 |  |
M.L. Professional Studies Committee
Minutes from meeting of 1/20/2005
Connecticut Association of SchoolsMiddle Level Professional Studies Committee
Minutes
January 20, 2005
In attendance were: Ann Cox, Sandra Inga, John Lineen, Penny McCormack, Tom Scarice, David Telesca, Ralph White and Earle Bidwell
1.0 Feedback on “Teaming”: CAS has received accolades from the president of the Vermont Association of Middle Schools for the “Teaming Self Assessment.” In researching the topic for a PhD dissertation, he found the CAS document superior to anything that he has come across elsewhere in the country.
2.0 “IMPACT” Progress report from committee members
2.1 To date the following articles have been written or promised.
2.1.1 “Close Encounters of an Old Kind” Leslie Perfect Ricklin and Suzanne Perfect-Miller
2.1.2 “Middle School Student’s Perceptions, Attitudes and Knowledge of School Violence” Sandy Wolff
2.1.3 Behavior Support, Sandra Inga and Catherine Carbone
2.1.4 School Climate, Paul Osypuk
2.1.5 Shared Decision Making, David Telesca and Tom Scarice
2.1.6 Climate Program, Penny McCormack
2.2 At least two additional articles are needed to publish the spring issue
3.0 “CAS Bulletin”
3.1 Committee members brainstormed hot topics and issues in Connecticut middle schools. Among those discussed were:
3.1.1 Bullying, the law and parental understanding and expectations
3.1.2 Curricular and instructional consistency across teams; equal access to superior teaching
3.1.3 Using data to inform instruction; creative conversations
3.1.4 Strategies for reaching unsuccessful students who defy conventional and creative best efforts
3.1.5 Increased inclusion of students formerly self contained; CMTs and standards for SPED and English language learners.
3.2 The second part of the discussion was focused on strategies and advice committee members could share with colleagues on these topics
3.3 Committee members were then urged to share on these topics with short editorials that could appear in the pages of the CAS BULLETIN.
4.0 Exemplary Practice “Climate.” The committee approved the corrections to the “Safe Environment,” “Welcoming Students and Visitors” and “Stakeholder Involvement” sections of the document. The “Parents and Community” section was completed as new work.
5.0 Assistant Executive Director’s Report. Earle Bidwell reported on plans for the winter conference on January 28th, the Student Leadership Conference in March and “Arts in the Middle” in May. Conference registrations are now being done on-line as a service to our member schools. Relative to an earlier conversation regarding bullying, Earle spoke about the merits of the “Respect Me” workshops presented in conjunction with “Operation Respect” at the CAS Conference Center. There are two additional opportunities this year. Check the website www.casciac.org for details.
6.0 Next Meeting : February 17, 2005 at Lincoln Middle School in Meriden Directions will be sent with the reminder.
