Hopewell Middle School

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LOCAL SCHOOL ADVISORY
Text Box: Minutes of MS Hopewell MS Local School Council February 6, 2008 Amended Members present: Bill Thompson, Erin Bolling, Steve Colitz, Laura Commandy, Tina D’Aversa, Janice Etscovitz, Michelle Olsen, and Julie Pinckney. 1. Call to Order: Bill Thompson called the meeting to order at 5:05 pm. 2. Approval of Agenda: The agenda was approved as presented. 3. Approval of Minutes: The minutes were approved as presented. 4. Old Business: Math Day: Everyone deemed Hopewell’s Math Day on January 23rd a success. Many parents visited their child’s math class and were able to work with their child to solve the math problems as presented by the teachers. Math Curriculum: The present ninth graders are in the old math track, next year’s ninth graders will be in Math Course 1. The math curriculum was a major topic of discussion at the January Cluster LSAC meeting. Principals in our cluster are behind the new math curriculum 100%. Parent concerns are: Where does this fit into math in the nation? How will students who move from Fulton to other states adapt and how do new students from out of state adapt to this curriculum? What role will this new curriculum play in college acceptances? Prior to this new curriculum, advanced math elementary students were placed in an advanced math course at middle school. There is a discussion presently at the county level as to how these students will receive math instruction in middle school to continue an advanced math curriculum. Additionally, the strong English/Language Arts component is a roadblock for our struggling students. The CRCT Level 1 students will receive assistance. The Check Points program will determine whether all students are on track. An Audit is in process of the math curriculum. A representative from the audit team discussed preliminary findings, and there is a discussion about sponsoring a dual math track at the high school level. New Business Enrollment Projections – According to county data, we will have an increase of 46 students for the 2008-09 school year – manageable growth and we will stay inside the building without portables. Currently we have 12 interdisciplinary teachers at the sixth and seventh grade level and 11 at eighth grade. With this increase, we plan to add one teacher at the eighth grade level. Assistant Principal Interviews – eight applicants were interviewed, the top two will come back for a second interview. The board should name a new assistant principal by next Tuesday and he/she should be in place by the end of February. The PTA will host a meet and greet with the new AP in March. Toolkit Assessment – the National Middle School Association completed the assessment last fall – the staff participated in an assessment covering all aspects of our school. Two consultants interviewed every staff group in the building, visited classrooms, and had discussions with a diverse group of students. The consultants’ report shows we have a very strong middle school program. To develop our strategic plan this year and in the future we are using the final report. The Complete report is available for loan. From the report, we chose the key dimensions on where we would like to concentrate. They are: Peer Conflict, Bullying, Student Work Display/Presentation, Student Led Conferences, Service Learning, and a Formal Group Advisory Program. There is a possibility that next year we will have a Peer Conflict Resolution Connections Class and the school will establish a formal advisory program. Additional Items – A nominating committee has been selected, as we will need two new PTA presidents next year. The International Night was a huge success. A Lunch ‘n’ Learn will be held February 29, the topic is Character Education. The next Early Release Day February 27– the teachers will be involved in a combination of cluster meetings between our elementary feeder schools and the high school as well as several school level meetings. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 6:04 pm. Our next meeting will be March 5, 2008.