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*Students, teachers, parents, and staff, preparing today for the PROSPECTS of tomorrow!*
*Celebrating 15 years of EXCELLENCE!*

Links

Elementary Curriculum Handbook (pdf)

Frequently Asked Questions

Suggested School Supply Lists 2008-2009

Teacher and Staff Email Addresses

What's Up In Math?

LSAC Meeting Notes

9/30/08

In attendance: Charlia Faulkner, Charlie Feehan, Lisa Pinkerton (Parent), Cynthia Clement (Business Partner), Terry Bryant (Business Partner), Heather Pullen, Laurie Ferguson, Rebecca Evans, Jenny Idichandy (Parent), Kim Tobin (Parent)

I. Welcome/Introductions

II. Email addresses

III. Purpose of LSAC—not individual student items, but rather larger school ideas or issues

IV. Strategic Plan Update

· Has been approved

· Very school specific

· Will discuss more at a later date (next meeting)

· We met AYP this year (based on attendance and test scores—subgroups)

V. Discussion from Milton/Alpharetta Cluster

· Superintendant’s Cross Functional Team X Factor: 90 day project, several teachers and principals, looking at:

Truth in grading, distance learning, choice, insurance, etc.

· UGA/Writing: Starting to look at writing portion of SAT for entrance

· State of Student Achievement: CRCT scores were good at New Prospect, received breakdown notebook from Martha Greenway at district office for county with comparisons to other counties, also available online

· New Schools: New John’s Creek High School (starting naming process), Birmingham Elementary School, possible redistricting in 2012-2013 due to new high schools, etc.

· School Awards: 2^nd Grade received Distinguished Achievement Award for Reading on CRCT from the Superintendant

· Accountability Statement: County coming up with at county level, discussed wording and possible perceptions (i.e. school of choice), you can preview and provide feedback on website, or email Dr. Loe directly

· Early Release: Next one on Wednesday, October 15^th (Vocab Parade at NPES), handout give that shows topics discussed across county on Early Release Days

· Truth in Grading: Child must be graded upon how they are performing according to their chronological year/grade they are in.

· Handouts received for Standards for Cluster Local School Councils, 2008-2009 Meeting Calendar, Accountability Statements, and 2008-2009, 2009-2010 Fulton School Calendar

VI. Renzulli Learning: Shared website with LSAC committee and different features that make this a valuable program

VII. Superintendant School Address: Is on the Fulton County website if you wish to watch and see what she has to say about her ideas to improve Fulton County schools

VIII. Parent Concern-brought up issue and Ms. Faulkner read email concern

· Her children are being tutored afterschool to keep up with the curriculum

· Tutoring for all different reasons at school

· Is tutoring necessary or a curriculum (from county) concern

THINK ABOUT:

· What do you think about curriculum?

· Do you think our curriculum is age appropriate?

· Is it more difficult than it was in years past?

Some thoughts brought up:

	We are a high performing school
	Students are on level, but the parent’s perception may be that the child is struggling, but really they aren’t—cannot compare to kids
	Some students are tutored just to be high-achieving and possibly to be in TAG
	Curriculum is mandated by state—we have to keep up and raise the standards to keep up with the growing trend and should want that for our kids
	Not all students are “A” students—that shouldn’t be important as long as they are trying hard and achieving on their individual appropriate levels
	Maybe giving parents an approximate time outside of the classroom needed per assignment
	Look at what the purpose of tutoring is: some tutoring is not due to academic issues, but emotional concerns like self-esteem
	Sometimes a tutor at home may signify to certain children that they don’t need to pay pure attention in class because it will be readdressed later
	Children need to learn study skills at a young age to help carry over into habits for middle and high school
	With homework, the parents on the board don’t feel like they have to re-teach at home. That is the purpose of homework, to re-teach and review.
	School is not the same now as it was a few years ago, ever-changing

IX. Next LSAC Meeting is on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18^{th ,} at 2:00 J

April 16, 2008

1. Members for next year: Lisa Pinkerton, Charlie Feehan, Kim Tobin, Terry Bryant, Charlia Faulkner, Laurie Ferguson, Heather Pullen, and Rebecca Evans.

2. Still need one new member—letters of intent are due back by April 29^th, and elections on May 1^st.

3. Changes for next year: New superintendent, new budget, rezoning concerns, etc.

4. An email will go out if any letters of interest come in and where ballot boxes will be located if needed.

5. Our first meeting for next year will be in September—the third Wednesday in September at 2:00.

6. On Monday, April 21^st, at 7:00, our new superintendent will be at Milton High School talking about new math and continuous achievement. Her children went to Fulton county schools.

7. Budget 101 flyer details how the board goes about where to cut money, etc. It provides a lot of information.

8. Budget Calendar with meeting dates and recommendations are included in packet as well—proposed step and 2.5 % salary increase.

9. One big concern is that there aren’t as many teachers being produced as there used to be. Fulton really needs to step up with their salary and incentives in order to keep teachers.

January 16, 2008

In attendance: Lisa Pinkerton, Charlia Faulkner, James Eubank, Laurie Ferguson, Heather Pullen, Rebecca Evans, Charlie Feehan

I. Welcome back! 2008!

II. Discussed happenings of Cluster meeting

III. Charlia will keep everyone posted on budget and Superintendant search.

IV. LSAC for next year—needing to publicize openings:

Ideas:

1. Kim Tobin (already agreed)

2. Stan Kelly (need to talk with)

3. Mimi Harris (need to talk with)

4. Mr. Tauscher (need to talk with)

*Lisa Pinkerton is willing to roll off of committee or stay in—please let her know what you’d like her to do

*Charlie Feehan is willing to stay one more year

* James Eubank will be rolling off

V. Discussed and watched Raising Cain video. Boys learn differently and we need to recognize that they learn differently and that they will act differently in the halls, etc. than little girls do.

November 14, 2007

Members in attendance:

Charlia Faulkner, Lisa Pinkerton, Laurie Ferguson, Heather Pullen, James Eubank, Terry Bryant, and Rebecca Evans

Welcome!

Approval of Minutes

Enrollment:

Enrollment is pretty consistent. Right now we are up to around 650. We are anticipating more enrollment right after the winter holiday break. This is usually a surging time. This isn’t anticipated to be a large number. We will remain around the same number.

ITBS Testing:

Scores should be going home in this Thursday’s papers. ITBS scores will be discussed at the next early release for teachers. 5^th and 4^th will be reviewing together. 3^rd and 2^nd will be reviewing together to make sure that everyone is on the same page and locate any weaknesses we see based on groups. New Prospect did well.

School Safety Location:

For our school safety plan and strategic plan, we will now be going across the street to the new park. This will allow more flow in traffic and more places for the children to be to help with organization during such a crisis. We are awaiting approval from the park at this time.

Discussed Highlights of Nov. 14 Cluster LSC Meeting

GPS Math Comments—Milton High School (handout)

Two high school math teachers came and talked with the cluster group to discuss the new math and dispel any rumors about the new math. One discussion that came up was that the new math has a lot to do with writing. Math is not just numbers. Math does involve writing and you have to be able to explain how you got the answer that you did. Any test that comes up between now and college, they are going to ask for the written form of the answer or presented in written (not numeric) form. We are looking at multiple approaches to build critical thinking in math skills.

Superintendant—James Wilson

Water Issue: The RUMOR that is going around that Governor is talking about closing schools on Monday and Tuesday of next week to conserve water. Fulton County is taking to the board that fields should not be watered, buses are not being washed anymore, etc.
Early Release: It is going well. NPES piloted it within the cluster. J
Q & A

Proposed School Calendar (handout):

2008-2009 Calendar:

First Day of school: August 11^th

Last Day: May 22^nd

(89 instructional days in 1^st semester, and 91 days in 2^nd semester)

2009-2010 Calendar:

First Day of school: August 10^th

Last Day: May 21^st

(90 instructional days in 1^st semester, and 90 days in 2^nd semester)

NFCPTA Legislative Forum Update (handout)

Next Meeting Date-January 16, 2007

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007

In attendance: Charlia Faulkner, Heather Pullen, Laurie Ferguson, Rebecca Evans, Charlie Feehan

	Welcome back to LSAC for 2007-2008
	Current Enrollment: 630
	Welcome new third grade teacher, Kelly Schnibbe.
	ITBS testing is going well. Huge absences on Monday due to illness. After Monday, absences were back to being low again. We are currently looking to do make ups for children. Most of our children have already completed their makeup work.
	The cluster focus for this year is science. The science vertical team will be meeting during early release days. They are looking for a seamless science approach. Tamara Moor and Ashley Blitchington are representing NPES at these meetings. Every school in the cluster has two representatives.
	Learning Matters with Early Release. Things are going really well. There is a concern that there is negative feedback. This is due to low attendance in some south fulton county schools.
	Affidavit of Residency is going well at New Prospect. It is a tedious process that might not show the results we want. If they are not back in by the beginning of October. If they are not turned back in, students will not be able to remain enrolled.
	Discussed handout for new Georgia Graduation Requirements. The biggest change is that now there will only be one kind of diploma. The other change is in middle school there will be one high school credit given for advanced math.
	Math Forums on October 8^th and October 29^th. This is for parents to answer their questions. Please be careful about talking about whether or not you are happy with the current math curriculum with parents. Please make statements about observations of program so far, and that it is a Fulton County mandate with the process of selecting a textbook. GPS is a state mandate. This has been a phase-in process for over two years. Math is all hands-on with higher level thinking. There are no textbooks being used anymore.
	Discussed tax reform handout. The chamber wants better schools for two reasons: better employees (young adults), and bigger companies that are looking for high quality employees want great schools so that these people will move to our area for better schools for their children.
	Legislative Forum was discussed. It is on October 23 at the Roswell Teaching Museum.
	Textbook Adoption handout—FYI
	Meeting Calendar was given out. This is a comprehensive calendar with dates for the Cluster Advisory council and Katie Reeves Community Meetings.

New Prospect Council Bylaw:

Article V: Membership

Changes: Transfer definition of membership from school council law changes document into our own bylaws. This can replace the current article five in our bylaws.

Article XI:

Changes: The principal is no longer required by law, but can be the chairperson.

Add that sentence to this section.

Article XIII: Insert sentence about training and interaction with the local board from yellow changes worksheet

Future Meeting Dates:

November 14, January 16^th, March 12^th, Possibly April 16^th (if needed)

Election for Chair, Vice-chair, and secretary

	Ms. Pinkerton has been nominated for chair
	Ms. Faulkner for vice-chair
	Ms. Ferguson for secretary

We need to exchange contacts for board members. Ms. Faulkner will get that to us. New email address list.

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Last updated Thursday September 11, 2008 11:42 AM -0400