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Northern High School
Site-Based Team

Minutes

Date: Monday, November 9, 2009
Time: 3:05-4:30 P.M.
Media Center classroom

Members Present:
Josh Bartz, Stacie Phillips, Ruth Hodge, Linda Trepanier, Terri Novaria, Brenda Marsh, Amy Meyer, Patti Werme, Joanne Walters, Bonnie VanEenenaam, Chris Armitage, Kevin Riggs, Jerry Swoboda, Matt Kamm, Jim French, Amy DiMaggio, Atul Dewan, Mike Huber, Justin Walker

Members Absent:
Kathy Mirakovits, Ben Neal, Chris Riker, Pete Schermerhorn, Tim Tallon

Relationship Builder:  Talking Chips
How does starting the new marking period impact you?

Other Business:

Item 1:  Follow up with departments on how the data analysis exercise went on November 6th.  What were the results?  Impact on SMART goals?  - Justin Walker

There was a fruitful discussion on data and Smart goals.  Departments shared their SMART goals and tools they were using in order to assess the SMART goal.  (Ex.)) Common Rubrics) There was close analysis of our SMART goals to see whether or not they were assessing the right things.  Questions that were asked about Smart Goals included: How do you assess?  Why are you assessing what you are assessing?  How does that information change your plans for student learning?

Main points of the discussion:
It was said that our formative assessments need to have an impact on instruction.  Therefore, it is important that we have a quicker turn over on those assessments so we can have a more immediate impact on student learning.

One aspect of the discussion dealt with whether or not we need to have the same grading criteria amongst one another.  For example, total points vs. weighted grades.  Is that important in order to maintain consistency across the board?  It was suggested that departments should have these discussions. 

Another discussion led to the issue of grading knowledge vs. behavior.  What does that look like?  It was said that many of our staff are uncomfortable with grading for knowledge alone.  Are there other techniques that can be utilized in changing behavior that we can implement?  Can we utilize DLR and ASSIST more?

Item 2:  Bullying Goal Brainstorm- Mike Huber
Mr. Huber discussed an online survey that will be given to our students sometime this school year.  Mr. Huber asked how we could give this Survey to students with as little disruption to the school day as possible.  Ideas were brainstormed such as, utilizing MME testing days for this, as well as grade level classes volunteering to use class time to implement the survey.  For example, 9th grade Social Studies or Science classes.  This was just a preliminary brainstorm.  No definitive decisions were made.

Item 3:  DAC Staff Representative Language- Jim French
One action item that took place was a change in the language of our SBT membership as outlined in the team charter.  The new language is outlined in red below.  This can be found in Roman numeral VI, Section C. of the charter: Membership of the Site-Based Team (SBT):

"Staff members serving on the Site-Based Team shall be the Building Chairpersons for their curricular areas or their designee.  In addition, the staff member sitting on the District Advisory Council shall also be an active member of the Site-Based Team."

Stacie Phillips made the motion to pass the new language.  It was seconded by Chris Armitage and passed unanimously.

Item 4:  Pyramid of Interventions update- Kevin Riggs
Kevin Riggs made a quick statement that the Pyramid of Interventions committee is actively working.  More updates to come as information becomes available.

Adjournment:  The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Justin Walker
Site-Based Team Chair