Sac meeting of October 6, 2015
Mr. Quintana: The objective is to bring site concerns to school-level groups rather than directly to SAC. It seems to work better to solve issues at the school-level rather than bring them to a District Level. When issues cannot be resolved at the site level, we welcome the opportunity to assist at the District level.
Submitted Items
Classroom Visits
Teachers are feeling the pressure of scrutiny, not just from the District, but from outside forces as well. Some teachers are also concerned that the curriculum doesn’t meet the standards
Mr. Quintana: Our students aren’t reaching the level of academic achievement they should. The new student support team believes it’s necessary to collect more trend and other classroom data so that we know what type of support is needed. That is why teachers are seeing more visitors to their classrooms. We understand the changes taking place can be difficult, but we also believe it will help our students learn.
Cyndi Secotta-Jones: Visitors are not in classrooms to scrutinize teachers. They are there to know what is happening so we can offer assistance from the District level. The standards are the curriculum. We do know there are gaps in resources that will cause some issues. The Curriculum and Instruction department is working to fill the gaps and adjustments as quickly as possible. Pacing guides are where they need to be. AzMERIT was released today. Results are embargoed, but can be discussed for planning. The District feels it’s being watched, too. AzMERIT and benchmark dates should be viewed as baseline data. We need to look at rigor, first best instruction, as well as trends. The District will also look at resources that can be put into place.
Reemphasizing, the intent of site visits is to look at ways the District can support teachers. Members of the Student Services team will also begin to sit in on PLCs, again to see what can be done to support the campuses. What the District is looking for: growth in every quarter. As long as we able to demonstrate growth, then we’re on the right track.
Payroll issues
Classified employees have either gotten the wrong pay or the wrong paycheck and weren’t informed by payroll. The issue is that they had to contact payroll instead of payroll contacting them. This caused some confusion, and overdraft charges.
Mike Barragan: In this particular case it was two individuals with the same last name and very similar first names. One of these employees changed banking information and was entered into the other employees information base. Our checks and balances did not catch this. Eventually, it was caught and the employees were contacted. By law, the District cannot cover overdraft fees. We know mistakes will occur, but we aim to correct any mistake as soon as possible. It is important for employees to check their pay stubs. We apologize this occurred.
If we aren’t responding correctly, we ask that you let us know.
PD for psychologist, speech, PT and possible reimbursement
Additional solution offered: bring someone in to offer professional development.
Mrs. Secotta-Jones: Nothing was offered this first cycle, the thought being these specialists may wish to see what’s happening in the classroom. We do not reimburse for all re-certifications. Our specialists also go to conferences paid for by the District. GESD covers the license costs for most of these positions. State certification for teachers is much different than license renewal for the list of people. Licenses, conferences that apply to license renewal are picked up by the District. The District can’t offer these types of classes because it wouldn’t count toward their license renewal.
Docked pay
When you’re docked, where does the money go? The money doesn’t get spent. It stays as part of a budget line item. It’s stays budget, but reduces the District’s expense.
Benchmarks
Were they given too early? Students were being tested in some instances before material was taught. Is there an option to take the test at the beginning of the second grading period instead of toward the end of the first?
Mr. Quintana: A lot of the benchmark results we’re seeing and AzMERIT are showing a lot of parallels.
Mrs. Secotta-Jones: Schools have a two week window, and had the option of waiting another week before giving the test. Not every school did. Learning targets are what’s being tested. If students took the benchmarks today they would likely do better than they did when they took the test.
Dr. Gerry Petersen-Incorvaia:: The benchmark assessment system was designed to be completed before AzMERIT, so that’s why it may not match exactly with the calendar. The idea is for the benchmark to inform instruction. It doesn’t determine grade, and it isn’t placed on report cards. The schedule will be examined. AzMERIT window is a six-week window, and that makes scheduling benchmarks difficult. Just like pacing guides, the benchmark system is something the District will continue to monitor in order to improve
To honor the SAC system, principals need to be given the opportunity to address issues, and in the following issue we are not sure that happened.
Prep time being used for meetings instead of prep
We want everyone to be reasonable. In a perfect world we wouldn’t disturb prep, but things also come up and when that time needs to be used for other issues. We don’t wish to have that to become habit. This should be discussed the school site.
SAC meeting of Nov. 10, 2015
Access to Campus
Teachers were told they couldn't come on campus when school is closed for holidays and breaks.
- Site administration does have access to a security code, but the campuses must make those accommodations with their staffs.
- District will address this issue at an administrative operations meeting.
- The idea was NOT to prohibit teachers from accessing campus.
- Site administration needs to create a plan and to share access codes with appropriate staff.
Salary equity
We're ignoring current staff and not paying our long term teachers while paying some teachers more.
- Administration doesn't disagree. The District wants to give more significant raises as well.
- Providing years of credit: GESD does this. We are not alone. It is an issue across Arizona. Districts, including GESD, are still filling positions, and offering years of credit is sometimes the only way to attract qualified candidates.
- Parents and staff need to express their opinions at the voting booth in regard to education funding.
- We cannot ignore building and other issues that pop up.
- This is a Hobson's choice: if we continue, some staff will be dissatisfied; if we don’t, we may not be able to fill positions.
- We're still committed to our agreement to put inflation lawsuit money into salaries.
- We're open to any ideas that will help save dollars or streamline our processes to save.
- We do not have a solution to the years of credit issue.
Copy machines
The copy machines aren't meeting the current demands of what's being put on them. Mike will address this at the operations meeting as well.
School Funding Settlement
Pay attention to the media in regard to the election. The settlement is not in place until if and when it is approved by voters.
