Edison School of the Arts
Minutes
Academic Excellence Committee Meeting
Date and Time
Tuesday April 16, 2019 at 4:30 PM
Edison School of the Arts Mission is to continue to be an educational and artful resource for all students, parents, community, and staff members by consistent and focused professional development, invitational practices by all, utilizing quarterly and annual reviews. We will continue to develop our educational and arts aesthetic by expanding our arts experiences, exposure, and partnerships
Edison School of the Arts Vision is to provide an environment that promotes high academic and creative achievement through implementation of visual and performing arts course programming. We encourage students to become responsible citizens who are culturally diverse. We develop lifelong learners, appreciators, and consumers of the arts.
Edison School of the Arts Vision is to provide an environment that promotes high academic and creative achievement through implementation of visual and performing arts course programming. We encourage students to become responsible citizens who are culturally diverse. We develop lifelong learners, appreciators, and consumers of the arts.
Committee Members Present
A. Berns, H. Leck
Committee Members Absent
E. Disney-Britton
Guests Present
C. Jones, K. Marshall
I. Opening Items
A.
Record Attendance and Guests
B.
Call the Meeting to Order
H. Leck called a meeting of the Academic Excellence Committee of Edison School of the Arts to order on Tuesday Apr 16, 2019 at 4:37 PM.
C.
Adoption of the Agenda
H. Leck made a motion to accept the agenda.
A. Berns seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
D.
Approve Minutes
H. Leck made a motion to approve minutes from the Academic Excellence Committee Meeting on 03-19-19 Academic Excellence Committee Meeting on 03-19-19.
A. Berns seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
II. Academic Excellence
A.
Discussion of Upcoming Testing and Professional Development
Upcoming Testing
- ILEARN
- Students have been pretesting all school year to prepare for the test.
- ILEARN testing will begin on April 22nd.
- There is a 4 week testing window.
- Kennedy Center Artist in Residence
- Kimberli Boyd has been facilitating arts integration professional development to Edison staff this spring semester.
- A. Berns discussed the March professional development session that was led by Kimberli Boyd. Boyd led movement based instruction to integrate a science and dance lesson plan.
B.
Update on Attendance and Suspensions
A. Berns discussed the attendance data.
Attendance
Attendance
- Starting the week of April 15th, the counselors began calling the parents of each student that was not present in school.
- The counselors will use parent communication to collect information on what is preventing students from attending school. They will then work with the school social worker to create student incentives that will encourage student attendance.
- Two full time counselors and one social worker have bee overseeing the parent communication.
- H. Leck posed the question on how students are scheduled to meet with the counselors.
- A. Berns informed Henry Leck that student who have behavioral, safety and/or health concerns are scheduled to meet with counselors during the school day.
- The school psychologist, special education teachers and counselors meet weekly to schedule students' Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions.
- Teachers collect data based on interventions and report information to the ITEAM.
- H. Leck posed the question of what factors influenced the fluctuation in suspensions.
- K. Marshall discussed field trips, staff attendance ( absence of lead teacher and substitute teacher within classroom), cold/flu season are factors that may influence changes in student behavior within the classroom.
- A. Berns discussed restorative practices that are being used within the classroom to encourage positive student to teacher and student to student relations.
- The Second Step curriculum that teaches social and emotional learning is implemented by the counselors.
C.
Discussion of Potential New Members to Committee
Academic Committee Recruitment
- H. Leck and K. Marshall discussed that the current committee membership is filled with effective members.
- The committee will continue to invite other people to join.
D.
Staffing Update
A. Berns discussed the staffing update.
- The leadership team has met with the current staff to discuss their intent to remain at Edison during the 2019-2020 school year.
- Teaching positions have been posted on the job databases and Edison has received applicants for review.
- The Principal and Executive Director have begun interviewing candidates for the open 2019-2020 teaching positions and Special Education Assistant position.
E.
Update on Accomplishments
Edison will discuss this topic during the next committee meeting.
III. Academic School Year Schedule
A.
Staffing/Interviews
A. Berns discussed the current staffing and interviews.
Staffing
Staffing
- A. Berns discussed that she has met with teachers to discuss their intent to teach at Edison during the 2019-2020 school year.
- A few teachers and staff members have stated that they may transition to a different position. They will inform the Principal of their decision so that Edison can plan accordingly for replacements.
- Edison has interviewed potential candidates for current open teaching positions.
- K. Marshall discussed using RELAY network for teacher recruitment.
- A. Berns discussed the two year commitment of the program.
- Teacher for Tomorrow
- The leadership team has been attending job fairs to meet teacher candidates.
IV. New Business
A.
Areas of New Business
Edison will discuss this topic during the next committee meeting.
V. Closing Items
A.
Adjourn Meeting
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 5:35 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
H. Leck