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| | 1. | | Roll call.
Minutes note:
Members excused: Ms. Scott Krei and Ms. Mallory | | | |
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| | 2. | | Review and approval of the minutes of the January 27th meeting.
Minutes note: Ms. Pointer-Mace moved, seconded by Ms. Peay, for approval of the minutes. There were no objections. | | | |
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150630
| 0 | 3. | Communication | Communication relating to the 2015/16 activities of Milwaukee Math and Science Academy.
Minutes note: Susan Gramling, Children's Research Center, reviewed the extent that MMSA addressed CSRC's requirements that extended the school's probationary status until mid-year. MMSA submitted a letter, contained in file 150630, which addressed all of the required information requested by the recommendations and how they addressed the recommendations. Ms. Gramling found the school to be both specific and responsive to the recommendations. The other concern of CSRC was the number of in-school and out-of-school suspensions and the school response was specific and responsive. The memo submitted by Ms. Gramling is also contained in file 150630. The school seems to be doing well with both in- and out-of-school suspensions at this point, but there are still 5 more months left in the school year. Ms. Gramling's report also details how long the current administration/board has been with the school. The attendance rates, if at the same rate as they are for the past six months, will be better than last year's attendance rate. Their return rate is 67.5%, which is a slight decline from last year and she feels the school needs to explore ways to increase the return rate. The retention rate is 91.4%, while last year's rate was slightly lower, and, if they maintain this rate, they are on schedule to exceed or maintain the retention rate of last year. Ms. Gramling also reviewed the teacher and staff retention report, both of which have dropped so far this year from the previous year.
David Chief - school administrator - the board is meeting 8 times per year and is getting reports from the school.
Krystal Bellmeier - Instructional Coordinator - they're providing more reading instruction for specific students and also supporting the teachers more to support those specific students.
Miss Legler - teaches 7th and 8th grade language arts - trying to get the students more hands-on and involved with reading instruction. She is working more one-on-one with the students who are struggling with reading.
Jamarque Bonds - 8th grader
Mr. Steinbrecher said he toured the school this morning and was very impressed.
Ms. Ventola - 1st grade teacher - K4 now has a full-time TA, which is helping the kids with their letters and their sounds. They are also focusing on writing skills in the lower grades this year.
Sadir Bozah - Board president - the board gets the budget details and they look for innovative ways to engage the students and the teachers, including teacher retreats.
Ms. Bellmeier said about 70% of parents have been involved at some point, but they would also like to see more parental involvement.
Torva Henderson - Dean of Students - they also started "Discussions with Dads" (which also includes brothers or uncles) and they try to meet their students' environmental and social needs.
Robert G. White, Sr. - organized "Discussions with Dads" and sees himself as the dad for the entire school, he's working on bringing more programs into the school. He was recruited to run the fathers' group at the school.
John Lavy - father of a daughter that goes to the school - would like to get all his kids into this school.
Bishop Core Ali - father of a first grade girl - finds the school very welcoming to parents. His daughter's reading skills are very high and she's doing well. He's the liaison with other Somali parents and students at the school.
Destiny - proud of her higher math scores
Tiana - student - proud of ELA
Sima Brema - 7th grader - her math grade has improved over the year.
Franso Shidad - enjoys working on social studies
Britosa Song - likes science and learned about the periodic table this year -another student came up to assist her.
Shalim Pickens - parent/guardian of 3 kids at MMSA -the teachers are hands-on and very supportive of the students.
Speakers from the public:
Marva Herndon - impressed by the student speakers. Recommends a review at the end of the school year.
Dr. Lawrence Hoffman - the parent corporation needs to be investigated as it's being investigated by the FBI. He had concerns with the school memo as well as the Children's Research Center report. He recommends keeping them on probation.
Calvin McNutt - MMSA employee whose daughter attended MMSA.
Jarett Fields said that the Concept school in Ohio was cleared of all charges and is not connected to this school.
Ms. Gramling recommends lifting the probation at this time. The probation period was established in the 2014/15 school year, so it's been 18 months.
Ms. Pointer-Mace moved, seconded by Mr. Steinbrecher, to lift the probationary status. There were no objections.
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150804
| 0 | 4. | Communication | Communication from the Charter School Review Committee transmitting its 2014-2015 Annual Report.
Minutes note: Mr. Fields went through the annual report, which will be presented to the Steering and Rules Committee. This year as the best year for the city's charter schools. On February 24th, there will be a presentation on the Green School, which is related to Escuela Verde. King's Academy and North Point Lighthouse had their contracts rescinded. The individual school enrollment numbers range from 66 to 872, with 88.6% to 100% African American. CSRC score cards its students much differently than the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does. Mr. Fields went through the annual report slide-by-slide and explained what was on each slide. | | | |
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150544
| 0 | 5. | Communication | Communication relating to administrative matters of the Charter School Review Committee.
Minutes note: One application was received and the application will be presented to the committee on on March 10th. If approved, it will go on to Steering and Rules.
Public testimony:
Dr. Lawrence Hoffman - had some concerns with what data is not reported, but some of that data is reported, and concerns about votes being taken in private.
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