Meeting Agenda –March 7, 2019 –

ANDOVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS School Committee Room 36R Bartlet Street, Andover, MA 01810 ANDOVER SCHOOL COMMITTEE SC ROOM Key: I.O. = Information Only; A.R. = Action Request MEETING AGENDA –MARCH 7, 2019 – * * * Please note: Public Comment/Input will be limited to 3 minutes * * * We would like to thank the students and faculty at Sanborn Elementary, particularly art teachers, Jennifer Recinos for the wonderful display of art in and outside the SC Room. I. Call to Order/Moment of Silence 7:00PM II. SC Regular Open Session Meeting: Call to Order A. Moment of Silence/Salute to the Flag – B. Recognitions & Communications – C. Public Input D. Response to Public Input E. Education F. New Business 1. Fusion Academy I.O. 2. Superintendent’s Mid Year Report I.O. G. Continuing Business 1. Allocation of Additional Time at AHS for 2019-2020 School Year I.O. 2. FY20 Budget Update A.R. 3. Financials I.O. H. Consent Agenda A.R. 1. Warrants 2. Minutes – January 10, 24 SC Meeting 3. Grants/Donations to District I. Adjournment A.R. This is the SC posted agenda for the upcoming meeting to the best of our knowledge at the time of posting; however, other agenda items may arise; therefore, the SC reserves the right to discuss additional items if merited. The mission of the Andover Public Schools, in partnership with the entire Andover community, is to educate by engaging and inspiring, students to develop as self-reliant, responsible citizens who are thinkers, problem solvers, and contributors prepared to participate in an evolving global society. PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH FUSION ACADEMY – ANDOVER CAMPUS SUBMITTED TO ANDOVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1 Fusion Academy is a revolutionary community of learning that meets students where they are. Through positive relationships and personalized learning solutions, we unlock academic potential and create opportunities for emotional and social growth. Fusion Academy was founded by educator and entrepreneur Michelle Rose Gilman in 1989. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and her vision for Fusion began while working with students transitioning from psychiatric day treatment programs. The original and first Fusion Academy opened its doors as a full time private school in Solana Beach, CA in 2001. Fusion partnered with then American Education Group (now Fusion Education Group) in December 2008. This new partnership then began replicating the Solana Beach campus, culture, and model in different locations around the country. Fusion now has over 50 campuses in operation across the country. Our schools can be found in California, Connecticut, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Washington, Texas, New York, New Jersey, DC, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. The organization is very proud of the fact that all Fusion Academies located throughout the country are both regionally and nationally accredited; and we work with our sister schools in order to continuously improve our approach to accreditation and our ongoing study of student learning. Fusion is a private, comprehensive middle and high school offering a personalized one to one teaching model in the context of a warm and supportive learning environment. We serve students in a full time or part time capacity in our academy, as well as provide tutoring and mentoring services. Fusion offers programs before, during, and after enrollment: Life Skills, Classes for Credit, Summer School, Homework Support, Transitions Program, Tutoring, Wellness, and Post-Secondary Planning. Relationships are central to the educational practice at Fusion. The entire faculty integrates and facilities academic, social, and emotional growth of each student through the lends of the strong student/teacher relationship. Fusion Academy is an independent, co-educational school serving students in sixth through twelfth grades. All students receive a completely customized educational plan including class schedule and course level. All Fusion classes are taught with a ratio of one student to one teacher- in every subject and every grade. We are the only school that truly teachers in a ratio of one to one for every class, and we are proud to do it exceptionally well. We serve a unique student body such as gifted students, students who process information better in a smaller group environment, students who are working actors, high level athletes who may need a unique schedule, student who may benefit from a customized approach, and students with whom a traditional classroom setting may not best fit for them for a variety of reasons. Our students can also have mild to moderate learning differences such as ADHD, depression, school avoidance, social challenges, or anxiety. Fusion believes that learning is a personal process and that optimal learning occurs through individualized, one to one instruction fostered by a trusting, mutually respectful relationship between student and teacher. Fusion’s teaching pedagogy utilizes research based methods and strategies grounded in studies conducted by experts such as Robert Marzano, Linda Darling Hammond, Sir Ken Robinson, Carol Dweck, Rick Lavoie and many others. We affirm that students learn best when they are actively engaged in their own educational development and can make meaningful connections between learning and life. We notice that, over time, the student/teacher relationship develops into a mentee/mentor partnership. Committed learning occurs when the pace, structure, and instructional methods are designed to support the individual’s strength, preferences, and areas of need. Fusion develops creative programs that are flexible and customized to each student. There is social-emotional component embedded in each course 2 delivered because it is our philosophy that students need love and social/emotional support in order to engage with the academic content knowledge. We adhere to the LOVE MOTIVATE TEACH model, and believe that we are able to change the world, one child at a time. At Fusion, we believe: all students can learn no child should be disenfranchised in the direct relationship between emotional achievement and overall success positive relationships are the key to unlocking the potential in every student in the power of one-to-one classroom to ignite a student's passion for learning At Fusion, we create a supportive community of learning where students can find success and connect meaningfully to others, and we prepare students to meet the world head on with confidence and competence through the following approach: We are pleased to submit the following material to operate a nonpublic school to the Andover Public Schools School Committee. Pursuant to Massachusetts General Law c. 76, § 1, which states that “…school committees shall approve a private school when satisfied that the instruction in all the studies required by law equals in thoroughness and efficiency”, the information presented aligns with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education standards for private school approval. 3 1) POPULATION TO BE SERVED A. Admission Criteria Fusion Academy is a private school where staff and students are respectful of one another regardless of differences in age, gender or gender orientation, disability, religion, sexual orientation, race, personal beliefs, and /or opinions. Due to the nature of Fusion’s unique educational delivery model of one teacher and one student in every class, Fusion is able to successfully meet the needs of diverse students in grades 6-12. In a Fusion one-to-one classroom, the educational experience is completely customized to support engagement and ignite passion for, and access to, learning. Classes are self-paced, and course material is presented in ways that suit students’ individual interests, strengths and challenges. We admit a wide range of students who are seeking a personalized approach to their education. Fusion intentionally does not set specific enrollment criteria, and instead seeks to mutually identify, through a variety of documents and experiences, that a student is likely to thrive in our unique environment. All prospective students and parents must meet personally with the Head of School, for an in-depth Intake meeting. Based on the individual history and goals of each student, the Head of School will evaluate if Fusion Academy can provide the student with the best educational experience, to meet the student’s academic, social and emotional needs. Two important determining factors considered is the student’s own desire to join the Fusion community, and the Fusion team’s confidence that we can support the student in achieving their goals. Fusion students must want to work collaboratively with teachers in class, as well as be able to work independently within the homework café. Although the student teacher ratio at Fusion is one teacher to one student (1:1) for all academic coursework, Fusion does offer small group instruction for six to eight students in supplemental project based learning opportunities. In a Fusion one-to-one classroom, the educational experience is completely customized to ignite a student’s passion for learning. Classes are self-paced, and course material is presented in ways that suit students’ individual interests, strengths and challenges. All Fusion campuses are accredited by a variety of accrediting agencies. Fusion Andover will establish accreditation with AdvancED and with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Students who wish to enroll with Fusion are encouraged to ensure their previous school has also been accredited, so that

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