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Middle Level Board of Control
Minutes from meeting of 1/23/2007
Connecticut Association of SchoolsMiddle Level Boards
January 23, 2007
Minutes
In attendance were: Fred Balsamo, Paul Cavaliere, Jeffrey Cryan, Richard Dellinger, Susan Dumas, Carla Kennedy, Norma Posocco, Mike Savage, Joe Scheideler, Preston Shaw and Earle Bidwell
1. CEAE Resignation: Norma Posocco reported that Tom Dzicek has resigned from the board. Tom has retired from the Coventry Public Schools and has begun a new career as a consultant for Renzulli Associates in gifted education. Carla Kennedy from Nathan Hale Middle School in Coventry was welcomed as Tom’s replacement.
2. Middle Level Athletics: Fred Balsamo from CAAD gave a presentation regarding the advantages for middle schools to be represented in that organization. Among the benefits he outlined were:
• Professional Development including ongoing leadership training courses and sports law courses relating to liability.
• Bulletins and newsletters
• Two meetings a year
• A two day conference for ADs
• Certification as a trainer of trainers
• Support for new ADs
The committee was informed that there were several services already available to CAS member middle schools relative to online scheduling interscholastic contests and practices, as well as directions to game sites. These services are separate from CAAD services.
Mr. Balsamo requested the board’s support in encouraging middle schools to join CAAD by:
• Identifying the middle level person with responsibility for sports be an athletic director, assistant principal, athletic coordinator etc. and adding that name and contact information to the CAS website.
• Including CAAD dues ($20-$30) as an option on the CAS middle level invoice.
The board agreed to make this an action item for the next meeting. They also expressed interest in making middle level athletics a discussion item for a future meeting.
3. CAS Board of Directors Goals: Joe Scheideler led a review of the CAS Board of Director’s goals. Earle Bidwell reported on progress to date for each of the goals and invited the middle level boards to support appropriate goals with action plans. The group will be proactive in trying to get non-member middle schools to join. Earle will provide a list of non-member schools and board members will make personal contacts with their principals. The board will also be sure to renew their national memberships thru CAS.
A discussion regarding inviting or requiring board members to submit articles to IMPACT or the CAS Bulletin resulted in a resolution to encourage all recognized middle level leaders to contribute their considerable expertise to the field by being published in the aforementioned publications. It was noted that two principals, Sue Dumas and Paul Osypuk were published in the last CAS Bulletin.
4. NMSA Student Artwork Program: Joe Scheideler distributed a request from NMSA headquarters looking for middle level student artwork to add to the permanent collection at their offices. Board members were invited to submit artwork for consideration. The deadline for notifying Earle Bidwell is January 30th with a delivery date of February 28th.
5. Reports
a. Middle Level Symposium II: Tabled to next meeting
b. Breaking Ranks in the Middle: Earle Bidwell outlined a CAS-NELMS initiative to offer BRIM Basic Training Plus at regional and school district sites. The enhanced programs would provide extra services beyond the basic training.
c. Student Leadership Conference: Joe Scheideler reported that a record 55 schools with over 400 students participated in the leadership conference. A preliminary look at the evaluations revealed a high level of satisfaction. A suggestion was made that the committee consider a culminating activity that would promote a school action plan in next year’s conference.
d. Professional Studies Committee: Richard Dellinger reported on the progress the committee is making on developing a rubric for the eleven areas of BRIM that relate to curriculum, instruction and assessment. It is hoped that the new area for certification will be ready by the end of the school year.
6. Roundtable: Tabled to next meeting.
7. Assistant Executive Director’s Report: Earle Bidwell
a. Members were encouraged to submit applications for school of the year and teacher of the year.
b. Earle Bidwell shared a response he wrote in answer to two New York Times articles critical of middle level education. He was encouraged by the committee to submit his article as an op-ed piece to the Times.
8. Adjournment 5:50 p.m.
9. Next Meeting: February 27, 2007
