Attending: Suzan
Locke, Jeff O’Hara, Jim Goldsmith, Aimee Frost, Lisa Ayer, Tanya Jones, Kim
Gordon, Kate Dodge, Stacy Riley, Rachel Kring
Welcome & Intros
7th/8th
Grade Staffing Discussion (handout) - Jeff
·
Jeff explained the three forms of teacher licensure
to illustrate what considerations came into play when deciding staffing for
next year
·
Principals considered who should go where, based
on teachers’ licensure and endorsement/s, and all teachers are placed in
positions they are qualified to teach
·
Teacher assignment is up to the administrators,
and they consider many factors and scenarios: e.g., how teams work together,
who has what licensure, individual strengths of teachers
·
Jeff gave the group some context for how
staffing decisions progress throughout the school year:
o
Staff can let the Board know about retirement in
November
o
Teacher contracts are made in the middle of
March
o
Beginning of April the administration starts to
look at the roster in depth
·
Questions from parents about the decision making
process for the 7th and 8th grade teams:
o
How long ago did some educators last teach the
content they will be focusing on next year?
§
With proficiency based learning (PBL), many
content areas are integrated, so administrators feel confident that though some
teachers may not have exclusively taught certain content they are still very
qualified, based on licensure and their integration of many content areas
through PBL
o
Whyare there only two teachers for the 8th
grade vs. three teachers for the 7th grade?
§
For the past four years there has been one team
of teachers for both grades, and part of what informed theswitch was that the
teachers and felt it would benefit the students to split up grades 7 and 8
§
From a parent perspective, it was nice to have 7th
and 8th grade mixed so the
kids could learn from each other and have some variety, since many of the kids
are together since kindergarten
o
At this impressionable age it would also be
great to have a male teacher as a role model in the 8th grade. Was
that a consideration?
§
While administrators agree that the concept is a
good one, it is hard to do in practice:
·
HCS cannot discriminate in hiring
·
Statistically, out of 94 applicants for the
first and fifth grade positions, only 5 were male
·
The most important factor for the administration
is that HCS hires the most qualified applicants
§
Parents would love for the administration to
continue to explore other ways to bring that male/female teacher balance, maybe
with other existing staff members
o
Had the administration considered splitting a
teacher between the grades?
§
School had done that in the past, but it didn’t
seem there was great cohesion using this model
Principal Update
(handout)
·
The principals are excited to announce new
teacher hires for next year:
o
first grade, Lauren Mear; Fifth grade, Emily
Fisher; Seventh grade science, Greer Krembs
·
Who do upper grade parents ask if there are questions
or comments about child’s placement, since they don’t fill out the placement
forms?
§
Please contact principals with any questions or
concerns
Staff Appreciation
o
Talked last PiEmeeting about consolidating
activities and doing one big event in mid-May
o
Aimee talked with the Hinesburgh Public House
and they are open to hosting an event
o
PiE is considering increasing the budget for
this, but there are a few considerations:
o
Need to get a head count
o
PiEwouldprovide appetizers and do cash bar
o
Talked about doing a Tuesday after 4:00; could
also do a Friday and ask the Public House to open early
o
Offer Public House event and also something else
at school for those who can’t make it – breakfast?
o
Aimee is reaching out to parents who said they
were interested in planning teacher appreciation; anyone else interested in
helping is welcome!
Parent Learning &
Education
o
A lot of good feedback from parents who attended
the CVU learning night about digital media safety
o
The approach advocated by the presenter is good
to start early – e.g., discussing family values
o
HCS is considering a follow up event – timing
will likely be 2017/18 school year
o
The CVU presentation didn’t address concerns
specific to HCS, but administrators are having those conversations with staff
and kids
o
A few parents expressed that they would like to
be part of that conversation that’s happening at school and learn more about
what’s being recommended to students
o
When to have conversation – sooner the better
o
Kids are on devices very early
o
May be a very different conversation with a k-2
student vs an older student
o
PiE will put this topic on the calendar for a
fall parent learning night
o
Parent suggested maybe there someone on the HCS
staff who could facilitate a video screening/conversation with parents at HCS
o
Catherine Goldsmith and Sarita Baker are
interested in helping to plan an event
o
Aimee reached out to Christine Lloyd-Newberry to
see what other schools are doing
o
A topic talked about at the consolidated school
board recently: stress for kids from traumatic events
o
How to make kids feel safe and have needs met so
they can learn
o
Teachers take time to build relationships before
the academic learning starts
o
Consider for next year:
o
Would there be a way to involve parents and
community members in what teachers are learning about helping kids through
major stress at home?
o
It was discussed that HCS staff would benefit
from this presentation; maybe hold after Tuesday teacher learning
Fundraising Update
o
Champ coming to HCS Friday 4/21
o
VT Comedy Divas fundraiser is coming up May 19
at Cedar Knoll
o
Decided to charge $20 per ticket, and people can
buy tickets ahead of time
o
Have tons of great raffle prizes – golf, nails,
photographer, hotel stay, gift certificates, and more!
o
Parent suggested there could be a putting
contest
o
Need volunteers to make some calls for the
raffle – please contact Tanya at tanyaandcj@gmavt.net
o
Talk it up and help sell some tickets!
o
Fifth grade crankie is being performed now: https://www.facebook.com/Hinesburg-Community-School-125786304154731/
– PiE supported this project with a grant
Garden Plans-
Suzan
o
Put a call for help in the Viking, and
volunteers are looking for parents to contribute plants this year, as we’re
doing things on a smaller scale (not starting seeds)
o
Please help spread the word!
o
Sent a garden survey to the staff to see how it
fits with curriculum and how they would like to help
o
Imagine would like to keep up the beds in the
summer
o
Amanda Wheeler and Amanda Pacelli have stepped
up to lead the effort – thank you both!
o
Parent suggested garden coordinators could reach
out to Red Wagon to see if they would post a “wish list” for people to donate
plants to the HCS garden
End of Year
Activities
o
In the past we’ve done an end of year picnic
o
Could make it a volunteer appreciation event –
both PiE and school wide
o
Will talk more next month
o
Retirees – Jim to lead effort: talk with
retirees to see which book they would like to be dedicated to the library in
their name
2017/18 Planning
Meeting in May
o
To plan for next year May 30 at 5:30 – in
Burlington, location TBD
2017/18 PiE Steering
Committee Commitments
o
Rachel stepping down from secretary role
o
Contact PiE co-chairs or Rachel if you would
like to learn more about the role
o
All are asked to think about PiE commitments for
the upcoming school year
Other Business
o
Green Up Day – Hinesburg Town Conservation
Commission is looking to partner with the school
o
Stacy going to sponsor a prize for classroom
participation
o
Stay tuned for details about a video contest
o
School Board transition to consolidated SU board
o
Current HCS board is responsible for the current
budget
o
New SU board has been meeting to be in place for
July 1, 2017
o
Audit happens after June, so current HCS board
will be involved until December 31
§
After that, some HCS board members may like to
stay involved in the school by coming to PiE meetings
§
Some HCS board members could also be asked to
serve on committees of the consolidated board
o
Now that we’re a unified school district,
families can apply to attend a different school in the supervisory union –
application due by April 30
§
Doesn’t necessarily mean child will be accepted
– based on enrollment numbers
Upcoming Events
·
April 17-May 19 – Lake Monsters ticket sales for
“Hinesburg Night at the Ballpark” in July 2nd
·
May – Staff Appreciation
·
May 18 – May PiE Meeting
·
May 19 – Vermont Comedy Divas fundraiser at
Cedar Knoll. Details to come.
·
May 30 – 2017/18 Planning Meeting w/ PiE and
principals
·
June 16 – Last day of school
