School Council Meeting April 24^th

Meeting attended by Teresa, Lori, Robin, Allison & Joey Gunn, Dragos Calitoiu, Richard, Nora Ballantyne, Monique, Valerie Prosser, John, Dominic, Annette and Atma

· Student class distribution-ASAC-EQAO-letter or not.

· Lori’s report-cap for primary classes is 20 next year

· There are lower numbers for grades 2 and 5 – with the formula there are more grade 1’s than grade 2’s.

· There are different options to take into consideration for fall-multi-age, multi-grade classes

· One option would be to create four grade 1/2 – four grade 3/4 and three 5/6 classes

· Another option would be all 1/2/3 and 4/5/6, provided teachers are on the same page for that

· Triples are not requested that often – we need staff that is willing to teach triples, not all are ready to take on a triple, some are interested however some have new babies.

· Need to take into consideration that 12 grade 6 students (in Jen Dawson’s 4/5/6 class) are leaving. Introducing that many new students to a triple is difficult so teacher would prefer to have a 5/6 next year.

· Four teachers as a team with doubles – move into that and that formula will perhaps work for 07-08 and then think about the triples for the future.

· There is a big jump for students from grade 3 to grade 4 – difference between primary and junior will be less with the 3/4 classes.

· Parents* are concerned that we already have two triples and by getting rid of them for 07-08 this may be the end of that formula – parents feel that triples should be offered to students requesting and go from there. [Note: In these minutes, ‘parents’ refers to those individual parents who have expressed an opinion in this discussion; there are differences of opinion among parents and many have not expressed any opinion. Added to minutes by T. LeGrand.]

· We need to think what parents want and what teachers are capable of doing and be excited about what they are doing.

· Next year could be used for a stepping stone for the following year.

· Team teaching-easy to do with doubles.

· Richard thinks that triples should be thought about for the following year 08-09 – Annette doesn’t think that the triples should stop and then resume.

· Lori advised two reasons for going ahead with the option of four grade 1/2, four grade 3/4 and three 5/6 classes: 1) due to the current set up of 1/2’s and 2/3’s, many students are not being provided with the opportunity to have the same teacher twice, 2) it is difficult for the staff to do team teaching.

· Parents discussed if teachers would leave if presented with the triple grade scenario as well as parents and students leaving the school because of no triple option.

· Lori discussed if teachers are not ready to teach a triple and leave, then other teachers will be needed to fill to positions – possible that teachers who cannot find English positions could end up at LE and not be qualified to do the job. Lori does not want unhappy and frustrated teachers – could lead to unhappy and frustrated students and parents.

· Option of four grade 1/2, four grade 3/4 and three 5/6: would be nice to have grade 3 and 4’s more integrated.

· Trying to take away primary and junior from clubs and just have clubs.

· Question asked: Is this a decision yet? Teachers and classes need to be matched by May 1^st, may be some changes in the fall.

· Quite possible that Ellis Lynn will want to teach a triple – Jen is not comfortable teaching a triple with 12 students leaving this year.

· Triples: we want excitement – staff is interested in the idea, PD’ing around skills for multi-age teaching.

· Teachers need to be supported: concern about parent morale and teacher morale.

· Annette asked what do we need to do to address current concerns about multi-grade classes for next year? It would be great to get group of parents and teachers together to discuss it, and to make it sooner than later. Lori feels uncomfortable speaking for staff.

· Next staff meeting would be good to get parents and teachers to discuss as some teachers may be sitting on the fence.

· What makes alternative?

· Student-led conferences in Sept. before report cards – we need a measure because if we do not do the EQAO we need to put something back in to fill-in what has been taken away.

· We need to PD really well: e.g. sports – invite other schools, no winners, already discussed with Nicole (principal at Churchill).

· Alternative schools principals’ meetings – sharing info on alternative practices with other schools.

· Triples: we have them now-why get rid of? It would be really easy to divide students into classes; supports child-centred learning.

· Plans for Friday afternoons: kids work in multi-age groupings.

· We need to get teachers and staff together – important to have healthy dialogue.

· Dragos is concerned that multi-grade classes result in incomplete coverage of Ontario curriculum; may have impact on children when they go to grade 7. Richard responded that students leaving LE to know how to learn.

· Lori was asked what would you like?

· Set up meeting: discussion first at next week’s Education Committee meeting and then discuss with teachers before May 1^st submission of first vacancy list.

· More comfortable if a plan for the future is laid out.

· ASAC: revitalization survey coming out – plan for next year includes developing long-term goals for alternative.

· Karate: lessons for Joe’s class.

· Computer lab: Lori is working with someone new at the Board on planning/budget for project.

· Annette, OCASC: trustees can vote one way at committee and at Board vote another way. Committee minutes to be separate from Board minutes and will be posted on OCDSB website.

· CHEO: children’s mental health and bullying resources.

· Valerie: reported on meeting of revived Health and Safety/Environment Committee; plans for gardening this spring and initiatives next year.