Menlo Park Academy Governing Board
Minutes
Program Excellence Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday February 23, 2016 at 5:00 PM
Location
MPA Conference Room
OUR MISSION: Menlo Park Academy is a public school that develops the potential of gifted learners through an exemplary program of rewarding experiences that nurtures the whole child.
Committee Members Present
Beverley Veccia, Doug Thompson, Susan Zambo, Suzanne McFarland, Tammi Belko, Tom Creamer
Committee Members Absent
Teri Harrison
Guests Present
Amanda Ross
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
Suzanne McFarland called a meeting of the Program Excellence Committee of Menlo Park Academy Governing Board to order on Tuesday Feb 23, 2016 at 5:00 PM.
C.
Approve Minutes
Amanda Ross made a motion to approve minutes from the Program Excellence Committee Meeting on 01-12-16 Program Excellence Committee Meeting on 01-12-16.
Tom Creamer seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
D.
Approve Minutes
Amanda Ross made a motion to approve minutes from the Program Excellence Committee Meeting on 11-14-13 School Accountability Committee Meeting on 11-14-13.
Tom Creamer seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
Purpose of approving old minutes to clean up the archives and make sure everything is public.
E.
Approve Minutes
Purpose of approving old minutes to clean up the archives and make sure everything is public.
Amanda Ross made a motion to approve minutes from the Program Excellence Committee Meeting on 04-24-14 School Accountability Committee Meeting on 04-24-14.
Tom Creamer seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
F.
Approve Minutes
Amanda Ross made a motion to approve minutes from the Program Excellence Committee Meeting on 09-11-14 School Accountability Committee Meeting on 09-11-14.
Tom Creamer seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
G.
Approve Minutes
Amanda Ross made a motion to approve minutes from the Program Excellence Committee Meeting on 09-18-14 School Accountability Committee Meeting on 09-18-14.
Tom Creamer seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
II. Program Excellence
A.
Goals for Testing
Discussion of what the goals/needs are for testing for MPA and how we will analyze each available test to see if it meets our needs/goals.
B.
Approve Process for Test Review and Selection
Suzanne McFarland made a motion to use a common instrument for evaluation of each available test to match to MPA needs.
Amanda Ross seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
C.
Review and Comparison of Potential Acheivement Tests
Discussed and analyzed 4 achievement tests. These were IOWA Test of basic Skills, MAP Measures of Academic Progress, CIP Standard Achievement Test and ACT Aspire. Committee members reviewed tests using a common instrument prior to the meeting. After discussing the pros and cons for each test and the match between the test and our needs, the two tests selected for further review were the IOWA and MAP.
Suzanne will make arrangements to have company representatives do presentations for teachers and staff and other interested persons.
Suzanne will make arrangements to have company representatives do presentations for teachers and staff and other interested persons.
D.
Update and Discussion on Ninth Grade Survey Data
Discussed the results of the Ninth Grade Survey. A majority percentage of 8th grade parents would be interested in Ninth grade offerings at MPA.
III. Other Business
A.
Program Guide
Discussion of Program Guide edits for 2016-17. Also discussed rotating curriculum, common reading and math blocks in K-4 and the dress code - all of which will be topics for future meetings.
IV. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
Amanda Ross made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
Tammi Belko seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED unanimously to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Suzanne McFarland