 |  |
M.L. Program Committee
Minutes from meeting of 9/19/2005
Connecticut Association of SchoolsMiddle Level Program
September 19, 2005
Minutes
In attendance were: Marie Castle-Good, Paul Cavaliere, Jr., Carol Janssen, Scot Nicol, Jeffrey Schumann and Earle Bidwell
1. Chairman Nicol greeted the committee and made introduction. It is worthy of note that the entire committee was in attendance.
2. Brief History and Charge to Committee: Scott and Earle Bidwell outlined the recent history of the committee that has evolved into the committee with the sole purpose of putting on the CAS mid-winter conference for middle level and high school administrators and teachers.
3. Conference Options: there was considerable discussion about directions the conference should take this year in light of Commissioner Sternberg’s initiative to unveil legislation to support the identification of the quintessential Connecticut high school. There has been some concern about CAS’s ability to do a winter conference and support the initiative. Among the options discussed were partnering with the High School Division as we have done the past two years, planning a Middle Level Conference, exploring other partnerships or pursuing alternative initiatives. Timing was also a concern.
4. It was concluded that we should move forward with a joint conference preferably in late January, that it be held at the new Connecticut Convention Center and that we pursue a keynoter with name recognition like Mark Scharenbrioch. Furthermore, the keynote should be followed by large group breakout sessions run by Scharenbrioch and a middle level expert. A second breakout should be followed by lunch with a luncheon speaker and a 2:00 p.m. dismissal. Some speakers under consideration are Erin Gruwell, Thomas Guskey, Rick Wormelli and Don Perras. The first order of business will be to contact the high school committee, ask for their support and secure the convention center for an appropriate date. Earle Bidwell was directed to contact Dr. Carrithers ASAP to move the process forward.
5. A roundtable on critical issues revealed a concern about what to do with additional time preceding CMTs, now that testing cannot begin before 9:00 a.m. For some schools that amounts to 1 ½ hours. Several suggestions ranging from holding class, serving breakfast to an advisory meeting were advanced.
6. A related concern with the new testing schedule is the potential conflict in dates with the leadership conference in March. It is hoped that most testing will be done before the March 13th conference.
7. Next Meeting will be on October 17, 2005 at Manchester Country Club at 4:00 preceding the Hartford Area Administrator’s Dinner hosted by CAS.
