May 4, 2010
Hopkinton School District School Board
School Administrative Unit #66
Meeting Minutes
May 4, 2010
IN ATTENDANCE:
School Board: Chairman: David Luneau, Vice Chairman: Elizabeth Durant, Board Members: Larry Donahue (left at 7:45pm), William Jones
Administration: Superintendent: Steven Chamberlin, Business Administrator: Michelle Clark, Principals: Christopher Sousa, Hopkinton Middle High School, William Carozza, Harold Martin School, and Michael Bessette, Maple Street School, Assistant Principal: Christopher Kelley, Hopkinton Middle High School.
District Staff: Library Media Specialist Nancy Alibrandi, Reading Specialist Deidre Smith.
CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mr. Luneau called the meeting to order at 6:30pm and Nancy Alibrandi led the meeting in the Pledge of Allegiance.
SUPERINTENDENT ADDITIONS/DELETIONS TO AGENDA:
None
CORRESPONDENCE:
Letter appreciation for the donation to the Animal Rescue League in memory of Judith Geyer (Cavanaugh) was passed around.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Motion to approve the minutes of April 20, 2010 was made by Mr. Donahue, seconded by Mr. Jones, all in favor, minutes carry, not opposed.
PUBLIC COMMENT (1):
None
COMMENTS FROM THE HOPKINTON SCHOOL BOARD
None
STAFF REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS
- a. Insight into the status of curriculum in the Hopkinton School District
- i. Principal Reports
William Carozza, Principal, Harold Martin School
Mr. Carozza stated the work on the new ball field behind Harold Martin, co-sponsored by HYSA and Harold Martin, is underway. The HYSA board voted on their money toward the project. Also, the Hopkinton Woman’s Club donated $500 and the after school program donated $1,000.
Safe Routes to School will hold a celebration of their walkway opening in a couple of weeks. Mr. Carozza will inform the Board when the date is finalized.
Michael Bessette, Principal, Maple Street School
Two Maple Street students were named winners of the NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) anti-bullying art campaign, their artwork will be displayed on the NAMI website.
Maple Street school has agreed to pilot NimbleTools. The program is state sponsored and designed for use by general education and students with special needs. He stated that the program allows accommodations for students with disabilities.
Mr. Kelley stated there are about nine students in the middle school that will take the NECAP test online. At the middle/high school level, with the NimbleTool, the only piece they can do online is the multiple choice. Any open-ended constructive response still has to been written in the test answer booklet.
Christopher Sousa, Principal, Hopkinton Middle High School
Mr. Sousa stated May is a very busy month, as there is a lot of testing going on (NECAP and MAP). The eighth grade is hit hard because they are doing NECAP and MAP spread out over three weeks. The seventh grade will only be doing the MAP testing.
Mr. Sousa highlighted May 20 is the middle school concert, May 25 is the high school concert, and the prom is May 15; he invited the board members to attend the events.
Mr. Donahue stated Mr. Sousa said the eighth grade is hit hard because of both NECAP and MAP testing. MAP we do for ourselves and NECAP we do because we are required to. He stated maybe we should take a position on NECAP. What is it providing that MAP is not? Mr. Chamberlin stated NECAP is the way to meet the requirement of No Child Left Behind – MAP cannot do this. Mr. Donahue asked Mr. Chamberlin to touch base with other superintendents to find out if this makes sense. Should we be lobbying the state to say that there are other acceptable ways to do this?
Mr. Luneau commented that power standards are referred to a lot. He did not know what they were until he read the superintendent’s report.
Dr. Valerie Aubry, Director of Student Service
Mr. Luneau commented that Dr. Aubry’s report was terrific.
Steven Chamberlin, Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Chamberlin introduced Nancy Alibrandi’s and gave an overview of her role on the Curriculum Council.
Curriculum Council Presentation: Curriculum Development Process, Nancy Alibrandi, Curriculum Council Chair
Ms. Alibrandi stated the Curriculum Council is responsible for the oversight of the adopted curriculum review cycle. The curriculum review cycle outlines the process for creating and reviewing curriculum standards.
Ms. Alibrandi stated when she first started on the Curriculum Council they were working on defining the Curriculum Council’s role. They designed a form for proposing curriculum changes called a SOPPADA, and designed the process for reviewing the proposed changes. Ms. Alibrandi has been facilitating this committee for six years. In that time, there have been three superintendents and the guiding philosophy for the committee has changed slightly.
Dr. Ayers – curriculum was revised as needed
Dr. Blake – established a calendar cycle for curriculum review to aid in budgeting and planning
Steve Chamberlin – changed the focus from What should we teach? to What should students be learning? The Cycle of Revision Process now includes the creation of power standards and common assessments.
Ms. Alibrandi stated the first time through the curriculum review process they are not only revising the curriculum, they are also creating the process to be used. They have defined what is meant by the term ‘power standard’, and defined the process for “unpacking the standards.”
This year they switched over to a wiki. The wiki is easier to update; all of their minutes are on the web site, and also the proposals that have come before the committee. A SOPPADA is used to present to the committee; two have been presented to the committee this year (creative nonfiction and careers). They have also heard updates from the Writing and Math Task Forces and the Assessment committee. Proposals for summer curriculum will be passed into the principals very soon. Summer is a prime time to get curriculum work done.
Mr. Donahue asked what is the feedback mechanism to know if you have done a good job-refining curriculum.
Ms. Alibrandi stated they keep a database of projects to go back to see if a course has or has not worked. For instance, at the high school they know if students do not sign up for a course that it hasn’t worked.
Mr. Donahue asked if the curriculum council gets sufficient feedback to know if what they have done needs to be changed or not. Ms. Alibrandi stated that right now they are building this into the process.
Mr. Luneau asked how does the council check for alignment with interdisciplinary courses or parallel tracks at the high school. Ms. Alibrandi stated they have worked on getting things to line up, but so far have concentrated more on looking for gaps and redundancies within discipline areas.
Mr. Luneau stated this is a challenge in grades 9 and 10. The math track splits up in a complex manner; he has heard there were a number of students that had challenges. He hopes the committee looks at this as well.
Mr. Chamberlin stated a science teacher would look at when the math concept was introduced. They should look at the math power standards to make sure they align.
Mr. Donahue stated there is one overarching curriculum council and then task forces. He asked if there was much turnover in a given task force or consistency and longevity?
Mr. Donahue asked how widely involved is the faculty – are there a few hands carrying all the work? Mr. Chamberlin stated this is something they need to work on; he is encouraging participation.
The work of the Writing Committee: Deidre Smith, Literacy Coordinator
Ms. Smith gave an overview and a PowerPoint presentation on the Writing Committee.
Ms. Smith stated when she started looking at writing they had 25, now they have 15.
Ms. Smith stated on the NECAP testing, writing has been our lowest scores year after year, even though we were above the state average. She stated that at an early age, writing is the highest-level task.
Ms. Smith stated that in 2006 and 2007 their committee did a lot of talking. In 2008 they formulated recommendations; they need a writer’s workshop model K-8. They compromised and each teacher received a copy of the Write Source book: a guide to writing, thinking, and learning.
The committee has created power standards for writing: preschool – grade 6, writing projects for grades 1-6 based on five modes of writing: narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive, creative, and a K-2 early elementary writing rubric.
Ms. Smith stated there is a connection, if you are a good reader you can be a good writer and if you are a good writer, you can be a good reader.
Results of all the work:
Power standards for writing
Common assessments for writing
K-2 Early Elementary Writing Rubric
Exit skills taught and grammar (preschool – grade 7)
Mr. Luneau asked if teachers are applying this road map for writing skills. Ms. Smith stated she feels yes, consistently.
Ms. Smith stated teachers say they feel so much more comfortable teaching writing. We are moving teachers forward and kids in their learning.
The work of the Math Curriculum Task Force: Steven Chamberlin
Mr. Chamberlin gave an overview of the Math Curriculum Task Force. He stated this has been the “Year of Math.”
Mr. Chamberlin gave a presentation outlining the following on the steps on the “Year of Math.”
STEP 1 – Draft of Power standards
-Summer math academy – Math Curriculum Task Force
-Working Definition
-Reviewed State Frameworks
-Teacher Experience Key in Developing Power Standards
-Introduces, reinforced, mastered, practiced
STEP 2 – Vetting
-Promoting Curriculum Fidelity
-Grade Level
-Before and After
ADDITIONAL YEARS OF MATH ACTIVITIES
1. Regional Math Conference
2. Review NECAP Data
3. Develop Open List of Topics
a. Instruction
b. Investigate Math Program
c. Homework
d. Supports Remediation and Enrichment
e. Calculator Use
STEP 3 – Common Assessments
- More next month
Mr. Donahue asked if a curriculum coordinator would drive these task forces. Mr. Chamberlin stated yes, they would lead this endeavor and coordinate best practice and provide the assessment data.
Mr. Chamberlin stated that ensuring student learning is serious work; developing power standards is a critical step in ensuring student learning.
Ms. Durant asked when you start digging into the cross training of disciplines (history and English), where you have potentially overlapping competencies and knowledge that needs to be consistent, how is this overlap going to work so the information being communicated in these separate areas is consistent?
Mr. Sousa stated this is the same conversation he has had on a small scale with teachers and the superintendent. He explained the X2 components and how they can build in competency awareness in the grading software. In our grading software we will be able to see where the competencies are, once technology catches up it will help us.
ITEMS FOR SCHOOL BOARD DISCUSSION
School Board Committee Participation
Mr. Chamberlin spoke about the updated committee list. He stated for this week the critical committees are: Wellness and HESS negotiations.
Ms. Durant stated she would like to participate in the Curriculum Council and the Wellness Committee.
Board members will review the lists and email Mr. Chamberlin with their committee requests.
PUBLIC COMMENT (2)
Merle Dustin stated she could not hear well tonight and she did not understand NECAP.
MATERIALS INCLUDED
Principal Reports (3)
Director of Student Services Report
Superintendent Report
Nomination Packets (2)
School Board Committee Participation Memorandum
Hawk Eye
IMPORTANT DATES
- May 15 – PTA Fun Fair: Harold Martin School
- May 25 – All District Staff Meeting
- May 27 – Sue Pisinski Arts and Science Field Day
- May 27 – Hopkinton High School Academic Awards Night
- June 17 – School Board/Senior Class Barbecue
- June 18 – Hopkinton High School Graduation
ACTION ITEMS
12. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board approve the Superintendent’s nomination of Michelle Bohlman, Library Assistant, Harold Martin School, 2010-2011 school year.
A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
13. Recommend the Hopkinton School Board approve the Superintendent’s nomination of Carlie Wardell, Health/Physical Education Teacher (.8), Maple Street School, 2010-2011 School year.
A motion was made by Mr. Jones, seconded by Ms. Durant, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
NONPUBLIC SESSION
14. Nonpublic Session for the Discussion of Matters as Per RSA 91-A: 3, II (a)
Negotiations
At 8:06pm Mr. Jones made a motion, seconded by Ms. Durant that the Board enter into nonpublic session in accordance with RSA 91-A: 3, (a) for the discussion of negotiations. Motion passed on a roll call vote: Mr. Luneau (yes), Ms. Durant (yes), Mr. Jones (yes).
RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION
15. Adjournment
At 8:34pm a motion to adjourn was made by Ms. Durant, seconded by Mr. Jones, motion carries, all in favor, not opposed.
Respectfully submitted,
Jean Eaton
Maple Street School, Hopkinton, NH
Nonpublic Minutes
May 4, 2010
14. Nonpublic Session for the Discussion of Matters as Per RSA 91-A: 3, II (a)
Negotiations
During the nonpublic session the Board discussed negotiations.
Mr. Jones motioned to come out of nonpublic session, seconded by Ms. Durant. Motion passed on a roll call vote: Ms. Durant (yes), Mr. Luneau (yes), Mr. Jones (yes) all in favor, not opposed. The board came out of nonpublic session at 8:32pm.
RETURN TO PUBLIC SESSION
