WINDHAM-ASHLAND-JEWETT CENTRAL SCHOOL

Board of Education Minutes

WINDHAM-ASHLAND-JEWETT CSD

WORKSHOP

October 4, 2007

A. J.Savasta, Presiding Officer

Absent: T. Martin Drew Shuster

 The workshop began at 6:28 PM.

Mr. Savasta led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the Entrance Strategic Plan & Guidance Document.

Mr. Wiktorko opened the workshop by stating the long term goals:

• Raise Student Achievement
• Be Fiscally Prudent
• Maintain Good Communications with the Community

Dr. Gratto began his presentation with the following:

During September and this month, he has met with teachers to (a) help them to become more comfortable with the use of data to inform their instruction and (b) to set reasonable goals for student achievement in 2007-2008 based upon the results achieved by students in 2006-2007

Based upon those meetings and discussions, goals were set by teachers and Dr. Gratto for 2007-2008 that are specific, measurable, assignable, realistic, and time-related.

• Dr. Gratto distributed and discussed a draft copy of those goals.  Goals for each subject that is measured by a standardized test included:
• A goal for 2007-2008 on each NYS standardized exam
• The actual percentage of students who passed and attained mastery on that test in 2006-2007
• The gap between the 2007-2008 goal and the actual 2006-2007 results
• The root causes for the gap
• Specific strategies to close that gap and achieve the goal
• An assignment of a lead person(s) to implement those strategies
• Benchmarks for those goals and strategies; and
• A target date to achieve the goals

Mr. Haltermann had questions and stated goals we would like to see achieved:

• What about a 100% graduation rate? Should we extend classes for more than a year?
• Add 100% completion rate
• Should there be a multi-year Integrated Algebra course goal?
• Better data analysis plan and framework
• The intermediate goals focused on
• How do we know how well we are doing in AIS and Special Ed.
• How do we monitor teaching Differentiation?
• Curriculum Mapping – How do we know if it is successful? What is the measurement?
• What resources do teachers need to be successful?
• Professional Developments Goals and follow-up measurements
• Technology Plan – Integrate into curriculum and a curriculum in technology

Mr. Wiktorko added, in response to a question by Mr. Haltermann, that Special Ed students can receive a regents diploma rather than an IEP diploma.

Mr. Savasta commented that he thought that Dr. Gratto's work on this issue has been great to date. He asked if we could work at getting data by class each year. Mr. Haltermann replied that the data is only good for analysis on a two year basis because the test changes at that rate. Mr. Wiktorko added that the data presented does not provide the examination strand or individual student data markers which should be used.

Mr. Wiktorko commented on the focus on intermediate goals:

• Academic milestones for performance (AYP, completion rate, etc.)
• Continue to improve the cafeteria menu
• the project is on time and on budget

Mr. Haltermann asked Dr. Maier if she had any comments on the subject.

Dr. Maier responded that, after being on the Board for 15 years, she believed that you cannot do anything concrete until the community begins to place value on academics. She said that the Board of Ed ucation has been analyzing data year after year with very little success. Dr. Maier said that she, herself, did not know how to change a community's attitude toward education, but wondered whether we offer enough incentives and rewards for high achievement.

Dr. Gratto stated that we are beginning to do so and, that in fact, the ice-cream served by Board of Ed ucation members last year at the Ice-cream Social was a good example. Pencils and other prizes are also given out during the school year.

With no other comments, the workshop was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.

Notes taken by:

Felicia Senigo, District Clerk

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