Curriculum Council Minutes 5/23/24
2023-2024 Ida Curriculum Council Minutes
Thursday, May 23, 2024 8:15-10:15 a.m.
Middle School Library
Staff and Community Representatives Present:
*Elementary School: Christina Fitzgerald
*Elementary Parent Representative: Jessica Kisonas
*Middle School: Audrey Hamm, Anne Capling, Amy LaVigne-Benore
*Middle School Parent Representative: Randi Kitts
*High School: Meg Alexander, Caitlin Ryan
*High School Parent Representative: Andrea Allen, Amy Strimpel
*Administrators: David Eack, Lucy Becker, Allison Bondie, Stacy Maynard
*Board Member: Jamie Hunter
*Chairperson: Sarah Ash
Ida Curriculum Council Minutes for May 23, 2024
1. District
• Summer learning program (K-8th grade) is being offered in person three days per week. The Middle School program will focus on core areas that students did not do well in.
• Strategic Plan update was given and the revised vision, mission, and goals were shared. The group is at the final stage and once completed the full update will be shared with the board of education, staff, and community.
2. K-12 Communications: High School Topics
• Leadership update was given by Meg Alexander. The classes are wrapping up their initiatives from this year. Students have been encouraging school spirit by having ‘Spirit Friday’ this spring. The group also hosted a mental health day earlier in May. This event went well and had positive feedback. Students have also been helping with senior special event preparations such as decision day and the senior picnic.
• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates
o Supplemental English course proposal was reviewed and discussed. This course would serve as an additional ELA course for students in addition to their primary English class. Students would receive supplemental direct instruction and reteaching differentiated by grade level as needed. A vote was taken and the proposal passed with 16 in favor and 0 rejections. The course will be offered when it fits in the schedule and based on student need.
o CTE Course credit proposal was reviewed and discussed. Students who are considered a completer in a state approved CTE program will have the option to waive one science and/or one world language credit. Per the Michigan graduation requirements, students need three science credits and two world language credits to graduate. This flexibility for CTE students would allow them to have more flexibility in their schedule and/or take additional CTE classes in their desired pathway. A vote was taken and the proposed change passed with 16 in favor and 0 rejections. The change will be effective in the fall of 2024 with the incoming freshmen class (class of 2028).
• Counselor Update – May 6th there was an application workshop for students with the University of Michigan. May 8th was the Ida Early Middle College graduation with 12 students who graduated. May 14th there was a college application workshop. Decision Day is May 24th at 9am along with the senior breakfast and picnic. Honors night is on May 29th. Scheduling has been taking place with students and the master schedule is almost complete.
3. K-12 Communications: Middle School Topics
• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates
o Big Ideas math program was piloted for 6th-8th grade students. We are still waiting to see final assessment results to assess effectiveness. The company will allow us to do a second-year
pilot before making decisions on an adoption, if needed. We will be making this decision in the coming weeks.
• HIV and AIDS instruction was presented on May 13th for 6th grade and will be on May 31st for 8th grade students.
• Counselor Update – none given
• Testing is starting to wrap up at the middle school
• Many special events have been taking place and are coming up such as 4th grade tours, awards breakfast, field day, and some grade level field trips.
• Teacher appreciation week went well; Mrs. Strimpel was thanked for all her hard work providing meals for the staff.
• Schedules for next year are being reviewed and adjusted as needed.
4. K-12 Communications: Elementary School Topics
• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates
o Literacy program update was shared. Various sample materials have been arriving and will be used as the school begins the process to evaluate and adopt a new reading curriculum. Optional program overviews will be held virtually after school before the end of the school year and the evaluation process will continue into next year. Some grade levels may pilot a new program in the fall of 2024 depending on interest.
o Mystery Science was adopted last year and has received positive feedback. Teachers received mystery packs to go along with the program for this year. A survey went out to determine how many packs need to be replaced for the 2024-2025 school year and replenishment packs will be ordered in June.
• 3rd Grade Reading Bill – End of year IRIPs will be sent home and filed in CA60s. The retention component of the law has been removed.
• HIV instruction for 4th grade was presented on May 2nd and the maturation lessons will be on May 30th.
• Testing is wrapping up
• The MTSS team will be focusing on behavior updates for next year and aligning the character program.
• Teacher appreciation week was a huge success.
• Lots of special events and field trips are taking place.
• Field Day is coming up.
• 4th grade clap out will happen on the last day of school and all 4th graders will be receiving a shirt designed by the 4th grade leadership group.
5. Parent Group Report
• Parent group update was shared by Amy Strimpel and notes provided from Sara Batson. The groups have been doing many activities such as those listed below.
o Elementary School staff appreciation week with a state of Michigan theme. The parent group utilized local and Michigan companies and brands for almost everything they provided. Staff commented on how great the week was, including the daily themes.
o 4th grade BINGO and golf outings were recently held
o Over 350 Northern Red Oak trees went home with students who signed up for them as part of the Earth Day celebrations
o Final bookfair was a success at the elementary school
o Field Day will be on June 5th for the elementary school with volunteers helping at stations and the Kona Ice truck
o Elections for the PTA board for next year have taken place
o Middle School had a BOGO book fair which was a success
o Middle and High School staff appreciation meals were provided to staff
o Parent group volunteers helped with the band ice breaker event
6. Upcoming Student Events
• Young Author Event was held in April, Loralie Ilstrup took 1st place in the personal narrative category and Hudson Hubbard took 3rd place in the personal narrative category.
7. Assessment Updates
• Spring 2024 testing window is closed. Preliminary results are coming back for M-Step and have been shared with teachers. Students are able to access their PSAT or SAT scores through their College Board account and we will have school reports in June.
• NWEA and STAR testing is wrapping up for kindergarten-8th grade students.
• Spring 2025 testing calendar has been released and was shared. It is very similar to the calendar from this year.
8. Professional Development Opportunities
• If you have any PD ideas for 2024-2025 school year, please share them with Sarah Ash. Post-PD surveys are also reviewed for potential topics of interest. Choices will be given to teachers as often as possible during PD days.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid – June 12th from 8am-1pm via Zoom
• MiSHCA School Health Conference (focus on Whole Child) – June 18th-19th, Mt. Pleasant
• Reading Above the Fray Book Study (book provided) – virtual meeting dates July 10th, July 17th, July 24th, and July 31st from 9-10:15am
• Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference – July 17th-18th, Fruitport
• 6th-12th Grade Disciplinary Literacy Summer Symposium – August 19th-20th, Oakland Schools
• Science of Reading Literacy Day (multiple sessions to choose from) – August 22nd, Ellis Library
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference – September 25-28th, Chicago
• Always available: EduPaths and Michigan Virtual online professional learning. https://www.edupaths.org. www.michiganvirtual.org. Free, self-paced courses, SCECHs are available for most courses
9. Future Meetings
· Meeting schedule day/time for 2024-2025 school year will be developed and shared in August.
Adjournment 10:15
