Watershed Community Council
March 1, 2006
Present: David Woolley (interim chair), Endel Kallas(interim
scribe), Barbara Clarity, Paul Thompson, Scott Cole (administrator:by
phone), Anne Crampton (faculty), Victoria Woolley, Leslie Kallas, Michelle
VanRyn (Culture Committee)
1. Verse
2. Approval of last meetings minutes
Last meeting's minutes were reviewed and approved noting
correction of Earth Day planning meeting, Monday, March 6, 2006 from 3:30 not
3:45pm
3. Introductions
4. Agenda Review & Additions
David Woolley proposed that the main focus of this meeting
would be the review of accomplishments and plans and leadership. (Items 6 and 7
below)
5. Administrator Update – Scott Cole
In a brief phone call with Scott, it was reported that the second
fund-raising letter generated a few contributions, but the number and size are
below expectations and school needs.
6. Faculty Update – Anne Crampton (English Teacher and member of the
Pedagogy Committee)
Anne reported that a review of fall testing results (NWEA) is
underway over the next couple of weeks. The analysis will be used by the
Pedagogy Committee for curriculum development. These tests were designed to
measure each student's specific strengths and weaknesses in reading, writing,
and mathematics. The tests measured knowledge and abilities but did not address
learning styles. Students will meet with teachers to review test
findings. Several parents expressed a strong desire that parents also be
advised of their students’ results as well as general results. There was also a
discussion of the tests potential usage to support a grant application for
gifted and talented students. The possibility of their being valuable in this
manner was not clear.
Anne also fielded questions on next year’s enrollment and the status of
faculty "Letters of Intent." She reported that there is a general
sense was that things are fine with respect to next year’s enrollment. A
general discussion about faculty turnover included comments about turnover as a
measure of institutional health. It was suggested that since we were such a new
charter school, there is not yet a significant enough backlog of data to
identify any trends. Anne outlined the faculty led hiring process. Several
parents expressed an interest in supporting the hiring process and being
apprised of developments. It was agreed that and update on general faculty
status would be requested at the next meeting.
There was a lively discussion on grading practices, the meaning of
pass/fail grades (e.g. what is a "P-"), and
possible grading inconsistencies and insufficiencies, particularity with
respect to brief, "weakness oriented” narratives without the support of
traditional grades for those students interested in college admission. The
concern was expressed that if the school continues with P/F then detailed
remarks are necessary for students, families and other institutions, in order
to understand fully the achievements of students.
7. Committee Updates
Communications Committee- The communication committee update was
interspersed between faculty update items and focused on two topics:
A. SIPS/Centerpoint - A WHS working group will meet with support
representatives of Pearson Centerpoint on Monday, March 6 to review data
back-up and recovery issues, develop a better understanding of roles and
relationships, and identify opportunities for functional enhancements and
improvements in applications deployment
B. Class Syllabi. - The committee has undertaken a discussion about
class syllabuses\syllabi from teacher, student, and parent perspectives. Some
nine syllabi in use for current term courses are part of the consideration.
The discussion about syllabi and Centerpoint included the following:
Culture Committee -
Michelle VanRyn reported on the ongoing discussion amongst students with respect to their role and involvement in the community. While they are still reviewing the role of a faculty advisor (a parent advisor has been identified), students are still debating their need for independence. Eventually, a student representative for the community council and other community entities is envisioned.
5. Board Update – (None)
6. Community Council - Review of accomplishments & plans
David Woolley initiated a review of key accomplishment, planning, action item documents pertinent to current council undertakings, objectives, and immediate directions. The value of strong follow-up and accountability practice for the council was noted. Discussion was initiated with consideration for the ongoing need to progress the parent handbook. Questions were raised as to who was responsible for updates. A particular need to keep the school directory portion up to date was underscored.
A wide ranging discussion ensued with an eventual focus on the immediate general value of connecting willing and interested individuals with known needs and ongoing activities. The practices used to coordinate volunteers for the Medieval Feast (e.g., web sign-up), the use of Centerpoint and/or the web site as a coordination tool, the need for a volunteer coordinator, and the status of the current volunteer list were earmarked for further consideration and investigation. The need to consider the confidentiality of volunteer information (especially phone numbers and other contact info were noted.
Action items included:
7. Community Council - Leadership
After a brief discussion about leadership strengths and weaknesses, community endorsement, and the pros and cons of being a 9th grade parent assuming a leadership role, Endel Kallas volunteered to take on a co-chair role in the next meeting. With Endel assuming responsibility for pre-meeting administration, David Woolley volunteered to continue his facilitator role as the other co-chair.
8. Miscellaneous and Non-Agenda Items
- Barbara Clarity asked if anyone recalls seeing the report of how faculty preferred to be contacted. Nobody recalled seeing this.
The next Community Council meeting will be Wednesday, April 5th.
Respectfully submitted, Endel Kallas, Interim Community Council Scribe