Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Live reporting: School Committee - Jan 22, 2019

Present: Feeley, Linden, Douglas, Scofield, Bergen, Schultz
Absent:  Zub


1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
no changes

b. Citizen’s Comments
i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH
c. FHS Student Representative Comments
2nd quarter ends this week
DECA competition
Mock Trial 
dance and banquet season end of March
girls hockey undefeated; girls basketball one loss

d. Superintendent’s Report
acknowledge this was a difficult storm to work with and clean up after
snow, freeze, and clean up after the freeze
emergency busing implemented again
thanks for patience during the school day, arrivals, departures, etc.

Franklin Cultural District awarded as the 46th in the State
eligible for grants, etc.
Schools are a partner and excited for the possibilities


MLK - Project 351 ambassadors convened this weekend
Amy Alston (8th grader) representing Franklin


superintendents association conf this weekend; Ahern and Edwards participating
(additional detailed to be shared when available from the Superintendent)

2. Guests / Presentations
a. FHS Program of Study
Paul Peri, Clements Vice-Principal

Program of studies overview an annual exercise
celebrate the work of Clements and Edwards who have done the 'heavy lifting'

Peri: looking to add 
an AP level 3D sculpture course
Marketing II, looking to add to the DECA realm
film score course 
Roman technology - an elective in World Languages

Clements:
always looking at course leveling, Honors, AP, and pre-requisites for the course
looking for consistency, room for improvement for a school for this size
21st century learning expectations cited this year; overlap with 'portrait of a graduate' work

Peri: an out growth of the NEASC visit 2 years ago

Clements: looking to increase elective opportunities for underclassman rather than waiting for Jr/Sr years; impact on students with different learning styles

Q - how do HS get the SEL aspects of learning
A - grade specific topics as well as with school adjustment councilors, advisory program, 
work that happens during class meetings, work that is done with the staff is also embedded within the curriculum

It used to be SEL or I teach? No longer, they are interwoven today

Clements:
entire English language section has been redesigned, captures what is being done now more accurately; IDD introduction to Development Disabilities - renamed to Intro to Special Ed

Honors section of human anatomy
getting more students into the physio lab, previously underutilized as a new thing in the new building

social studies electives

earth science has re-appeared; was marine science this year; some students did sign up for the US Marine training not realizing the real topic

Q - where do you see the Arts Academy and what would you add to it as another academy?
A - Arts academy started with a small number and now serves 140, examining success and looking to see where it can go. A potential STEM pathway to appeal to this niche of students with some specialized training and courses modeled to this area of passion. Want to be careful to go academy approach and not include the inter-disciplinary approaches

What is my degree/major study area? bringing this philosophy to the high school students

Q - Any budget increase associated with the new offerings?
A - generally no, it would be covered by a re-alignment of the existing teachers and better meeting the needs of the students

Q - where is civics aligned?
A - a new curriculum coming, more widespread than a one year course; world one shifting to HS; world one will cover democracy beginnings with Greece and Rome; also Street law which is highly demanded; AP courses bring in independent candidates; supplemented with after school activities; Mock trial, etc.

Q - courses through health and wellness, a work in progress?
A - health needs more time, period - it is a conversation on how it can fit, and expand. Haven't increased the time over the past several years and need to look at that

It really comes down to the staff, building relationships, etc. They are doing it daily


No comments:

Post a Comment