ERCSD Curriculum Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

7:00 PM – SAU 16 Conference Room

 

Committee Members Present:   Patty Lovejoy, Townley Chisholm, Tomasen Carey and Barbara RigordaEva

 

Other Board Present:    Kim Casey and Sally Oxnard

 

Administration:  Arthur Hanson, Victor Sokul, Tom O’Malley, Bill Perkins and Tony Baldasaro

 

Others: Debbie Merrill, Kim Houghtaling, Wendy MacArthur-Keith, Karen Whitmore, Sue Garneau, Janet Prior, Lara Bricker – Exeter News Letter

 

John Hazekamp of Minuteman Documentation was present taping the meeting.

 

The first order of business was to elect a chair.  On a motion by Townley Chisholm, seconded by Patty Lovejoy and unanimously voted to elect Tomasen Carey as chair.

 

The following items were discussed:

 

·        NWEA – Tom O’Malley gave an overview of his conversations with
Dr. John Cronin, the Research Specialist from NWEA, who shared the following:

-         NWEA could do virtual comparison groups for 2004-2005, 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 and to run these reports would cost $.75/student.

-         NWEA ran VCG reports for the 2005-2006 school year and they did not know the district did not use “end of course” tests for the students at CMS.  They will re-run these tests for $.25/student.

-         NWEA, to report the results, believe they (NWEA) must have a representative at the presentation.

 

·        Questions as to the reason why we are requesting this VDG data and is it because of lack of growth of high achieving students, further data to evaluate flexible grouping, etc.  Individuals explained that it is one data point out of many that are used for considerations of the above.

 

After further discussion, on a motion by Townley Chisholm, seconded by Patty Lovejoy and unanimously voted to recommend to the ERCSD Board that they contract with NWEA for a cost of $6,000.00+ to have a representative come and speak to the board on November 6, 2007, which will be their regular monthly board meeting.

 

New Courses and Programming

 

Mr. Sokul discussed the pathways (teachers→ learning area leaders→ vice principals→ to EHS administrative team) for proposing new courses and program at EHS and he noted there are few new course proposals at this time.  Mr. O’Malley stated that no new programs or courses will be recommended at CMS.  After discussion, it was agreed that the new programs and courses from EHS will be presented at the December 11^th Curriculum Committee meeting.

 

Discussion of topics for future committee meetings:

 

• Digital portfolios
• Science initiatives
• Survey of CMS parents to gage their satisfaction with the school
• Survey of EHS parents for input into the school’s mission statement.

 

Tony Baldasaro discussed the Literacy Action plan for SAU 16.

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.

 

Minutes taken by:

Arthur Hanson, Superintendent