dorothy shared an article and other information on Irlen Syndrome. This is a brain/ vision condition that potentially affects many students. In a school our size we could have 80 students with this condition. This is a condition that can be corrected with colored transparencies.

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Send questions and comments to tromba@4j.lane.edu