SIP Team September Meeting

The RHS School Improvement Plan Team (SIP) met for our annual monthly meeting on Monday, September 8. As agreed to by the members of the team, we wanted to share the details of our meetings so that everyone feels informed as we move through the process of developing a new school improvement plan. Please feel free to review the minutes of the meeting and to provide any comments or ask any questions that you believe will be helpful to our cause. If you are not already a member of one of the committees, you still may join or provide your thoughts to a committee member or chair. We want all voices to be heard. The agenda from this meeting and or the SIP Team Handbook can be made available upon request. The minutes from the meeting are as follows (thanks Jill Laubenstein!):

SIP Meeting Minutes
Monday September 8, 2008

In attendance were Jenette Gonzales, Jen Buteyn, Jason Rush, Michelle Kumor, Michelle Felde, Sam Lewis, Jim Smith, Jill Laubenstein.

I. The meeting was called to order at 3:15 and seconded.

II. Roll call was made and all were in attendance.

III. The minutes from The SIP Meeting of May 2008 were stated to be what was presented on the first day of school.

IV. Celebrations
-Several students have already read 8 Abe books
-Jen stated that a Ridgewood student won an award through the Eisenhower Library for a polish composition and won a trip to Poland.
-Buteyn beat is well received and the suggestion was made to survey the staff to see who would like it electronically.
-Sports scores are being posted in lightening speed
-Rob’s discipline reports can be found on line
-Sam was happy that the contractors for the PA system have finished

V. Committee Reports

a. RTI committee – A question for the SIP team about who should be looking into the scantron assessment tool. It was determined that RTI would look into it with consult from the tech committee. A discussion followed as to what the scantron test is and what it is best used for. It is a tool for differentiating linked to the standards. It was also stated that it is a true CBM. Jen explained how they used it at Lockport and said that most of the high school work has been done by Nequau Valley. Michelle stated that to start consensus building among the staff CFG’s would be reading a paper about RTI on Wednesday.

b. Reading & Literacy – They are working on an action plan for supplemental reading and writing programs. Kumor added that Union Ridge was training in read naturally and we could go to some of their professional development if we want. Jen added that she would as Giles and Leigh schools what they are doing when she meets with them.

c. Discipline & School Safety – They discussed ways to reduce tardies, including more teachers in the hallways and the bell needs to be louder. They also discussed positive interventions. SIP members brought up PBIS which is a data analysis tool to move through the tiers where you can pick your won interventions (work with RTI on this).

d. Community Relations & Communication – members are looking over part of a symposium on community involvement and coming with ideas for meeting next week. We will present at the October faculty meeting on how to fill out a form for approaching and interacting with local businesses. Jen has resources we should look at.

e. PDC – Meetings are coming and has immediate planning needs. Oct 1 meeting RTI, Tech, and Community involvement asked for time. The rest of the time will be working on assisting in completing the SIP plan. The October 24th meeting will be wellness in the am a grilled out pick nick lunch and some sort of team building activity in the pm. Jen voiced concerns that the faculty wanted to have input but only 3 people signed up for the committee.

f. Technology Committee – large group 11 members, but still need parents, staff and students. Jopa needs tech prep people to help her spend the money from DVR. Does the faculty still need PDC on how to use the tables fully? Sam suggested a needs assessment survey that is online. He wants to develop a schedule and assign roles for his committee. The tech plan expires in 2009 and we need a new one or we do not get funds, so this is a priority. The ISC has put together a good support system for writing it. How do we use tech. to meet goals? Baseline testing? Needs in general? How do we support RTI? Who should go to and when should we hold apple training.

VI. meeting dates were changed as follows
a. Dec 8 changed to Dec 1
b. Jan 12 changed to Jan 14
c. Feb 9 changed to Feb 10
d. April 13 changed to April 6

VII. Proposed belief statements.

a. Communication – All members of RHS community will communicate effectively by actively participating, sharing new ideas and soliciting input form others

b. Student Achievement – Analyze data relevant to student achievement in order to further individual instruction.

c. Collaboration – We believe the collaboration is essential to professional learning communities to completing the SIP.

d. Professionalism – we believe that the SIP Team model best practice to increase the professionalism among the staff.

VIII. Page 10 SIP Book committees need to discuss statements 8 and below and provide the information to the SIP committee. Information from a needs assessment can be included in a school report card.

IX. Objectives is a blank page because committees need to come up with their objectives remembering that they need to support literacy and numeracy.

X. New Business – Committees please do a needs assessment. SIP wants to be more proactive not reactive, which is supported by the culture survey done earlier this year.

XI. Announcements – see agenda for September 8th meeting.

XII. Adjournment called at 5:00 and seconded.