Alma del Mar

Minutes

Academic Excellence Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Thursday September 19, 2024 at 9:30 AM

Location

On Zoom (link in calendar invite, and below)

https://almadelmar-org.zoom.us/j/98003307661?pwd=YkhQV3AxZmdaZlg2RUtsZ0EyeEJMQT09

Committee Members Present

A. Teevens (remote), J. Korn (remote)

Committee Members Absent

C. Bator, C. Wood, L. Hicks, M. Kay, M. Rosario, T. DeLoach

Guests Present

jgoldrick@nativitynb.org (remote), margomoore@gmail.com (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Record Attendance

B.

Call the Meeting to Order

J. Korn called a meeting of the Academic Excellence Committee of Alma del Mar to order on Thursday Sep 19, 2024 at 9:31 AM.

C.

Approve Minutes from August 2024 Committee Meeting

A. Teevens made a motion to approve the minutes from Academic Excellence Committee Meeting on 08-23-24.
J. Korn seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.

II. Academic Excellence

A.

MCAS 2024 Results

A. Teevens provided a summary of the school's embargoed MCAS data for spring 2024. 

J. Goldrick noted the challenges of adding a cohort of students in 6th grade, and asked about subgroup data, including data by gender and by new/returning middle school students.

M. Moore asked about teacher and leader retention challenges and strategy.

C. Wood asked about exit interviews/survey and benchmark surveys in response to retention challenges. 

Committee discussed inviting Director of Talent to a future meeting to share data on teacher attrition, hiring, and talent strategy.

B.

Comparisons to Area Charters

J. Korn presented 2023 MCAS data comparisons, drawing attention to Alma's significant delta from 2019 to 2023 performance, also noting that Alma had a large enrollment increase from 2019 to 2023.

Committee will review 2024 comparison data at the next meeting.

C.

Extended School Year

A. Teevens provided a summary of Extended School Year programming.

M. Moore asked about the student experience, and J. Korn asked about surveying families for their experience. Committee will discuss ESY plans for 2025 in the spring. 

D.

Sharing committee minutes from Argosy Charter School

M. Moore shared context from a peer on Argosy Charter School's Academic Excellence committee about their collaboration with school staff. 

J. Korn asked about Alma's collaboration with peer schools. 

E.

Committee Goal Setting for AY24-25

Committee members will review draft goals to discuss at October meeting.

F.

Committee Logistics

J. Korn will follow up via email with details about committee members' meeting preferences. 

III. Closing Items

A.

Looking ahead to Board Meeting

At September board meeting, T. DeLoach will provide embargoed MCAS data overview.

B.

Adjourn Meeting

There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 10:38 AM.

Respectfully Submitted,
A. Teevens