Friday, March 05, 2004
Monrovia School Link ~ Number 73 ~ Jan. 28, 2004
Thanks to Sam Jacoby for attending the meeting and taking notes. I got a couple letters (feel free to write any time) from folks, which I've tacked on down at the bottom. Also, a couple good ideas from people (pictures of board members in the district office lobby, and having PTA presidents moderate community forums.)
~ Brad Haugaard (brad@sacklunch.net)
THE BOARD REPORT ~ Sounds like Clare and Bryan had some rough things to say about the maintenance at the middle schools. Here's Sam's report:
The board presented awards to district employees for outstanding service. They were Cindy Jones of Santa Fe; Kathleen Giangregorio, also of Santa Fe; Oscar Ibarra of Monrovia High; and Jennifer Gates of Monrovia High.
The floor was then turned over for public forum, and a Mrs. Ostry spoke for about 10 minutes, patting the board on the back. Another gentleman, who's granddaughter attends Bradoaks Elementary, expressed serious concerns about safety and handicapped access for his granddaughter at Bradoaks.
Then Cyrus Kemp expressed his disgust at a $2,700 expenditure for importing snow for a school function. He also said that the district office's lobby is not friendly; that the receptionist needs to be more welcoming and also that board members should have their photos up in the lobby. [Good idea, Cyrus! These little things make a difference. - Brad]
Then a producer from some cable TV station got up and talked about how great her station was. Bla bla bla bla.
Clare Chesley spoke next about how she and Bryan toured the middle schools and how she was disgusted at the maintenance. She also spoke of the high school exit exams that she and Bryan attended.
Bruce Carter spoke next of his exciting trip to Sacramento. He talked about the Star program, the no child left behind program and also Prop 98. Bryan Wong concurred with Clare's presentation of their tours of the middle schools. Bla bla bla.
Monina Diaz congratulated award recipients and spoke of her attendance at Chamber of Commerce board meetings.
Betty Sanford passed out MUSD reports to the rest of the board and said that the reports should be in people's mail boxes next week. She also spoke of the CSBA forecast meeting she attended in Sacramento. She said the theme was, "Improving student health improves their ability to learn." Tiffany Ross, the student representative, spoke about the high school's Winter formal and the school's celebration of Chinese New Year.
Cyrus Kemp returned and thanked Clare for ripping on the maintenance issues at the Middle School and offered some suggestions. He then ripped on the board for being so rude as to be talking amongst themselves while he was addressing them.
Joel Shawn gave his report on the exit exams. He thanked board members for attending the exams, and said there was 49% attendance at the exams and the staff was pleased that those attending represented all ethnic groups evenly. He also thanked parents for attending, and then discussed homework policies.
The board then ratified the contract with the teachers union and briefly discussed a class size report.
COMMUNITY OPINION ~ In the last newsletter I mentioned Monina Diaz would like to get a broad range of community viewpoints, and she suggested using focus groups. Sharon Weiser wrote in to comment:
In response to community opinions and ways in which to get them: How about having site focus groups led by the PTA president (moderator). A board member would be required at each group meeting. Meetings could be held in homes or at the school. Obviously, more parents could hear other's opinions if it was held at the school. Usually, PTA presidents possess fine communication and public relation skills. Each school has its own culture and flavor so it should represent the community as a whole. These opinions would then be shared at the board meetings and expressed in a public hearing.
I disagree with her [Monina's] statement that visual learners are in the minority. Usually instruction is presented visually, auditorally and kinesthetically (if the lesson lends itself to that). Teachers are skilled in knowing how to reach all modalities. They learn this in their univerity courses. And, it is not difficult to accomplish.
What is more difficult, and teachers are less prepared in this area, is teaching to the ability level of all students. Usually, RSP students receive additional support. It is the gifted learner that gets short changed. Some districts do a better job than others in this area. Many districts are cutting the GATE full day classes where students receive differentiated instruction (above and beyond and challenging and engaging work, not just more of the same {50 problems instead of 20}). The regular classroom teacher needs support in providing challenging and engaging instruction to ALL students. Just saying the words "challenging" and "engaging" does not make it happen in a classroom. That's where staff development comes in. Before I went into administration, I taught regular ed and GATE classes (full day). From my experience, teachers need examples and resources to create the kinds of mind-work that is challenging and engaging.
IBARRA AND AVID ~ In the SchoolLink Preview I mentioned that Counselor Oscar Ibarra would be honored, and commented that that was cool, because "he is pretty much responsible for boosting the number of MHS students who apply for college." Gail LaBau wrote to say that, "Although Oscar has done a great job, you might be interested to know that additional students came from the AVID program, which had its first graduating class finish last June. All 21 were accepted into college and 19 of them into four-year colleges. This boosted the numbers!."
Thanks to Sam Jacoby for attending the meeting and taking notes. I got a couple letters (feel free to write any time) from folks, which I've tacked on down at the bottom. Also, a couple good ideas from people (pictures of board members in the district office lobby, and having PTA presidents moderate community forums.)
~ Brad Haugaard (brad@sacklunch.net)
THE BOARD REPORT ~ Sounds like Clare and Bryan had some rough things to say about the maintenance at the middle schools. Here's Sam's report:
The board presented awards to district employees for outstanding service. They were Cindy Jones of Santa Fe; Kathleen Giangregorio, also of Santa Fe; Oscar Ibarra of Monrovia High; and Jennifer Gates of Monrovia High.
The floor was then turned over for public forum, and a Mrs. Ostry spoke for about 10 minutes, patting the board on the back. Another gentleman, who's granddaughter attends Bradoaks Elementary, expressed serious concerns about safety and handicapped access for his granddaughter at Bradoaks.
Then Cyrus Kemp expressed his disgust at a $2,700 expenditure for importing snow for a school function. He also said that the district office's lobby is not friendly; that the receptionist needs to be more welcoming and also that board members should have their photos up in the lobby. [Good idea, Cyrus! These little things make a difference. - Brad]
Then a producer from some cable TV station got up and talked about how great her station was. Bla bla bla bla.
Clare Chesley spoke next about how she and Bryan toured the middle schools and how she was disgusted at the maintenance. She also spoke of the high school exit exams that she and Bryan attended.
Bruce Carter spoke next of his exciting trip to Sacramento. He talked about the Star program, the no child left behind program and also Prop 98. Bryan Wong concurred with Clare's presentation of their tours of the middle schools. Bla bla bla.
Monina Diaz congratulated award recipients and spoke of her attendance at Chamber of Commerce board meetings.
Betty Sanford passed out MUSD reports to the rest of the board and said that the reports should be in people's mail boxes next week. She also spoke of the CSBA forecast meeting she attended in Sacramento. She said the theme was, "Improving student health improves their ability to learn." Tiffany Ross, the student representative, spoke about the high school's Winter formal and the school's celebration of Chinese New Year.
Cyrus Kemp returned and thanked Clare for ripping on the maintenance issues at the Middle School and offered some suggestions. He then ripped on the board for being so rude as to be talking amongst themselves while he was addressing them.
Joel Shawn gave his report on the exit exams. He thanked board members for attending the exams, and said there was 49% attendance at the exams and the staff was pleased that those attending represented all ethnic groups evenly. He also thanked parents for attending, and then discussed homework policies.
The board then ratified the contract with the teachers union and briefly discussed a class size report.
COMMUNITY OPINION ~ In the last newsletter I mentioned Monina Diaz would like to get a broad range of community viewpoints, and she suggested using focus groups. Sharon Weiser wrote in to comment:
In response to community opinions and ways in which to get them: How about having site focus groups led by the PTA president (moderator). A board member would be required at each group meeting. Meetings could be held in homes or at the school. Obviously, more parents could hear other's opinions if it was held at the school. Usually, PTA presidents possess fine communication and public relation skills. Each school has its own culture and flavor so it should represent the community as a whole. These opinions would then be shared at the board meetings and expressed in a public hearing.
I disagree with her [Monina's] statement that visual learners are in the minority. Usually instruction is presented visually, auditorally and kinesthetically (if the lesson lends itself to that). Teachers are skilled in knowing how to reach all modalities. They learn this in their univerity courses. And, it is not difficult to accomplish.
What is more difficult, and teachers are less prepared in this area, is teaching to the ability level of all students. Usually, RSP students receive additional support. It is the gifted learner that gets short changed. Some districts do a better job than others in this area. Many districts are cutting the GATE full day classes where students receive differentiated instruction (above and beyond and challenging and engaging work, not just more of the same {50 problems instead of 20}). The regular classroom teacher needs support in providing challenging and engaging instruction to ALL students. Just saying the words "challenging" and "engaging" does not make it happen in a classroom. That's where staff development comes in. Before I went into administration, I taught regular ed and GATE classes (full day). From my experience, teachers need examples and resources to create the kinds of mind-work that is challenging and engaging.
IBARRA AND AVID ~ In the SchoolLink Preview I mentioned that Counselor Oscar Ibarra would be honored, and commented that that was cool, because "he is pretty much responsible for boosting the number of MHS students who apply for college." Gail LaBau wrote to say that, "Although Oscar has done a great job, you might be interested to know that additional students came from the AVID program, which had its first graduating class finish last June. All 21 were accepted into college and 19 of them into four-year colleges. This boosted the numbers!."
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