The Children’s School

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP TEAM

Minutes – January 16, 2019

 

Meeting called to order @ 7:30

 

Guests: Kathy Price, Ben Crum, Scottie Harding

 

Housekeeping:

• No quorum – November and December minutes were not approved
  • To be provided for approval at February meeting

Principal Update:

• Recent complaint to UFT chapter that we surpassed the allowable # of IEP students in 7 classes
  • NYSED ratio is 50/50; UFT/NYC agreement 60/40 gen ed/spec ed
  • There was not an excess of SE students; some D15 students left and/or had identified needs/IEP in a couple of grades, putting class ratio out of balance
  • Action plan in place and on file with the Chancellor’s office
  • Students moved in classes as need ( 1^st And 4^th Gr.)
  • All teachers and students/families impacted have been consulted
  • One possible residual effect – It is possible in the future if a student in D15 receives n IEP after PK/K, they may need to be placed in another community, school
  • To help mitigate in the future, a request was made for D13,14,15,16 to consider 372 more seriously when Gen. Ed. Seats are needed for transfers

 

PTA Update:

• We had successful movie night and book swap w/big turnout
• Second lice check successfully completed
  • Upcoming events (PTA committed to all student events at the school being free admission)
  • Arts and science day upcoming; Liza Gouger, Peter Kerlin and Sarah Collins chairing event.
  • Readathon upcoming in February.
  • Valentine’s Day Dance upcoming; Scotte Hardin and Michelle Dobson chairing.
• We sent around Konstella bulletin to teachers and families based on last SLT meeting.
• $31k received of $35k Annual Appeal goal; 35% participation – We will do another push later in school year
• Trying to put together a group of grant writers

 

Diversity Committee Update:

• Outreach concert held at Sunset Park Library on January 5^th
  • Diversity Committee Co-chair Adam Strum’s band Citystomp performed to a packed hous
  • Many Children’s School families attended and spoke to prospective families about PS372
  • Outreach volunteers from PS372, PS133 and BNS (D15 diversity pilot schools) have been speaking to families at preschools and community centers

CEP Update:

• Reviewing Goal 5 (Parent Handbook) with Administration

 

Kathy Price (guest speaker) – CEC Liaison:

• Question whether K372 is supposed to remain as a liaison school in CECD15
• Categorized as D75 because we report to D75 Superintendent, not D15 Superintendent Anita Skop
• Potential implications – exclusions from voting; exclusion from CECD15 equity council
• Urges D15 families to organize and be represented; possibly attend next CECD15 meeting

 

Laura Mantell:

• Request to incorporate Black History Month into curriculum
  • This is already being done
  • One Book program incorporates Black History Month and will include other communities in the future
• Concern over D15 Science Fair
  • Parent mentioned 372 used to participate and is now excluded
  • Rose reported 372 students participate in D75 and D15 science fairs
  • Engineering week during Gr. 4 Science incorporates science projects
  • 5 Science will still display/present student projects, but no longer on the stage; new location for display not yet finalized

 

Wellness Committee:

• Mindfulness in classroom
  • Refresher for 4^th/5^th Gr
  • Introduce to 3^rd Gr + MonkeyDo Yoga
• Wellness Day planning is underway

 

Meeting ended: 8:25 am

 

Date of next meeting: February 27, 2019 (originally scheduled for 2/20, during break)