Oswego Community Unit School District 308 met October 17.
Here is the minutes as provided by the committee:
I. Meeting called to order at 5:38 p.m. by Board of Education Member and
Committee Co-Chair Heather Moyer
Members in Attendance: Heather Moyer – Board Member & Co-Chair, Dr. Lisa Smith
– Associate Superintendent for Educational Services, Laura Bankowski, Candace Fikis
(entered at 5:41), Tina Gonzalez, Toia Jones, Linda Long (left meeting at 6:42), Dr.
Patti Marcinko, Dr. Debra McDougle, Beth Meier, Yanhong Ochs
Guests in Attendance: Shannon Lueders, Director of Junior High Education; Jamie
Max, Director of High School Education; Melissa McDowell, Director of Elementary
Education
Members Absent: Jared Ploger – Board Member & Co-Chair, Kelly Hastings, Eulalia
Valdez
Recording Secretary: Cindi Krachtus
II. Motion was made to approve the September 19, 2017 meeting minutes by Heather
Moyer; seconded by Toia Jones; all were in favor.
Clarification regarding “placed” and “promoted” into the next level was
asked
o Director of Junior High Education explained the difference and
indicated that it is not currently a practice in the district
III. Social Promotion – Jamie Max, Shannon Lueders and Melissa McDowell
Follow-up from the September 19, 2017 meeting for clarification purposes: the
position that existed 8-10 years ago in the district was that of a Behavioral
Specialist/Interventionist
Ms. McDowell, discussed with the committee The Pyramid of Support packet
(attached) and indicated that tonight this committee would be focusing on the
academic side of the MTSS triangle and the various tiers of supports that are
available.
Classroom supports are provided on a daily basis in Tier I, documented by
teachers and communicated at conferences (elementary); students advocate
for themselves (secondary)
Tiers II and III, a MTSS team would document through a MTSS form and a
success plan is formed which can be monitored
Interventions
EC/Elementary – interventions listed by the various Tiers and the
interventions, especially for ELA, target a specific skill
Intervention resources are provided to every building
Some Tier III interventions are replacement program options
Tier II – Wilson (at Junior High level) available after January;
currently offered in one building
Constantly looking for resources for bilingual
Junior High
ELA and Math Foundation is core curriculum
Direct I is SpEd class, but is core curriculum
Not much change between foundational level and Tier I
Tier II Intervention would be in addition to their regular course
There are exit and entrance monitoring through STAR, so the
student doesn’t necessarily stay in these interventions all year
Intervention study hall – no curriculum, teachers focus on
executive function/organization of the student
Teachers don’t necessarily know what the students are
struggling with when they are assigned to the study hall
Perhaps document through the notes section in MTSS
what the student is receiving supports for in order to
better receive support in the study hall
Tier III – Replacement curriculum
The interventions would take the place of the two electives
offered
Literacy interventions are looked at for the social studies and
science students who are struggling; math is also looked at for
the science students struggling as well
Tier II and Tier III students are constantly being progress monitored to
see how they are progressing (2-3 weeks)
MTSS is for both levels – for low-achieving students as well as for highachieving
students who need more supports and enrichment
Question/Comments:
What role does AVID play in MTSS?
Elementary is more grade/schoolwide
Each JH is working toward schoolwide AVID
System of support to move students in the middle to help them access
honor courses, organize
Brief discussion of overview of AVID was held
Future meeting: AVID
Elementary level question:
Spanish speakers/dual language – A student is struggling and
needs English assistance, does the students get assistance in
English or Spanish?
This is being looked at with the Director of EL and she
has indicated that we would provide intervention in
Spanish and as they move up to where they are
speaking more 50/50, their supports could then come in
English (or Spanish)
High School:
Interventions offered are similar to the junior high
Guided study halls/Freshman Seminars opposite of lunch (very
short period – 20 mins.)
Not enough staff coverage
Questions/Comments:
What/where are the gaps?
Interventions are constantly being looked at and looked for
More staff would be required to provide smaller intervention/study
groups
High School Math –
Last year OE used guided studies and freed up a couple of math
teachers during 4th, 5th, 6th. Student grades were reviewed and
teachers made recommendations for the Algebra 1 (and some
geometry) students to go to a required Math Tutoring focus time during
guided study time/lunch and work with Alpha Beta Math students, NHS
students. It was “strongly recommended” that the students attend this
for four weeks and then their grades were re-evaluated. Results from
this program proved to be successful. OE was not able to run this
program again this year due to scheduling and staffing; however, OH
was able to work it into their schedule.
MTSS Interventionist
Will be discussed at next meeting
Academic Requirements
Will be discussed at next meeting
Policy 6:280 Grading and Promotion
Will be discussed at next meeting
IV. Standards Based Grading – Melissa McDowell
Article on Standards-Based Grading was handed out and referenced on why
school districts are starting to or have already shifted to this method of grading
2017 Traditional Report Card was handed out. The committee was asked the
following questions with regard to it:
What would you learn about your child if this was his/her report card?
How or what would you do to support him/her at home?
2017 Standards Based Report Card that is currently being used at SD308 was
handed out; however, it was indicated that it is a pdf file only and has to be
printed and mailed home in a report card envelope
The committee agreed that this report card was much easier and
comprehensive to read
It was explained that the “E” indicator represents that the standard is to
be mastered by the end of the year
If standard is not being worked on in that semester, it is blacked out
Ms. McDowell gave a presentation on Standards Based Grading (see attached
presentation)
Purpose of grading and reporting: In SD308 our primary purpose for
grading and reporting is to communicate growth towards proficiency of
targeted learning standards.
Homework for Grades, Zeroes, Redoes/Retakes, Extra Credit,
Attendance, Participation, Behavior – these can all be reflected on the
report card, but should not be reflected in the student’s overall grade
when using standards based grading
Discussion currently being held regarding whether to send home report
cards on a Trimester or Quarterly basis
Option 1 and Option 2 of Mastery Connect Standard Based Grading
Summary Report Cards were handed out (attached)
Both could be sent out electronically via email unless it is
requested that a hard copy be sent home.
Option 2 appears to be more overwhelming to interpret/read,
especially if one was not to access the Mastery Connect portal
to view the assessments and the levels of mastery while viewing
the report
Behavior /learning characteristics will be built in. Instead of it being a
“standard”, it will be a “skill” and would default to mastery. If a student’s
behavior/learning characteristics would need to be changed or worked
on, the teacher would check that skill.
Text boxes can be added for an area for teachers to add “Teacher
Comments” onto the report cards
Phase-in timeline: K-5 of Standards Based Grading
V. Curriculum Review Cycle
A draft of an updated version of the Curriculum Review Cycle that was
discussed at the September 19, 2017 Teaching and Learning Advisory
Committee meeting was handed out
Dr. Smith explained to the committee that changes to the formatting of
the document had taken place since the last meeting to indicate to the
board that certain curriculum reviews have been stopped
Questions/Comments:
Question was asked regarding school fees and why there isn’t enough money
for new curriculum when fees are being paid for a public school
Lab fees are charged for certain classes that stand alone from
registration fees
It was suggested that in May, when students sign up for classes, to
keep a tally of what classes and fees will be charged and send a
communication indicating: In “x” month, you will be billed for “x” fees.
VI. Public Comment (3 minutes each) - none
VII. The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 by Heather Moyer; seconded by Dr. Marcinko;
all were in favor.
Next Meeting: November 14, 2017
https://www.sd308.org/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=9955&dataid=44129&FileName=Teaching%20and%20Learning%20Committee%20Minutes%2010.17.17.pdf
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