Biggs Unified School District

District Advisory Committee

March 15, 2010    8:30 am-12:00 pm

Meeting Notes

Welcome and Introductions

Pam Sheppard asked if everyone in the DAC meeting knew and had been introduced to our newest member Terry Lattermore.  Everyone responded yes.

School Site Council Reports

Schools Share their School Plan Goals

BES-Jerry discussed last weeks SSC meeting.  Jerry said they talked about and planned where they want to focus on for Standards.  Jerry stated the School Plan will go to the Board in April.

RES- Jerry commented that RES has not met in two months.  Teachers have stepped down from the committee.

BMS-Same direction as BES and they will have another SSC meeting this Wednesday.

Areas of Focus - Jerry said the areas of focus are on raising academic scores and discipline. Bill stated collaboration time for next year is a must and that teachers are aware of this.

BHS-Sharen stated that they had a SSC meeting about goals.  This Wednesday they will finalize the goals.

Bill discussed Western Association of Schools and College (WASC) and SSC - Two Different formats.  Bill commented they are trying to get the same plans and goal.

Update regarding CDE Biggs Middle School Status

Bill explained the phone message left from CDE about one of our schools being low achieving.  A few days later this information was out in the News and Newspaper about BMS.  Bill called CDE to get more information on this issue.  Four different explanations were given. Bill explained that “Race to the Top” is what the State is pushing and what caused the State to take action the way it did. Bill stated the State did not have accurate information in determining some schools affected   Bill stated that he was very angry with the short notice and didn’t believe we should be on the list.  Bill went to the State Capital to clear BMS and had the school removed from the list.  Bill has been contacting TV Stations and Newspapers to correct the information reported.  Chico News reported we were no longer on the list.  Laura explained Race to the Top and NCLB.  Bill explained more on this also.  Bill commented that there is a lot of confusion on procedures for “Race to the Top” but that we are off of the State list.  Pam asked if this is an annual list.  Bill confirmed it was and if we don’t score well and meet targets we could end up back on the list.  Pam suggested letting schools know as an incentive.  Terry commented that BES and BMS are still low performing schools and that we need to do whatever it takes to get the scores up.  Terry asked what can be done to elevate the progress for each school.  Bill explained that interventions have already been put in place.  Bill stated we are moving forward and that collaboration for next year is a must.  Vera discussed “Race to the Top” information received from a meeting she attended.

Review of LEA Plan Update 2009-11

Local Education Agency Plan (L.E.A.P) was discussed.  Laura handed out sheets and discussed.  Collaboration time was mentioned in the plan.  Vera noted the plan needs to be long term and ongoing.  Bill and Vera talked about the Safety Plan.  Laura also discussed the plan and graduation from high school.  Credit recovery was one of the things in the plan.  LEA Plan updated for 2009-2011 was discussed by Laura and Bill.  Bill also mentioned the plan should include money to be set aside for staff development in the summer.

Review District Parent Involvement Policy

Laura handed out the Policy that was recommended by the State and she and Bill discussed with the group.  Vera brought up Parent Connect being used in Chico.  Karen also mentioned that Gridley is using this system.

Bill said by next year that should be available in Biggs.  Bill said we need to make sure teachers are fully trained and ready to use gradebook.  Terry stated that training was a must and asked Bill if he would make it a priority for teachers. Bill stated yes he would.  Terry asked if Data Director is the same as Parent Connect.  Bill explained and stated the district is working with BCOE to get things in place.  Bill explained the Aeries Program we have in place.  Terry asked if Gradebook was only for BHS.  Bill stated that was correct.  Pam mentioned that Brigitte should be involved in Gradebook and Bill agreed.  Bill stated that parents need to be kept informed on student grades and attendance.  Laura asked for any comments about how we might help parents.  Vera stated the ELAC committee handed out dictionaries to every EL parent to help them understand what their child is doing.  Melissa mentioned that we need to develop a way to make parents feel welcome in a classroom.  Terry commented that parents must be fingerprinted before volunteering in a classroom.  Bill stated that fingerprinting is not required for one day only.  Pam said if it is for a specific project we need to get that information to parents.  Bill stated if you know a parent that wants to volunteer they would need to go through Judy Jennings first to be cleared.  Bill asked if teachers have WebPages.  Terry commented that if they have them the pages need to be updated.  Bill agreed and requested to keep them updated or take them off.  Laura suggested providing staff development for communication, emails and phone calls.  Pam suggested guidelines to implement types of communication and time levels.  Bill also discussed the implementation process.  Laura suggested having a workshop for parents.

Update on Parent Survey – EL Parent Survey

Pam mentioned needing help with redoing the parent survey.  Laura said that there is a new parent survey in the works.  Laura distributed parent survey samples and discussed.  Laura handed out ELL parent survey and discussed.  Melissa asked when the surveys will go out.  Laura said they are still in the process of finalizing.  Terry stated once you do the survey you have to make a commitment to share it good or bad.  Bill also discussed and went over procedures for surveys.  Laura suggested that an Ed Connect message should go out when surveys are sent home.  Terry asked if there was a date this was going to happen.  Laura stated there was not a date yet and mentioned we were waiting to get the Spanish version.  Melissa suggested making sure the survey was more understandable for parents.  Vera went over EL parent surveys and stated that the EL parents would get both surveys.  Melissa stated the EL parents should get both surveys.

Update on School Safety Plans/Crisis Response Procedures

Bill discussed the plan and went over site suggestions.  Bill mentioned that we were having safety meetings with Gridley Police Dept. and having drills.  Our last drill was on how to handle an intruder alert. Bill said we have had four safety meetings so far this year and we are  about 80% where we need to be and that within the next couple of months we need to be at 100%.  In the next few months the teachers will have gone through all drills.  Bill stated drills will happen once or twice a month.  Bill said we have met with Gridley to pick a location to meet.  Jerry also discussed the Safety Plan and went over what we were missing during the last drills.  Bill also discussed the drills.  Bill mentioned how old our bell system is and the need to check it often and the possibility of getting a two hour battery backup.  Bill also stated that our Website will flash in red if there is an emergency.  Jerry stressed the need to get this information out to parents and community.

ELAC/DELAC Report

Vera distributed ELAC/DELAC minutes and Parents Surveys and discussed.  Vera stated she feels it is important to have a comment section on the survey.  Terry noted that Vera’s Survey included parent involvement and the other survey just says to do this. The first survey shows that we are trying to communicate with the parents and are asking for ideas or suggestions.  Bill stated that both surveys need to be filled out and returned.  It was mentioned that the cafeteria needs to be included in the survey.  Pam suggested the cafeteria be taken off.  Jerry would like feedback on the cafeteria from parents.  Bill commented that Vera’s goals need to be met as far as when the surveys are to be completed.  Vera stated April 12 is the goal to get the survey in the mail and would like them turned back in by the following Friday.  Laura suggested giving the parents a week to fill out the survey.  Bill said we need to send out a phone call notifying parents the surveys are coming home.  Vera discussed the ELL Survey she wants to send out in March.  Terry suggested that the surveys be turned back in to the teachers.  Laura mentioned to follow up with a phone call.  Vera suggested using Ed Connect.  Vera went over Language Census and Calendar Uniform Compliant Procedure in English and Spanish.  Bill discussed both items as well.   Vera explained reclassification to fluent English Proficiencies and ADEPT “student score sheet” for K-8.  This test is done every January and June.

Meeting Adjourned at 12:00 PM