Strategic Planning Committee Meeting MinutesThursday, February 18, 20108AM – 10 AMSuperintendent’s Office

Welcome to new committee member, Melissa Metzler Duff (TA Prospect). Introductions of all committee members.

Reviewed the purpose of the Strategic Planning Committee, and the roles and responsibilities of the members.

o Committee provides an avenue for district stakeholders to focus their collective energies.

o Provides direction for all district stakeholders.o Members communicate goals and objectives to all district constituents. o Members communicate feedback from constituents back to the committee.o Combination of new and veteran members make up the committee every year,

providing both new ideas and continuity in long-range planning for the district.

Feedback on progress of meeting the goals and objectives of Strategic Plano B. Martin: building reports to the BOE are very helpful in monitoring progress.o D. Eysaman and ME Koch: the APPR is a very useful tool for monitoring and

ensuring progress toward goals and objectives of the strategic plan. NYSED allows some flexibility as far as how the APPR form is constructed; Salamanca CCSD’s is structured around the strategic plan, making it a particularly effective document. It ensures that faculty and staff are working toward goals that are directly related to district goals, and it provides a clear framework for evaluating progress. The APPR also allows for some flexibility as far as completion of goals; that is, whether a goal was completed over the course of the school year, if the goal is ongoing, or if circumstances prevented an individual from meeting a goal.

o S. Turano asked how we can make the community aware of the work our committee is doing. ME Koch suggested highlighting one specific goal and set of objectives in the Powwow each month. D. Eysaman suggested including highlights of our monthly meetings in the Powwow. It was also suggested that we post our minutes on the district Web site. Minutes could be sent to Susan Andrews for publication on the Web site. D.

Eysaman asked whether we should submit meeting agendas to her as well. ME Koch asked if the strategic plan was published in the Powwow. It was stated

that it is not. She said the trifold copy should be included in the September issue of the Powwow every year

B. Martin suggested that an overview of the committee’s purpose and responsibilities be published in the September Powwow. S. Turano suggested advertising for committee membership in the September edition as well.

M. La Voie asked if the trifold should be included in the next edition of the Powwow, as it was not included in any previous edition this year. ME Koch stated that it should be, along with an overview of the committee.

Reviewed the implementation of specific objectives.o 2.1 – Attendance

ME Koch: reports perfect attendance records to Alexis Smith at the Nation, which result in rewards for Native American students. The reward system has had a positive effect on Native American students’ attendance.

D. Eysaman: Title 7 after-school tutoring program is also having a positive effect on overall attendance, as students are finding academic success through this program.

ME Koch: Sue John’s field trips into community with Native American students having an overall positive effect on student attitude towards school, which also positively affects attendance.

ME Koch: Tracy Mcgee (of Erie 1 BOCES Student and Community Services) has initiated the United Leaders program in the Middle School. Students are handpicked to work on the team with an equal number of teachers to develop programs that improve school climate, including promoting positive behavior and mutual respect. The team includes students who most stand to benefit from participation and those who are looked up to by other students, as these students have a strong ability to communicate positive messages to other students in the district.

C. Siebert: Sue John informed the district that the Nation passed a resolution to withhold a portion of annuity payments to students until they graduate, earn their GED, or turn 21 years of age.

M. Osgood: there are still attendance and tardiness issues that must be looked at and addressed. There is a core group of chronically absent and/or tardy students that have resultant academic problems.

ME Koch responded that this is often due to parental issues. They are not supportive of education due to their own negative educational experiences. We have to reach out to these parents and find a way to make them feel comfortable about participating in the educational process.

M. Osgood: absenteeism and tardiness are having an especially negative effect on reading achievement in the elementary schools.

S. Turano: names of all students with perfect attendance records should be published in the Powwow.

ME Koch asked if there are building-level rewards for perfect attendance. D. Eysaman stated that there was recognition for the students with perfect attendance at a recent high school assembly.

B. Martin and S. Turano discussed the intimidation factor inherent in parent-teacher conferences, especially when parents are addressing teams of teachers. This is especially intimidating if your child is having problems.

o 3.2 – Promote family and community involvement by creating opportunities, streamlining communication, and encouraging participation in the educational experience.

ME Koch stated that in the discussion of attendance, the committee had moved into the area of Goal #3 (Communication), specifically the goal of

establishing trust among all constituents of the district. Parents are a very important part of this goal. Parents recognize when concern and respect shown by teachers or other district personnel are not genuine (they see it as game-playing).

Discussion of parents and teachers viewing school as a safe place (many do not). S. Turano mentioned that bullying is a huge concern to both parents and students.

M. Osgood stated that there is a Discipline Committee in place to address safety issues, including the problem of bullying. ME Koch suggested renaming the committee to something that suggests a more positive approach to the problem, such as the “Behavior Support Committee.” Our clientele would both recognize and appreciate this change in emphasis.

S. Turano suggested that articles should be written for the Powwow on the many positive groups at the middle and high schools (mentioned in the discussion on attendance), including information about their goals and objectives.

D. Eysaman questioned if playing music in the hallways at the high school was having a positive effect on school climate, particularly bullying in the hallways. C. Siebert answered that there is no direct cause and effect evidence, but there was definitely a reduction in December when Christmas music was playing. However, this could also have been a result of Rachel’s Challenge.

M. Metzler Duff asked if there was an Advisory at the high school. D. Eysaman stated there is one in the mornings. C. Siebert noted that there has been less vandalism in the hallways since Advisories started.

Committee members noted the many positive activities taking place in the schools this year. There seems to be a lot of improvement in terms of behavior, attitude, and school pride.

B. Martin suggested making the faculty-student dodgeball game an annual event. Fun events of that sort create positive experiences for students, families, and other members of the community. S. Turano commented that parents feel less intimidated attending fun events.

D. Eysaman also mentioned the overall positive effects of the “Penny War” benefit for leukemia. Students did not receive a large reward for their efforts, yet they were very motivated.

M. Osgood suggested that more should be published about these events in local newspapers to rebuild the district’s reputation.

C. Siebert noted that substitute teachers often comment on the respectfulness of our students.

D. Eysaman mentioned that staff members often choose not to leave the district for other employment because of the family feeling that exists among building staff.

S. Turano said that comments on the community Internet blog that are often very critical of the district, are not as bad when positive events are taking place in the schools. There was a suggestion that perhaps the district Web site could include a blog where the community could submit comments about

district events and programs. ME Koch stated that current policies restrict blogs and other Web-based interactive technologies. M. La Voie pointed out that other districts allow monitored access to such technologies in schools, because they have many valuable educational uses. J. Brundage said that the district should look into opening up access to these technologies.

L. Magiera suggested finding more ways to invite parents into our schools after hours, not just for classes but for volunteer opportunities. Contributing to the district in this way would make them feel more vested in it. It was noted that open access to computers after hours in the High School library has been well received by community members.

M. Metzler Duff asked about the possibility of televising board meetings. ME Koch noted that in other districts where this is done, the community does not really benefit as it seems to inhibit honest, straightforward discussion of issues.

L. Robinson commented on how the district has to make a conscious choice about creating a positive attitude and communicating that to the greater community. Asked if parents who have positive experiences at school functions might convince other parents who don’t normally attend, to come.

B.Martin stated that we have to accept that we are not going to win every one over.

L. Robinson suggested that we concentrate on creating positive experiences for our supportive constituents. We should look at the work of Penn State psychologist Martin Seligman (his work is available at TED.com). His work focuses on shifting from a negative to a positive attitude.

S. Turano has heard positive comments from Salamanca Cares Council on Addiction Recovery about the social opportunities available to students in our district.

J. Brundage commented that we cannot control students’ home environments, which are not always positive, but we can create a good environment for them at school. S. Turano said the students are the messengers for the district.

M. Metzler Duff asked if there was some way of conveying to the community the concern that the district really has for its students and families.

M. Osgood pointed out that there is a lack of mental health resources available to parents in our community to help them understand how to deal with problems at home. How can the district provide this kind of help so that parents see that we really care?

ME Koch commented again on the negative educational experiences many of our students’ parents have had. How do we convince them that we have changed? We are not going to label their children; we are going to help them. We are no longer the punishers.

M. Osgood: we have to reach out and provide real help to parents. She cited a very successful example in the Parenting class now being offered.

ME Koch suggested we look for demographically similar districts that have successfully reached out to parents and created positive programs and partnerships.

Next Strategic Planning Committee Meetingo April 6th (8AM – 10AM)

End of Meeting Commentso J. Grochowina will send information about the Strategic Plan and Planning Committee to

S. Andrews for publication on the district Web site and the Powwow. Will ask Andrews to make more readable for public audience. Provide description of what information SPC will publish in future Powwows and on Web site.

o All agreed this was a productive meeting with lively conversation!