November Minutes
Curriculum Coordination Committee
Minutes of the November 2009 Meeting
The meeting of the CCC was called to order by chairperson Stacy Shumake-Henn at 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 in the ITV room. Members present were Barb Bode, Steve Dennis, Krista Eisenhauer, Linda Grosserode, Stacy Shumake-Henn, Deb Jones, Brenda Siems, and Sue Vanis.
The agenda for November was read. Barb Bode made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Sue Vanis. Motion passed.
The minutes of the October meeting were read. Deb Jones made a motion to approve, seconded by Brenda Siems. Motion passed.
Old Business
In old business, Mrs. Shumake-Henn reported on the approval of the local language arts standards. Teachers should continue to work with rough drafts and make any changes necessary. When they finish, copies will be given to the CCC for approval and then sent to the Elgin school board to adopt. The Elgin school board will do the formal adoption of the Nebraska language arts standards by December 15th. Teachers will still be able to make necessary changes through April. Mrs. Shumake-Henn will check on the specific timeline of when the changes and updates need to be finished.
Mrs. Bode gave more information on the John Bailor prep test for the ACT exam. She reported that all seniors are registered to take the prep test beginning in December. Mr. Feeney and Mrs. Bode worked out a rotational schedule of the eight period class day. Mrs. Bode stated that the research indicates to do the prep test fourteen days before the ACT test with the Friday before the test off. If this rotational schedule seems to work well, it will be used in the spring with juniors and sophomores. Mrs. Bode also stated that the High Ability Learner Grant paid for the test prep and students’ ACT registration fees.
Mrs. Bode discussed the 9 week class idea. Mr. Feeney would like teachers to begin outlining possible classes to be offered in the 9 week format. The following classes were suggested to be offered as 9 week courses: Career Communications, Etiquette, Journalism/Photography, Personal Finances, Study Skills, and Technology (Podcasting, Blogging, Google Docs, etc.). Some of these classes could be combined and taught for half a quarter each. Mrs. Bode reported that these classes would not affect core classes with terms of accreditation. One question was brought up on whether these classes should be required of all students.
The last item of old business discussed was making changes in the master schedule for the 2010-2011 school year. Mr. Feeney would like a group of teachers consisting of lower elementary, upper elementary, junior high, high school and a K-12 teacher to look at the schedule sometime in December. These teachers will look at ways to change the schedule around to accommodate different ideas such as all study halls being offered during the same period, etc. Mr. Feeney would like feedback on these ideas so as to get a schedule in place before next year.
New Business
In new business, Ms. Siems discussed some questions about elementary testing scores and when to retest students. In the past, students were retested if they did not meet the proficiency level of 80% or above. Questions were asked on whether teachers were to continue the after school tutoring to help students meet these proficiency levels on local standard tests. It was also discussed whether to limit these tutoring sessions to just math and language arts as in the past or to open them up to subjects such as science and social studies. Another idea discussed was why the retesting was limited to only elementary and junior high students and why high school students could not be involved in retesting to proficiency. Mr. Dennis suggested that more information should be gathered on this tutoring idea. He suggested that K-8 teachers need to meet and set some guidelines as to what should be tried in the classroom before having to keep students after school for tutoring and retesting.
The next meeting was set for December 2nd, 2009 in the ITV room at 4:00 P.M. Supper will be served by Linda Grosserode and Sue Vanis after the meeting. The CCC meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by Krista Eisenhauer, Secretary
