In a diversion from
typical reporting mode, thought I’d address a question heard throughout my School Committee tenure, which (paraphrased) is “How do you learn about community
opinion, education trends, individual school situations, and other information that
help inform your decisions?” In order to answer, below please find a sampling from
my March calendar. It doesn’t include Committee meetings (3/5, 3/8, and 3/22),
phone calls, e-mails, school visits (for another blog post), or independent meetings that also lend questions and data
(qualitative and/or quantitative) in order to craft opinion.
·
Collective
Bargaining Sessions with teachers (three meetings): As noted by
Superintendent Taymore, the Committee has begun negotiations, using the
Interest Based Bargaining protocol, with our teachers whose contract ends on
August 31, 2016. Hearing the challenges of elementary, middle, and high school
teachers around supporting students and families' needs in a way that respect a
professional workplace environment as well as respectful compensation within
the city’s financial ability is an important window into the day-to-day world
of teaching and learning.
·
Community
Reading Day (3/3): Sponsored by The Bridge, 96 readers reported to their
assigned schools and classrooms to experience the excitement of classroom
learning. It was my privilege to read Alexis O’Neill’s Loud Emily, the story of a little girl with a big voice who finds
out what many had deemed a handicap was in fact a gift, to an amazing 4th
grade class at Lincoln School. The engagement of children was a very special
gift on that day.
·
Joint
Committee on Education (3/7): An all day affair, Beacon Hill saw many speakers
from around the state speak to House and Senate bills on Common Core, charter schools,
mental health, summer learning, and career planning. Hearing what Joint
Committee members asked, commented on, and considered was helpful as our
Committee continues to advocate for Melrose students.
·
City Wide PTO
(3/8): Always informative, this group of representatives from each PTO brings
thoughtful and important questions to Supt. Taymore around academics,
scheduling, social emotional learning, recess, head lice, and everything in
between. There is also much sharing of fundraising efforts and how they can be
improved, brainstorming challenges like bringing more families into PTO
meetings, etc. It’s a great way to hear about the activities in individual
schools and the concerns of parents.
·
MelroseForward
(3/10): Work on the city’s 10-year revisit of the Master Plan found the group
reviewing results from its successful February forum and discussing the
“Housing and Economic Development” draft section of the plan. The ability to
put school facilities into the context of an overarching vision for the city
invites new ways of thinking about programming and family needs as education
and learning evolves.
·
Oath of Office
by newest member Jaime McAllister-Grande (3/14): City Clerk Mary Rita O’Shea
made Jaime's membership official in front of her family, friends, and many Committee members.
She arrives in the middle of budget discussions with energy, intellect, and a
desire to make a difference. Hearing a unique perspective in Committee
deliberations – as happens every time a member is sworn in – provides a
different lens through which to filter data and information.
·
School
Business Official Search Committee meetings (twice): With Director of Finance
Jay Picone leaving at the end of April, the Committee directed Supt. Taymore to
employ a search committee to explore a replacement. In any search committee, it’s
often the questions asked of us by candidates that apply most to the work for which we’re
responsible. The need to respond to “In Melrose, how do you…?” forces
articulation of our processes and sometimes invites consideration around why a
task is done a certain way, or critical thinking about an improvement
potentially unconsidered.
·
The Bridge’s
Trivia Bee (3/19): Although we once again failed to bring home the brass ring,
the S’Cool Bees gave it a good run. A relaxed and fun evening for a fantastic
cause, it always builds relationships and a sense of community and is a great
way for people to ask questions about school in a casual environment, and to
listen to what many different folks are thinking. It’s also a reminder of the
privilege it is to serve our wonderful city.
·
Family Math
Night (3/24): Wow. Kids, parents, all elementary principals, both instructional
coaches, Dr. Adams, Melrose Ed. Foundation facilitators filling every square
inch of the MVMMS cafeteria and engaging in the joy and challenge of mathematics.
The energy and laughter was an important reminder that learning should be
stimulating and purposeful in an inclusive way.
·
Board of
Aldermen (3/28): The Appropriations Committee considered and approved the
transfer of $131K (from monies that weren’t needed for the science labs project
as we were on time and under budget) to the Learning Commons project currently
underway. This money had to be used for a like project and needed to be applied
within a specific timeframe, and this was the perfect way to address a “first
alternate” project within the scope of the city’s budget. The funding will
support a state-of-the-art “maker space” (this document was sent to the Board: https://web.mail.comcast.net/service/home/~/?auth=co&loc=en_US&id=485958&part=2)
that allows students to craft objects resulting from their inquiry and
research. The city/district may even be able to fund the furniture and supplies
if contingency funding is available at the end of the project, estimated to be
by end of summer. Understanding the city side of financing school projects
greatly assists in comprehending why and how operational and capital expenses
are planned and applied at budget time.
As you can see, Committee
members have many ways to listen and learn from the Melrose community and
around the state, whether in our liaison roles, attending events, or engaging
in advocacy. It never seems like enough, and knowing more is always better than
knowing less. So thanks to the people in this city who say what they like and
what they don’t; to those who offer concerns (with bonus points if you can
suggest a solution); to those with children in the schools and for those
without children in the schools, both of whom want to live in a great city with
great schools. Please keep the comments, information, opinions, and questions
coming. It is much appreciated!
