For me, the best statement for the impact of class size on educational test results comes from Jane Hyman, the Jefferson Elementary School Principal, in the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Sep 14.
One group of students was in the 3rd grade two years ago. Only three class rooms available for this group resulted in high class size, the MCAS results showed they did not meet the AYP guidelines.
Same group, the next year with four class rooms, they did meet the AYP guidelines (which also increased from year to year).
The same group, this year is back in three class rooms. With a return to large class sizes and the fear is that the AYP will not be met.
Franklin, MA
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
School Committee - 09/14/10
The collection of posts from the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Sep 14th can be found here:
Franklin, MA
- Live reporting - Closing
- Live reporting - Action items
- Live reporting - Discussion only items
- Live reporting - Foreign Language Update
- Live reporting - Elementary principals
- Live reporting - AYP Update
- Live reporting: School Committee
Franklin, MA
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Live reporting - Closing
5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
a. Enrollment Update
b. Personnel
as mentioned earlier, all positioned filled with exception of special ed at the Parmenter School
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports - none
School Committee Liaison Reports - none
6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
Cafasso - away at an offsite and will miss the Sep 28th meeting
7. Adjourn
Franklin, MA
Superintendent’s Report
a. Enrollment Update
Davis Thayer - only elementary school with an increase, most data showing moving from town, i.e. relocations
middle schools also lost students
high school did gain, some were returns from private school, others were incoming moves from other area
b. Personnel
as mentioned earlier, all positioned filled with exception of special ed at the Parmenter School
Rachel's challenge - Oct 27th at Annie Sullivan from Sheriff Belloti's office
current students at the high school have no recollection of Columbine
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports - none
School Committee Liaison Reports - none
6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
Cafasso - away at an offsite and will miss the Sep 28th meeting
Trahan - Casino Night coming up in Nov
Glynn - also will miss the Sep 28th meeting
Run for Bob - Oct 2nd at the former Putnam facilities off Washington/Grove Sts
7. Adjourn
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Action items
4. Action Items
a. I recommend approval of the Elementary School’s School Improvement Plans as detailed. motion to accept, passed 7-0
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $252.00 from Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign for In-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $252.00 from Wells Fargo Matching Gifts Foundation for in-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
d. I recommend acceptance of two checks, $50.00 from Sylvia Ficco and $500.00 from Georgia D’Errico from the Class of 1960 for the FHS Scholarship account. motion to accept, passed 7-0
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Martha Akers from the Class of 1960 for in-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $91.43 from Follett Educational Services for supplies for Jefferson Elementary School. motion to accept, passed 7-0
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $27.74 from Olympia Sports for in-house enrichment for the FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
Franklin, MA
a. I recommend approval of the Elementary School’s School Improvement Plans as detailed. motion to accept, passed 7-0
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $252.00 from Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign for In-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $252.00 from Wells Fargo Matching Gifts Foundation for in-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
d. I recommend acceptance of two checks, $50.00 from Sylvia Ficco and $500.00 from Georgia D’Errico from the Class of 1960 for the FHS Scholarship account. motion to accept, passed 7-0
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Martha Akers from the Class of 1960 for in-house enrichment at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $91.43 from Follett Educational Services for supplies for Jefferson Elementary School. motion to accept, passed 7-0
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $27.74 from Olympia Sports for in-house enrichment for the FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Discussion only items
3. Discussion Only Items
Update on Opening of School
It was eye opening to hear the parental/community feedback to the police on opening day, they were not nice and kids were in the car, the police were doing all they could do
Mr Nutting has been helpful in addressing the construction on Wachusett St in particular
Administration getting lessons in making bus passes, person out on an emergency personal leave
Transportation Update
(numbers to be added later)
bus counts underway, there is a wait list, once the numbers have been finalized, we can try to use the wait list
Superintendent Evaluation Process
propose to have Mullen meet with Sabolinski to go over the goals, etc.
that data then would come back to us for review and discussion
Franklin, MA
Update on Opening of School
It was eye opening to hear the parental/community feedback to the police on opening day, they were not nice and kids were in the car, the police were doing all they could do
Mr Nutting has been helpful in addressing the construction on Wachusett St in particular
Administration getting lessons in making bus passes, person out on an emergency personal leave
Transportation Update
(numbers to be added later)
bus counts underway, there is a wait list, once the numbers have been finalized, we can try to use the wait list
Superintendent Evaluation Process
propose to have Mullen meet with Sabolinski to go over the goals, etc.
that data then would come back to us for review and discussion
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Foreign Language Update
2. Guests/Presentations
c. Foreign Language Update – Michele Kingsland-Smith, Kristy Yankee (Director of Foreign Languages)
The full report being presented and discussed is here:
ForeignLanguage_Report2SchCom_20100914
2010-2011 first year not running a language program in the middle schools
primarily due to the unfunded mandate from the State on the bullying requirements
developed the health program to include the bullying initiatives
switched the 3.8 teachers in the middle school from language to health
Issue with the cutting of Latin due to the trouble finding qualified teachers
9 Latin teachers came and went
At the High School
AP French is back after two years without being offered
AP scores have been stable, hovering around 3
last year, the Spanish scores improved to 3.75
French and Spanish saw updated curriculum at the high school
Developed a scope and sequence for the middle school Spanish program during August
Participated in the presentation from Rosetta Stone
ranging from $100/student to approx. $50,000 for the district as a whole
survey underway to assess desire for a Latin Club possibly to use this program
34 high performing districts were identified across MA
data was updated to include the Hockomock league school districts
From the report:
According to the 2010 DESE data:
None of the 41* districts currently offer an elementary program.
22 districts eliminated their middle school program since 2008; Decrease of 35.3%.
Spanish and French are still the predominant languages offered at the middle level (9 of 12 districts). Latin is offered in 6 of 12 middle schools. Chinese is offered in 1 district.
The number of middle school programs offering two or more language studies was decreased by 30.7%, from 26 districts in 2008 to 8 districts in 2010.
90.2% of the districts offer French, Spanish and Latin at the high school level (37 districts); Increase of 13.8%.
The number of districts offering four or more language studies at the high school remains stable: 16 districts (39%) vs. 13 districts (38.2%) in 2008.
The average 2010 FTE per predominant language:
o Chinese - 0.86 FTE, 11 districts
o French - 1.98 FTE, 35 districts
o Spanish - 4.06 FTE, 40 districts
o Latin -1.22 FTE, 24 district
Cafasso - one of the best, most comprehensive report I have seen in my years here, thanks for the effort that went into this. To be able to go back and read this to see what had been happening. If foreign language were an MCAS subject, then perhaps we wouldn't be seeing this.
Sabolinski - we do firmly believe in foreign language, if there is an influx of cash we would restore these program to the elementary and middle schools
Trahan - great job, it will be good for the community to read and review
Mullen - Did I read that level 2 could be offered at Freshman
Sabolinski - it could be, the Charter School is one of our feeder schools with strong French students
Kingsland-Smith - we have had issues with personnel so if we can get the right folks we can do what we would like
Rohrbach - unfortunately our reductions are on pare with what other communities are doing across the state
Cafasso - what are the requirements for elementary, middle and high school?
Kingsland-Smith - content degree in the Classics as well as subject certification in each language
Sabolinksi - We do that, BU is one where we go directly on campus. We go to PC, they have a classic program. BC, Brown.
You can know the subject matter but if you don't know how to reach out to the students, they that doesn't help
HM - 59, AS - 17, Remington - 26
the numbers will change depend upon the day chosen, could it be scheduled at each middle school on different days? to offer the students an option, clearly dependent upon the parent or other transportation provided.
Sabolinski - DESE on a conference call confirmed that there is a trend in finding less qualified foreign language teachers
Franklin, MA
c. Foreign Language Update – Michele Kingsland-Smith, Kristy Yankee (Director of Foreign Languages)
The full report being presented and discussed is here:
ForeignLanguage_Report2SchCom_20100914
2010-2011 first year not running a language program in the middle schools
primarily due to the unfunded mandate from the State on the bullying requirements
developed the health program to include the bullying initiatives
switched the 3.8 teachers in the middle school from language to health
Issue with the cutting of Latin due to the trouble finding qualified teachers
9 Latin teachers came and went
At the High School
AP French is back after two years without being offered
AP scores have been stable, hovering around 3
last year, the Spanish scores improved to 3.75
French and Spanish saw updated curriculum at the high school
Developed a scope and sequence for the middle school Spanish program during August
Participated in the presentation from Rosetta Stone
ranging from $100/student to approx. $50,000 for the district as a whole
survey underway to assess desire for a Latin Club possibly to use this program
34 high performing districts were identified across MA
data was updated to include the Hockomock league school districts
From the report:
According to the 2010 DESE data:
None of the 41* districts currently offer an elementary program.
22 districts eliminated their middle school program since 2008; Decrease of 35.3%.
Spanish and French are still the predominant languages offered at the middle level (9 of 12 districts). Latin is offered in 6 of 12 middle schools. Chinese is offered in 1 district.
The number of middle school programs offering two or more language studies was decreased by 30.7%, from 26 districts in 2008 to 8 districts in 2010.
90.2% of the districts offer French, Spanish and Latin at the high school level (37 districts); Increase of 13.8%.
The number of districts offering four or more language studies at the high school remains stable: 16 districts (39%) vs. 13 districts (38.2%) in 2008.
The average 2010 FTE per predominant language:
o Chinese - 0.86 FTE, 11 districts
o French - 1.98 FTE, 35 districts
o Spanish - 4.06 FTE, 40 districts
o Latin -1.22 FTE, 24 district
Cafasso - one of the best, most comprehensive report I have seen in my years here, thanks for the effort that went into this. To be able to go back and read this to see what had been happening. If foreign language were an MCAS subject, then perhaps we wouldn't be seeing this.
Sabolinski - we do firmly believe in foreign language, if there is an influx of cash we would restore these program to the elementary and middle schools
Trahan - great job, it will be good for the community to read and review
Mullen - Did I read that level 2 could be offered at Freshman
Sabolinski - it could be, the Charter School is one of our feeder schools with strong French students
Kingsland-Smith - we have had issues with personnel so if we can get the right folks we can do what we would like
Rohrbach - unfortunately our reductions are on pare with what other communities are doing across the state
Cafasso - what are the requirements for elementary, middle and high school?
Kingsland-Smith - content degree in the Classics as well as subject certification in each language
Sabolinksi - We do that, BU is one where we go directly on campus. We go to PC, they have a classic program. BC, Brown.
You can know the subject matter but if you don't know how to reach out to the students, they that doesn't help
HM - 59, AS - 17, Remington - 26
the numbers will change depend upon the day chosen, could it be scheduled at each middle school on different days? to offer the students an option, clearly dependent upon the parent or other transportation provided.
Sabolinski - DESE on a conference call confirmed that there is a trend in finding less qualified foreign language teachers
Franklin, MA
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