Team 8H Meeting Minutes

Wednesday, December 11, 2002

Ø Kelly explained the new role of the Learning Resource Center. The focus is on meeting the needs of the classroom teacher. On the early release day in January, she will conduct an affinity to receive staff input on the new role. Pam complimented Kelly’s work in the Learning Resource Center.

Ø Jeff asked the team what its needs were. Pam said she appreciated grading release time.

Ø Jeff mentioned that Wilson and Washington probably weren’t going to nominate students for the alternative school and that he was proposing to Chuck that they accept 8^th graders. On a related note, Jeff said that the Dirksen/Wilson/Broadmoor PTA may focus its efforts on the identification of attendance & at-risk students in the lower grades.

Ø Pam brought up the ten percent absence rate and its effects. Jeff said he’s correlating attendance with at-risk percentages and its relationship to social promotion. Tim asked about solutions to the attendance problem. Jeff said the key is to connect with parents in the early grades and to work with parents to gain leverage against students.

Ø Jeff began a discussion of the responsibility-based discipline system advocated by Paul Baker. Julie Maras’ goal is to implement strategies from the system through avenues such as transitions and classroom instruction. Jeff asked teachers to begin thinking about their role in “civilizing” students.

Ø The team expressed that the Island of the Blue Dolphin unit is going well. Writing continues to be an area that needs further attention.

Ø Jeff complimented the team on its work so far this year.