Make a Difference at Your School!

Minutes

Make a Difference at Your School! SCHOOL GOVERNANCE COUNCILS

Ansonia High School School Governance Council AHS Media Center Conference Room February 8, 2017 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Attendance: Christine Davis, Terri Goldson, Eileen Lawlor, Jane Liscio, Maliqa Mosley-Williams, Susan Nargi, Karen Phipps, Emma Rosa, Cassie Venson

Absent: Ed Hilser, Laura Lane, Nina Phipps, Alison Wynus

Welcome: Christine Davis welcomed all Council members. Maliqa Mosley-Williams, Vice President of the Class of 2020, was introduced and warmly welcomed as the new SGC student member.

Minutes: Minutes from the November 16, 2016 meeting were reviewed and accepted.

STAR Testing: Christine Davis informed the Council that she and Karen Phipps held a STAR Parent Night for parents of students in grades 9, 10, and 11 on January 24, 2017. At the meeting, they informed parents about the STAR Benchmark, walked parents through a sample STAR Reading assessment, assisted parents in how to read a STAR report, and provided a Parent Tool Kit which listed suggestions and strategies that parents could implement at home with their child. Only 12 parents attended the meeting despite numerous reminders using ConnectEd phone calls home, Facebook, and the AHS website. Eileen Lawlor and Amy DeFelice attended STAR Parent Night and commented that the presentation was very informative and well done.

Mr. Goldson gave an overview of STAR results from Fall to Winter. While AHS students made small gains, Grades 9, 10, and 11 did not meet their Winter Goals. Specifically, Grade 9 students gained 22 points from Fall to Winter in Reading, but missed meeting the Winter Goal by 17 points. Grade 10 gained 31 points from Fall to Winter in Reading, but missed meeting the Winter Goal by 11 points. Grade 11 students must go up 195 points to meet the Spring Goal. Mr. Goldson explained that expectations are set by National Standards, and we will look to set up achievable goals for the 2017-2018 school year.

NEASC Update: Karen Phipps informed the Council that the NEASC accreditation process takes place every 10 years; however, it is an on-going process. Karen and Christine already submitted the Special Progress Report, and it was accepted by NEASC. The next step is for the NEASC Follow-Up Committee to meet and address the ten recommendations and write the Two-Year Progress Report due on October 1, 2017. The NEASC Follow-Up Committee will meet again on February 16.

Schedule Update: Mr. Goldson shared that AHS will adopt an 8 drop 2 schedule for the 2017-2018 school year. This schedule allows for extra electives/courses. The 60 minute periods do not really change with the 8 drop 2 schedule. A team will meet on February 13 to discuss an advisory period. Mr. Goldson shared new electives and courses that would be offered. Jane Liscio commented that the 8 drop 2 will allow for time in students’ schedules to take courses they normally do not have room for, especially with double AP periods.

Honor Roll/ College Credit Update: Ed Hilser sent the question of how other schools calculate honor roll to a Guidance Listserv. Karen Phipps provided a handout of the responses Ed received from other schools, and the Council will revisit honor roll at the next SGC meeting.

Council members received a matrix that outlines those ECE courses that had students receive dual credit in January. The matrix will be updated in June, as several courses grant credit both terms.

Mr. Goldson explained that he has met with representatives from Housatonic Community College (HCC) and Post University. AHS students may have the opportunity to earn a Bachelor’s Degree or an Associate’s Degree in the near future. Programs like this already exist in other schools. Additionally, all Grade 11 students will take a practice Accuplacer entrance exam for HCC.

PSAT Celebration/ Saturday SAT Program: Mr. Goldson shared positive events taking place at AHS. He provided the Council with a copy of AHS Messages. One recent event was a PSAT Scholar Celebration held on February 1, 2017. Students in grades 9, 10, and 11 who scored a combined score of 1000 points or higher on the October PSAT were honored at this celebration. Parents, guardians, and grandparents attended the event. Mr. Goldson highlighted other events and fieldtrips that would take place throughout the remainder of the school year.

Christine Davis explained that AHS is offering forty Grade 11 students the opportunity to attend Saturday SAT Prep Courses. This is an eight-week program running from 2/11 – 4/01 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturdays. This program is on a first come first served basis. Students will learn strategies to help them prepare for the School Day SAT on April 5. This course is free to Grade 11 students; it is grant funded. SGC Goal for 2016-17: One goal the Council adopted for the 2016-2017 is: To increase awareness for students and parents in regards to decision-making opportunities. The Council will revisit this goal at the next SGC meeting.

Next Meeting: The next School Governance Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.