Minutes November 5, 2014
Minutes
CHAPPAQUA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Chappaqua, New York
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Date: |
November 5, 2014 |
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Time: |
7:30 p.m. |
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Place: |
Horace Greeley High School |
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Present: |
Board of Education |
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Staff Members |
Dr. Lyn McKay, Superintendent Mr. Eric Byrne, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Mr. John Chow, Assistant Superintendent for Business Mr. Andrew Selesnick, Assistant Superintendent for Leadership Dev. & HR Theresa Markley, District Clerk / Adm. Asst. to Superintendent |
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Visitors Present: |
Representatives of the Chappaqua PTA, school PTAs, building administrators, faculty, and other interested citizens. |
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President Visser convened the public session at 6:00 p.m. Alyson Gardner moved to reconvene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussion of negotiations. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously. At 7:40 p.m. Alyson Gardner moved to adjourn the Executive Session and reconvene the public session. Warren Messner seconded. The motion passed unanimously. President Visser welcomed the community and asked Dr. McKay and Eric Byrne to introduce presenters and topic for the evening. Presentation: Middle School Teaching and Learning Seven Bridges Interim Principal Mike Kirsch began the discussion on how to teach teachers awareness of reading and build effective reading strategies. Bell Principal Martin Fitzgerald continued the presentation with guiding questions to encourage dialogue such as reading independently and to make texts available to students who struggle - building in scaffolds. He explained the importance of having teachers provide opportunities to listen in/discuss text individually or in small groups. Laurie Lichtenstein discussed the English language arts curriculum. The three units every student will be exposed to are narrative, argument, and information. Teachers choose their own texts for each unit, but it will provide a more similar experience for students. Students will be immersed in a particular genre and then write a personal story. Jason Limmel and Ingrid Melhaus discussed the new social studies text adoption, Discovering Our Past. Eric Byrnes added that we were able to use web-based resources rather than lugging around heavy textbooks and added a number of resources and tools such as highlighting, annotating, graphics, and dictionaries to support understanding. Jason explained the screen shots of the software with digital organizers, interactive timeline and reading comprehension check. Students gravitated to graphic novels and games also. Mike added that we are still talking about text as last year, but in a broader sense and linked to other subjects. Board members directed several questions to presenters regarding assessment and matching to reading levels. |
1. |
Information Business Affairs
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2. |
Organization
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3. |
Approvals
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Recommended Action: Personnel Dr. McKay made the following recommendations:
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5. |
Recommended Action: Other
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6. |
Facilities Jeffrey Mester reported on Grafflin and Bell board facility tours. Buildings are in great shape. He also noted that Artificial Turf is on track again with approval from DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) of a pervious rather than impervious surface. |
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7. |
Financials
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8. |
Communications |
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9. |
President Visser gave Notice of Future Meetings - Wednesday, November 12, 2014, walking the Bike Path with Town and School Boards at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, November 13, 2014, Learning Walk at Grafflin, 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at Education Center, 8:00 a.m. Special Election for Board members to vote for vacancy on Putnam Northern Westchester Board of Cooperative Services. Wednesday, November 19, 2014, at Horace Greeley High School, 7:30 p.m. Presentation: High School Teaching and Learning |
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10. |
Adjournment Jeffrey Mester moved to adjourn at 9:50 p.m. Alyson Gardner seconded. The motion passed unanimously. |
Respectfully submitted,
Theresa Markley, District Clerk / Administrative Asst. to Superintendent
Karen Visser, Board President
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