Thursday, May 19, 2011

Six pronged communication plan: report of the superintendent

Superintendent Boone: garner input to a variety of stakeholder groups for the FY12 budget, which will be online the Friday of Memorial Day weekend

"one of the most exciting things I've done as superintendent"
  • Superintendent's Student Advisory Committee
  • CPPAC
  • teachers (through senior leadership team)
  • principals (who met with the superintendent directly), some with their staff
  • partners (at Ecotarium)
  • Worcester Education Collaborative (business roundtable) I think I'm confused there...those last two seem the same...
high quality teaching and learning, effective class size, 21st century technology, were common amongst the groups
Students: help around reading, a different math preparation program,  question about why they have study halls, arts, athletics, foreign languages, vocational/technical, introduction of foreign languages EARLY (the superintendent here cites the Chandler Magnet innovation program), "zero bell" programs (outside the school day), college course during summer
Parents: high quality instruction, class size, effective curriculum, instructional support, supplies, technology. Comment "I can't fill this out; these are all important." Looking beyond the foundation budget (MassCore, gifted, nurses, librarians)
Teachers and staff: appropriate class sizes, technology (with PD), instructional materials (especially in elementary in guided reading), supports for students within regular ed, collaborative planning time, more electives (of different types), coaches, IAs, better mentoring, support for ELLs, after school programs, interventions. "I know you can't add, but for one year, can you please just not cut?" plea.
Principals: sessions that were scheduled for an hour and always lasted longer; role of principal as an "instructional support person," leveled texts, technology (across all levels; love the ELMO's), middle schools looking to preserve team groupings, coaches (in middle school), high school wanting career and technical programs for new things, wraparound services (hooking up with programs outside of schools)
Partnership summit: five focus areas; three meetings to come (April, May, August) for them to support the district
Business roundtable: variety of industries; core skills: reading, mathematics, science, and critical thinking skills are needed in order to do well

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