January+9,+2012+Meeting+Minutes

SIT sharing session with the Educational Master Planning Committee:

Jackie Vannosdall, Member Amy Bartolone, SIT MES Jane Feinberg RES SIT Pat Robbins Bill Cafiero Kate Clark, Parent Member Mary Schreiber Aaron Burke, Parent Member Ginger Glynn, SIT and Member Al Baker, Member Jill Grasso, SIT KES Shannon Vannorman, SIt Laura Ayasse, Member Christine Williams, Member Cindy Carubia, SIT KES Melissa Feinberg, RES SIT Jane Bullowa, Ulster BOCES

__Bill Cafiero report on MES SIT:__ 2 initiatives: engage parents: parents asked to work with their students on one project each month; incentives for active involvement around literacy to begin in March; grade level teachers will come up with those projects Some discussion on parents helping parents (adopting a family to assist) character education: focus on bullying; survey for students to complete online; looking to enhance school climate by addressing student concerns; implement strategies; character education report card for each student; statement of the day over loud speaker; facilitated discussion in classrooms around statement of the day; Mr. Cafiero works with the Teaching Assistants because bullying can occur on the playground ; summary article for newsletter from survey results

Member of committee thought it would be good to get parent input on the bullying/school climate issues. Member had question about surveys and how they are geared for older students and younger students. Computer system will tally it. Member had a question if a student could check a box to let someone know if they need or want to talk to someone about something related to the survey.

__Melissa Feinberg report on RES SIT:__ Wellness objectives and activities 3 focus areas: family involvement, bullying (school bus), parent education bullying: safety patrol utilizing fourth graders as incentive for 4th graders; they will be eyes and ears for their assigned areas; enhance and support student leadership; monthly recognition of safety patrol; Ms. Robbins will be going into 4th grade classrooms to talk about the program

Member asked if a child could apply if they were interesting.

Family involvement: before and after school programs coordinated with the PTA; survey sent out to teachers asking how they could use volunteers in the classrooms or what they might use volunteers for; result was requests for partners for reading with children; next step is to send something home to determine family interest; might use Title I money to bring programs in for parents; outreach; differentiated activities for parents

Member question about the fact that bullying has come up twice. The member's child experienced an incident at the middle school. Asks about conflict resolution and its benefits. Fran Hertz shared that Newcomer's Uplifted Juniors was begun in the middle school this year with older students mentoring 5th graders.

Peer Mediation training has not been continued, but conflict resolution is still being taught to students and reinforced. Counselors have an active role in that training and facilitation.

__Virginia Glynn report on MS SIT:__ Ginger has questions about Newcomer's Uplifted Juniors in the middle school: not everyone knows about the program because it is a pilot; has questions about parameters and issues that are discussed; question about whether parents are aware of the program (member question)

scheduling to address shared planning time is a focus of SIT; did convene, but has disbanded school safety team needs follow-up at the middle school people would like training in AED PBIS: Positive Behavior Intervention Systems: is not occurring this year building-wide Diversity training: Jennifer Bryan has held training sessions in the middle school in June and again in January

Ability Awareness is a program at RES to support acceptance (abilities and disabilities)

Parents for Innovation would like to participate if the time of SIT meetings could be worked out. RES had a similar issue with time and dealt with it by holding the meetings on the same night as PTA. RES has also kept people involved through subcommittees.

__Laura Ayasse report on KES SIT:__ modified PBIS at KES; Gander Ticket recognition eligible for prize drawing; Golden Gander Certificate for students who consistently do the right thing; monthly assembly and certificate; bus, classroom, hallway, recess, cafeteria; posters made of expectations; school buses have them; bus drivers are also part of the program; every staff member has Gander Tickets to give out; 4th graders presented to Kindergartners; modeled inappropriate behavior; developing discipline matrix

Member asks if there is a community award as part of the program. Ginger offers that there is a community celebration component.

There has been a positive impact on bullying incidents. Bill Cafiero suggests a common language and approach to bullying. Pat Robbins explains the work of the subcommittee responsible for social emotional components of the plan around this question. It is, in fact, part of the plan.

Elementary Inquiry Team connects with SIT. Dignity for All Students Act has two staff members committed to that topic. All of the groups ultimately connect with SIT. Safe Place Committee will identify places in the building where a person will always be available, like the librarian, the nurse, the physical education teacher.

Synthesis Club distributed symbols to staff who wished to display them.

__Fran Hertz report on HS SIT:__ Universal Screener given to all incoming ninth graders to give critical information to teachers about the reading levels of students. Amazing parents on the SIT : parent to parent communication initiative Principal forums for small groups