In the months of June,
July, and August, the Committee convened four times: 6/9, 6/23, 7/28, and 8/18.
A broad variety of topics were reviewed and discussed, and here are the
highlights (from my perspective, as always!):
June 9
·
Lincoln School
was nominated as a National Blue Ribbon School as a result of 2 years as a
commended school for closing the achievement gap.
·
Class of 2015 senior
awards/scholarships, and college applications/ acceptances/attendance choices were
provided.
·
A Fine and
Performing Arts presentation was provided by Director Deb DiFruschia and
included highlights of 2015 and plans for 2016.
·
Action items
for Committee goals were discussed and approved.
June 23rd
·
The Start Time
Task Force presented their findings and next steps.
·
The Director
of Foreign Languages, Dr. Kim Talbot, and her team are at the half-way mark in
their review of the department (called a “Mid-Cycle Review”), and they spoke to
their findings to date.
·
Asst. Supt.
Dr. Margaret Adams and the Social Studies team, led by Director Bryan Corrigan,
presented their Final Program Review.
·
The Strategy
Overview – one of the district’s most important guiding documents - was updated
and presented.
July 28th
·
The pre-meeting
included a review of each school’s 2016 School Improvement Plan, crafted by
respective School Councils, and can be found on each school’s web site.
·
The Foundation
Budget Review Commission, enacted by the state to review the formula used to
determine how much each school district receives yearly, produced their initial
report dated June 30th.
·
A high school
Wellness teaching position was changed from part-time (.8) to full-time and
another .4 Wellness teacher was added. A Science teacher was changed from
part-time (.8) to full-time. Funds from school choice tuitions were used to pay
for the changes.
August 18th
·
Supt. Taymore
announced that the technology bond for the schools will come before the
Aldermen in Sept.
·
Dr. Adams and
members of the staff presented a review of assessments including how they are
used, etc.
·
The 2016
Elementary Handbook was reviewed and approved.
·
Melrose City
Planner Denise Gaffey provided a progress update on the MHS Learning Commons
Project, indicating that abatement continues and will be completed prior to the
opening of school.
·
The Committee
performed its annual evaluation of the Superintendent. Chairman Thorp will
draft a summary of the evaluation for consideration by the Committee at the
next meeting.
Don’t forget that you can
access all agendas and minutes at http://melrosecityma.iqm2.com/Citizens/calendar.aspx
and you can watch at http://www.mmtv3.org/index.php?categoryid=28.
The next meeting will be
held on September 8th. The first part of the meeting will begin at
6:00 and include a panel discussion and questions about “School Committee Roles
and Relationship with District Administration.” The regular business meeting
will begin at 7:00.
Hope everyone is having an
excellent start to the 2016 school year!!
