School Climate Committee Meeting Minutes

 

TO:  Phil Briere, David Buzzi, Sue Chickering, Jamie Coleman, Jean Dufresne, Emily Graham, Steven Grindle, Dennis Hill, Carol Kelley, Louise Landry, Doug LaPoint,

Amy Lester, Connie Lowe, Beth McKinstry, Mary Reardon, Heather O’Dell-Shipe,

Janet Shadroui, Barb Strong, Alicia Tosi

FROM:  Jody Emerson

DATE:  May 1, 2005

CC:  Cindy Donlon, Jeff Maher

 

Discussion of TA to formulate a recommendation for the scheduling committee of what we think TA should look like.

 

Recommendations need to be related to:

Ä     Amount of time – anywhere from 10-30 minutes

Ä     Placement – same, before 1st, between 1st & 2nd

Ä     Availability of counselors and administrators

 

TS:  Freshman Academy – below 70 = guided study, possible upper class mentors in Freshman TA for CSL credit (tutoring)

 

SC:  If we shorten TA, build in another study period

 

AL:  Tech Center parameters – most tech programs need students to continue their programs during that time

 

JE:  Statement of VT requirement in minutes for tech programs

 

DB:  Kids blowing out of lunch & TA – lots of time when they’re MIA or/and wandering/floating seniors.

 

TS:  Push for earlier in the day

 

JE:  Skipping/tardy to 1st thing TA?

 

SC:  Was that really a problem?

 

CD:  Senior privileges could be discussed.  Daily attendance record relates to attendance.

 

SC:  Take attendance at the end of TA

 

CD:  Buy time in the morning for buses in tech by placing TA then

 

  • Agreed to place TA after band/chorus, before block 1

 

DL:  Enforcement to TA?

LL:  Attendance will drive them

 

CD:  We need to recover 2 minutes each passing time back to 7 minutes

 

JC:  5 minutes more than enough, after 4 years students won’t remember having 7 minutes

 

DB:  Move to vote on passing time length

 

Vote on passing time:

5 mins = 8

7 mins = 3

Obs. = 3

 

  • Agreed to maintain 5 minute passing time between blocks

 

Multiple person discussion:

 

With implementation of 60/90 minute classes when Freshman Academy begins there can be built in study times.

 

Possible lengths of TA:

 

10        12        15                                20        25        30

Extra help not possible              Study hall use of TA possible

 

No passes out = no hallway concerns.

 

15 minutes could involve everyone, if short, not an issue

 

X-block back to study time

 

TS:  Academy ½ hour study/help built in

 

DL:  Like the idea of 15 minutes but, essentially teens are social

 

SC:  Time between end school & sports

 

CL:  Be very clear sports start @ 3:15, even if school ends at 2:30

 

DL:  Are they going to do homework in 20 minutes?

 

JC:  Students don’t use TA

 

  • Committee is confident that kids can get the additional help they need in the after school x-block and recommend a 15 minute TA for next year