November 20, 2008

Minutes

Present: Amber Petersen, Barbara Stroud, Crystal Widmann, Sally Wolslegel, Lauri Cotton, Miles Erdly, Lindsey Carlson, Arturo Gonzalez, Kim Pisha

Non Profit Fundraising
Since fall request for ideas we have received three suggestions for this year: Pennies for Patients, Change for Africa, Special Olympics. Additional ideas presented included Logan Fest, cancer drive. This is in addition to the three activities currently in progress (Giving Tree, Food Drive, and Gift Makers). The team decided upon the following:
The team decided on a direct money raiser commitment to the following non-profits for this year: Pennies for Patients, Change for Africa, and Special Olympics. The request is that they be spaced as much as possible. These fundraisers will occur after winter break.

In addition, Carson will be supporting Logan Fest by advertising the basketball 3 on 3 event (named after a student who had medical challenges at Kalles; the event is now an annual event named in his honor). We will also be supporting cancer fundraising through the participation of a cancer run team(s) from Carson this year for those staff members able to participate.
Honoring Cultures Campaign
A copy of the Honoring Cultures Campaign information was given to each rep. The information was originally distributed during our supplemental days this fall. Highlighted reminders included: the art/entries are directly tied back to the REACH/SEED curriculum rather than entries being stand alone art activities focused on diversity, entries will be completed and on display in the building during the month of March, it is encouraged that teachers save samples of REACH/SEED art work through February to provide a more diverse display. If you need more specific information please connect with Janet, our building diversity rep for the district.
Office of Diversity Affairs
The Office of Diversity Affairs (ODA) is asking all buildings two questions in regards to diversity that need to be addressed in the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan:
#1 What are you doing in your building to promote cultural competency?
#2 How are your diversity goals wrapped into school improvement plan?
The PACK decided to infuse this topic in with our anti-bullying/Olweus Program since it could lend itself well the class meetings format and weekly topics. This will be directed to the School Climate Committee.
Barbara S. and Lauri C. volunteered to work with Arturo to see how the two questions can be incorporated in our building CSIP plan.
Leadership Binder
Each team member received a copy of our CSIP Plan during our October PACK meeting. Miles shared that he is working on putting a binder together that includes procedures/processes for a more CSIP process for the building. This is currently a work in progress and components will be reviewed by the PACK team when it is presented. It is intended to be a one stop shopping for staff and parents who are inquiring about CSIP.
Professional Development
Currently Sandi is in the process of gathering information for the type of reading intervention trainings that staff would like to have offered at the building. In addition PACK reps will be asking their teams what additional professional development they would like to have offered that addresses components of our Walk to Read Program. These include but are not limited to:
Flexible Groupings
Small Group Instruction
Progress Monitoring
Targeted Instruction
Student Assessments
Interventions
Differentiated Instruction
Collaboration Models
Management Structures (i.e. Daily 5/CAFE)
Phonemic Awareness
Comprehension
Fluency
Vocabulary Development
etc.
Considerations: Not all of the items above necessarily require a stand alone whole group training. Many overlap into the type of support that a classroom teacher can access through an Instructional Coach on a 1:1 basis or small group format.
I-728 Pro. Dev. Budget: Last week Carson received the Pro Dev allocation for this year of approx. $14,000. Last year the allocation was used to focus on The Daily Five. This year the PACK team decided to use this allocation for in house training of the reading intervention kits and whole group trainings of Walk to Read that are outside of LIC PR/CT days and staff work times. This will cover the trainings offered during Individual or Evaluation & Conferencing LIC days as well as trainings offered after regular work hours. The participation would be voluntary, but staff would be compensated for their time at curriculum rate and the cost of the presentor would also be covered.
PACK Meeting Schedule
A new meeting schedule and options were discussed for PACK in order to provide more active staff participation in decision making. Options discussed included: meeting every Thursday for 30-45 minutes; meet once a month for 2-3 hours with food, adding a different decision making team, adding an open attendance for individuals to meet to make decisions, decisions made as an all school vs. having a representative, use of weekly team meetings to disperse and gather information.
Final Decision: The PACK team will now be meeting every other Thursday. The start time will be at 3:15 pm and is estimated to last up to 45 minutes. This will increase frequency so that information can be gathered and decisions made on a more timely basis.
Agenda Development: The whiteboard in the hall outside the conference room will be used for agenda items development. The request is that names be included or grade level be identified so we know who to contact/anticipate providing information.
Next Meeting: December 11, 2008, 3:15 pm.