Other than a toddler, all present at this meeting were either school employees or board members. The following are the highlights of the meeting from my point of view:
1) Board Member Comments - A couple board members expressed excitement over equipment being installed by an educational technology company called onPoint.
2) Superintendent’s Report - Keith Tomes shared information about graduation ceremonies, summer projects (especially onPoint installation), and a PLC conference which several staff members attended.
3) Joseph Wolfe - More information about PLCs (Professional Learning Communities) as well as information about current student performance, providing a bit of a “before PLCs baseline” for the board. Wolfe discussed the PLC program’s focus on collaboration and assessment and explained how teachers will use data from assessment to work together to develop more effective teaching strategies. The addition of a PLC period will increase the number of periods for high school students from six to seven per day (except on the minimum day, which will remain on Wednesday). Periods will be shortened to keep the length of the school day about the same as during previous years.
4) Trona Teachers Association - The president of the local teachers’ union provided information about work being done during the summer by teachers in preparation for the 2016-2017 school year, the eagerness of teachers to be able to work with improved audio/visual/computer equipment and software, and of the need to improve communications between the teaching staff and the school board. A suggestion made was that board members be provided with email accounts which could be used to facilitate communication between them and the teaching staff.
5) Public Comments - The Cheer Coach briefed the board on fundraising activities and various events that cheerleaders were participating in during the summer months.
6) Compensation increase of 2% on-base and 11% off-schedule for certificated and classified management employees for the upcoming school year was approved.
7) Board Policy 9250 - Remuneration, Reimbursement and Othe Benefits - Revision of this policy was tabled for further discussion. The key question seemed to have to do with board member health benefits.
NEXT REGULAR MEETING: July 14, 2016