CRLS SCHOOL IMROVEMENT COUNCIL
Attending Members: J. Ackman, L. Aaronson, J. Contrucci, J. King, S. Knight,
J. Lindamond, J. O'Reilly, D. Smith, C. Sullivan
Guests: Penny Adams, Ben Lynch, Risa Pittman
Recording Secretary: Nancy Hausman
Dr. Knight opened the meeting with a budget update of projected staff reductions: 1) reduction of seven teachers at CRLS, one being a transfer going to RSTA, 2) full-time equivalent (FTE) reductions of 4.25 clerks 3) reduction of one administrator. Dr. Knight reiterated the complexities of calculating the numbers of teachers needed because of the four learning communities, block scheduling and electives. The reductions are primarily due to declining enrollment.
Catherine Sullivan gave an update on the library expansion and landscape issues. Gratefully, we were, able to refer to the scale model made for us by RSTA student Amr Ali and RSTA Engineering instructor Roy Carter. (JoAnne Ackman will send thanks to both of them on behalf of the Council.) Committee members think that the berms are still too high and that their inward curves should face the high school, not the library. The berms continue to feel like barriers to the high school. Ben Lynch, landscape architect and former CRLS parent, shares these concerns but suggested that we are working "on the margins" of this issue because so much has already been decided. Therefore, two requests will be made to Alan Burne of the Library Expansion Project: that the berms be made lower and that the curve of the berms be made concave or "s" shaped where they face the high school. (In honor of the Red Sox we call this “reverse the curves”.)
Next the committee discussed SAT scores at CRLS. Because we have such a broad range of students taking the SAT exams, our scores are low compared to other districts. However, in these other districts it is commonly only the most accomplished students who take the exams. When the top 40% of CRLS students are compared to more affluent communities, we score higher. There followed a conversation about the SAT prep course currently being offered after school at CRLS from March to May. This session is for students who haven’t taken the SAT’s, and the next session will be offered to students who are taking the test for the second time. Next year SAT Prep will be an elective.
A lengthy discussion followed with Janet O'Reilly talking about preparing students with IEP's to apply to college. Janet spoke about the profoundly demanding process for these students and their families. The idea of attending college should be introduced in elementary school and improvements should be made to the guidance process at CRLS to increase the numbers and success of IEP students going from CRLS into college. Jonathan King also suggested that if CRLS tracked its alumni’s college attendance, current students could be referred to CRLS graduates who are attending colleges they might be interested in.
In conjunction with these issues there was a brief discussion of the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, which will be implemented at CRLS next year. This is primarily a study skills program for students who are interested in learning but are not working to their full potential. It will provide another means of encouraging students who might not be considering attending college to do so.
Damon Smith gave a report on MCAS prep classes. The first targets of support are the juniors and seniors who haven't passed the MCAS and are in danger of not graduating. They are offered classes during the school day and after school in preparation for the retest. The prep program will next offer classes to tenth graders and will try to offer evening as well as daytime classes. Damon and Dr. Knight both discussed changes in the MCAS test days, which will include staggered attendance allowing students who are not taking the MCAS to arrive at school later. This will provide a calmer atmosphere for students taking the test and more opportunities for breaks for the teachers administering the test.
Finally there was a discussion of Financial Aid Night at CRLS and ways in which the evening could be more helpful and informative: the attending audience is too large and could be broken down into more informal groups allowing individual questions to be asked more easily; there is too much focus on NCAA eligibility requirements and athletic scholarships; financial pitfalls need to be covered more thoroughly. Dr. Knight added that everyone concerned should keep in mind that the athletic eligibility requirements at CRLS have changed because of block scheduling and resulting changes in grading periods.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm
Next meeting on Monday, March 28 at 7pm in the Principal’s Conference Room
Guests are welcome