Decatur School Board Meeting January 21, 2013

Decatur Superintendent’s Report January 21, 2013

Enrollment – 510 (+7 compared to the same time last year)

Leadership Team Vision “The Decatur School District and community are focused on high achievement and providing all of our students with the skills necessary for success in the 21 st century. We provide an environment that includes exemplary facilities and technology for the support of student success.”

The Decatur Leadership Team Vision Components: Focused on high student achievement All students included Skills for Success beyond high school Exemplary facilities for a learning environment reflecting pride Exemplary technology for instruction, access to information, and for developing student’s skills in the use of technology Partnership with community

School Safety and Crisis Response 1.Review and revise our Emergency Response Plans ▫Gathered input from the Leadership Team and Police Chief to prioritize concerns. ▫Met with principals to revise the Emergency Response Manual (Flip Chart) 2.Administrator Training in Emergency Response ▫Federal Funds are being proposed for Emergency and Crisis Planning for administrators ▫US Dept of Ed publications on crisis planning 3.Teacher Training – Principals work with staffs to review and practice lock-down and evacuation procedures. 4.Making sure security cameras and other equipment are working.

School Choice Recent Arkansas Supreme Court Case ruled the School Choice law unconstitutional due to the race restriction. Current thought is this is an “all or nothing” issue. “No Choice” – students attend school in their district of residence unless they obtain a legal transfer. “Open Choice” – students attend any school they choose.

Impact of Open Choice Re-segregation of schools – the affluent will be more likely to take advantage of these options leaving the disadvantaged behind. Efficiency – difficult to impossible for accurate planning for facilities and staffing. Stability – difficult to plan an educational program tailored to your a population when its likely to change year to year.

Area Representatives Dist 92 Representative Mary Slinkard Dist 91 Representative Dan Douglas Dist 1 Senator Bart Hester Dist 2 Senator Jim Hendren

GT Salary/FTE Breakdown Mrs. Mitchell serves as our Gifted and Talented Coordinator/Teacher. Her salary is paid as follows:.60 FTE Gifted and Talented (Operating Funds).40 Intervention (Categorical Funds)

What is Gifted and Talented? Gifted and Talented are students who show outstanding abilities or high performance in one or more of these areas: General Intellectual Ability Creative or Productive Thinking Leadership Ability

What is the purpose of a GT Program? Purpose of GT Program GT Program at DPS Meeting students rapid rate of learning in all or some areas of study. Students who are serviced in GT are given the opportunity to work with peers similar to them in areas of academic, creative, or/and leadership abilities. Providing time and resources so that students can pursue areas of special interests. Students are given time to work on independent projects that interest them. Providing students with lessons that promote creative growth and critical thinking. Students are given time to work on Creative Problem Solving Scenarios to nurture their creative and critical thinking abilities.

Decatur GT Services K-2 : GT Director will facilitate K-2 whole group enrichment for all students 30 minutes weekly and maintain portfolio records. 3-6 th Grade: GT Director will serve as facilitator for identified students in grades 3-6 for a minimum of 150 minutes per week. 7 th -8 th Grade: Students are served through monthly GT meetings and differentiation through content teacher th Grade: Students are served through monthly meetings, differentiation through content teacher, Pre- AP, and AP classes.

GT Number of Students 77 students K-12 are identified as Gifted and Talented at Decatur. 5% is considered the expected percentage of students to be identified as Gifted and Talented. At this rate, Decatur should have 26 students identified. Extra opportunities are good, but if that means students are struggling due to missing regular instruction, it can negatively impact the student.

GT Misconception A child that makes great grades should be in GT. -This is not true. Some students who just make good grades thrive in the regular classroom because they are challenged, work hard, and succeed.

Bright vs. Gifted Child Characteristics

GT Challenges: Curriculum – Lack of curriculum at the beginning of the year for grades K th and 8 th Grade Program needs to be improved. Students are only serviced through monthly meetings and differentiation through content teachers. Over identification of Students.

GT Solutions: Building a Curriculum –need time and Professional Development 7-8 pullout needed – could restructure and combine 3-4, 5-6, and thereby have time for 7-8 pullout. Could increase to full time GT position to allow pull-out service to 7-8. Focus resources on a smaller population of students that are correctly identified as Gifted and Talented.

Types (purposes) of Assessments SummativeFormative Assessments OF LearningAssessments FOR Learning Focus: Sorting and SelectingFocus: Learning for All

Formative Assessments– Assessments FOR Learning ▫3 Critical Questions 1.What do we want them to learn? 2.How will we know if they’ve learned? 3.What do we do when they don’t learn?

Decatur School Board Meeting