School Climate Committee Meeting Minutes

 

TO:  Phil Brier, David Buzzi, Sue Chickering, Jean Dufresne, Emily Graham,         Steven Grindle, Dennis Hill, Carol Kelley, Louise Landry, Doug LaPoint, Amy Lester, Connie Lowe, Beth McKinstry, Heather O’Dell-Shipe, Janet Shadroui, Barb Strong, Alicia Tosi

FROM:  Jody Emerson

DATE:  March 20, 2006

CC:  Cindy Donlon, Jeff Maher

 

Thank you to everyone who attended the March 6th meeting, our next meeting is scheduled for

Monday, March 27th @ 7:40am in room 205!

 

Began with discussion of ISS “rumors” – the room (Beth’s current office), staff ???, Concerns?

 

PB:  At the Freshman Academy meeting last month felt there was $ available for a full time person to cover ISS – that it would not be simply a study hall, but a place to reflect…focus should be corrective, not punitive

 

BM:  If no one is hired then Donna will be stuck with the duty?

 

DL:  Well, they’re pretty good kids…(was that sarcasm???)

 

CL:  Hire Meg to come back!

 

CK:  So much $ for Freshman Academy, is there $ for ISS program?

 

AL:  Need someone with a background in working with at risk youth

 

CK/BM:  Room has poor ventilation

 

DL:  That’s why we use it

 

PB:  1 room, what do you do?

 

CK:  Suspend them on different days…Is there a bigger space…what about bathroom?

 

AT:  Used to be in S36 and everyone had to go to lunch together and bring back – did homework during that day

 

DB:  Dennis and Tom are already stretched, we don’t think it should be them overlooking

 

JE:  Homework request, etc.  Students spend day in room working.

 

CK:  Teachers could drop in and check w/ students so teachers can check in, homework should be requested the day before student is suspended.  There needs to also be some accountability and counseling.

 

BM:  Looking at 10-12 kids a day?

 

AL:  Are they setting this up to fail??

 

PB:  Line the walls with carrels facing way from each other.  Can’t get out of control and out of hand when its in the middle of everything.

 

JE:  Counseling individually or as a group?

 

BM:  C6?

 

JS:  Carrels plus a supervisor table

 

CK:  Counselor doesn’t have to be there the whole time, can spot check in

 

PB:  Presupposing students understand how it’ll work

 

DB:  Difficulty of suspending administration working with kids?  Need someone who is fully trained AND there all day.

 

CK:  Rate of suspension should drop as students realize what will result

 

AT:  Didn’t think more than 8 kids per day would work when discussed last year

 

DB:  Lots of unutilized space in Cafeteria Blocks 1, 2, 4 – Mandatory exercise during lunch?  Do we have $ or can teachers teach 2 classes and take turns?

 

JS/LL/PB:  Consistency is key, Brat camp, Community volunteer?  New Directions = ??.  Sharon B. or Ricki T would be excellent to supervise ISS, a paid supervisor is required to get commitment to this venture

 

General discussion included concerns about Inadequate Space, No Full Time person (consistency), possibility of including the Community Justice Center and making ISS an integral part of Freshman Academy, James Pontbriand should be part of the process

 

*We need current statistics on rates of suspension, repeat offenders and offences.

 

PB/BM:  Community Service?  Work crew? 

 

CK:  Lots of legal concerns, discuss with school lawyer – accountability vs. punitive.  Punitive piece could come through restorative justice.  Can do homework and counseling – choices in janitorial may lead them to get further behind

 

DL:  Expedite for individuals who continue?  ISS/OSS 2 tiered suspension.  What about kids who are here 1st two weeks every year to “tear things up”.  How do we maintain safety?  What about those repeat offenders?  How can we sort out the “hardcore bad apples”?

 

CK:  Why are they not lasting?  They may or may not be able to determine if school is the place for them

 

PB:  Out of school, unsupervised, isn’t working

 

Step for next year re: OSS, Roundtable study circles (CL:  Monday or Tuesday night), put out to community/students.

 

What’s our goal?

 

AL:  Using community beyond advisory?

 

CK:  OSS could be a mentor program, casting a wider net?

 

PB:  Need may disappear when there are less repeat offenders

 

TA concerns/thoughts/discussion

 

CL:  Can’t get to know kids while sharing room w/ another TA…compatibility issues with advisors

 

AT:  When we combined TA our kids opened up more

 

CL:  The kids like it better but I don’t feel so close to them anymore

 

BM:  Took K.Schmidt’s TA during her absence, tried to escape when was simply a study hall atmosphere, now the students like to stay and chat

 

4th block teachers…how is it different?  Better or not having TA break before block 4?

Study hall vs. Break

The parts that don’t work need to be tweaked, the hallways are better, still problem with passes

*List advisors and TA preference

 

CL:  Does this break way from original point of TA

 

DL:  Options on scheduled basis, MWF for example

 

CL:  Don’t want to lose my people

 

CK:  TA teams?

 

PB:  Change in purpose for TA dependent upon class level?

 

 

TO DO:

 

Survey TA time use wishlist

Up to date discipline data

 

NEXT MEETING:

 

ISS update/discussion continued, TA continued, D.Hill:  Attendance Concerns