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Learning Improvement Team Minutes

October 4, 2006

            Operating Principle:  The committee will operate on a consensus basis, with

            each voice being heard.  Minutes from January 17, 1995:  ÒIt was discussed and

             agreed that a significant majority of votes of team  members present would be

            required when consensus was not reached.  Significant majority means a ratio

            of 2:1 (example 6 positive votes to 3 negative votes).  Without a significant

            majority, the proposal will be considered ÒtabledÓ until brought up at a later

            date.

Team Members Present: John Waldren, Josie Bryan, Tauni Hink, Sandra Lancaster, Nancy Mowat, Rhonda Noah, Jan Bullock for Allyson Rasmussen, Jenelle Wilhelm, Bill Brewer, Christy Campbell, Margaret Maloy, Laura Gaukroger, Lynne Fuller, Tanya Bofto

Recorder:  Chad Morgan

I-728

Budget allocation: $14,363.00 remaining: $2,106.49

Éfor professional development for educators, including additional paid time for curriculum and lesson redesign and alignment and training to ensure that instruction is aligned with state standards and student needs for extended learning opportunities for students, class size reductions, and facility improvements or additions to support class size reductions and extended learning opportunities.

CLASS MIX

Budget Allocation: $10,800.00           remaining: $2,826.24

...for instructional assistance time, instructional materials, staff development training, or other creative solutions to assist in providing services to remedy class student mix problems.

Medicaid Match

Budget allocation:  $ 4,950.00 remaining: $ 0.00       

É When determining the uses for ÒMedicaid MatchÓ dollars, the following should be considered:

Funds may be made available for any medical or academic related needs students have that parents or guardians are unable to provide.

Funds may be made available for meeting academic needs of students.  Those monies could provide para-pro services, bus/transportation needs, and after school tutoring for students.

Funds may be made available for meeting academic needs outside FMS programs.  That may include summer school tuition or academic packets made available to parents for the summer.

Funds may be used to help students with nonacademic needs that involve school related needs such as instruments and or clothing, payment of ASB card, etc.

 

 

AGENDA ITEM

Code of Cooperation

Review LIT Code of Cooperation & FMS LIT Communication Plan/Decision-Making Process

Discussion – Review of Code

 

Review of LIT Communication Plan/Decision –making Process

Review of process

Discussion – Suggestion to develop a poster of this process to post in the staffroom.

Additions –     meetings open to all interested

                        minutes to be completed within 3 days

Review of LIT Representatives

 

Discussion – review list of representatives

The list will be e-mailed to all staff

 

LIT Budget for 2006/07 School Year

Purpose:  To review fund requests for possible approval.

Guiding Questions:  Are the requests aligned to the building plan, staff plan, and 9 Characteristics priority?  Do we have adequate funds to approve these requests at this time?

Discussion – Review of budget and scholarships to date.

I-728 Proposals

1.  Core 8 – Core 8 teachers would need to grade two writing assessments, the stateÕs CBA – Constitutional Issues Persuasive Paper and the final expository – ÒWho Am I As An American.Ó  The teachers would like two days to grade each of these and work collaboratively for this grading.

                        5 teachers x 2 days x $100.80 = $1008.00

Discussion – Review of proposal

                        Question:  District funds for grading these papers?  Not at this time.

Approved

2.  Eleven Staff Members (Drafted by Jenelle Wilhelm) – Time to observe other teachers at FMS to facilitate the sharing of successful instructional practices.  Two teachers would share a full day substitute to observe others for a half day.

                        15 Full Substitute Days x $100.80 = $1512.00

Discussion – Review of proposal

Adjust proposal to:  10 full substitute days x $100.80 = $1008.00

Last day of use will be March 29.

Approved

Administration Match Scholarships

Fund to provide scholarships to students who need planners, PE uniforms, yearbooks, supplies, ASB fees, or camp fees.

                        $2000 – for the 2006/07 school years

Discussion – Review of proposal

Proposal to dedicate the rest of Admin. Match dollars for scholarships

Approved

 

Building Learning Communities

Purpose:  To conduct a building-wide activity for 7th and 8th graders that improves the respect that students have for other students who are different that they are.

Guiding Questions:  What is the activity?  Who is involved?  How does the plan align with the 9 Characteristic focus for this school year? What is the funding source?  

Discussion – Review of the proposal and goals by Jan Bullock, school councilor.

This will be a PTSA funded activity

Discussion about planned monthly follow-up activities and the importance of stressing the ÒwhyÓ we are doing this day.

Mr. Waldren shared the desire of the PTSA to help facilitate this shared venture. 

Proposed to split the costs 50/50

Approved to pursue the proposal

Approved to split the cost 50/50 with the PTSA – Admin. Match = $1,350.00

Representatives will get the message to constituents this week.

Posting Grades To the Web

Purpose:  To evaluate the status of grades being posted on the Web as per the building plan.

Guiding Questions: is each teacher posting grades every second and fourth Monday of the month?

Discussion – Core 7, Core 8, and Core 6 all made the deadline.

Parent feedback is very positive with this endeavor 

This process has been shared with parents at open house, in the parent newsletter, and will be stressed at parent/teacher conferences.

Spanish Report Card Comments

Purpose:  To develop Spanish comments on report cards for 1st quarter grades.

Guiding Questions:  Are the Spanish comments ready for use for our first grading period this year?

Discussion – All 99 report card comments have been translated into Spanish and will be accessible by the first grading period.

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Purpose:  To develop the conference schedule for this year.

Guiding Questions:  Does the current schedule meet the contract requirements? Is the schedule adequate for parents who want to attend conferences?

Discussion – Review of the 2005/06 schedule

Proposed to use the same schedule for this year

Approved

Powerful Learning and Teaching Training

Purpose:  To receive an update on the FMS team attending the training.

Guiding Questions:  Who is attending the training? Is it still possible for any other team members to attend the training?

Discussion – Representatives from each group except 6th grade core and math accounted for at this time

LIT Oversight of School Improvement

Purpose:  To establish the responsibilities for coordinating school improvement initiatives.

Guiding Questions:  What are the responsibilities of the LIT in coordinating school improvement efforts at FMS?

Discussion – Review of 7th grade Haggis Data

Question:  Should we use these grade level composites to gauge our progress as a LIT?

Proposal to use the data compiled for the Cabinet reviews as the LIT feedback on our building goals.

Challenge – what kind of information do we need to make decisions on our building plans?

9 Characteristics Plan

Purpose:  To develop the 9 Characteristics plan for this school year.

Guiding Questions:  Who should be involved in the development of the plan?  How will the plan be developed?

Discussion – Mr. Waldren, Ms. Bullock, Mr. Morgan, and Mrs. Lancaster will draft this plan. 

Adjourned at 5:00

Next Meeting November 1, 2006