Curriculum Council Minutes 02/27/2025

Staff and Community Representatives Present: 

*Elementary School: Julie Kerfoot

*Elementary Parent Representative: Sara Batson

*Middle School: Audrey Hamm, Amy LaVigne-Benore, Brittany Pawlak

*Middle School Parent Representative: Randi Kitts

*High School: Meg Alexander, Randy Daniels, Collin Vogt-Williams

*High School Parent Representative: Andrea Allen, Jessica Kisonas

*Administrators: Lucy Becker, David Eack, Chuck Fuller, Allison Georgic, Stacy Maynard

*Board Member: Jamie Hunter

*Chairperson: Sarah Ash

 Ida Curriculum Council Minutes for February 27, 2025   

1.  District  

• Jean Foster hosts monthly brainstorm meetings to network with PE/Health teachers. Please contact Jean Foster from the ISD for the virtual meeting link if you are interested. The next meeting is March 18^th at 3pm.
• A literature review about The Giver was discussed. This book is currently read in eighth grade literature classes. Concerns were raised regarding the violence and suicide that is present in the book. In response, a committee convened in January to carefully examine the book’s content and educational value. After thorough discussion, the committee concluded The Giver continues to offer valuable educational benefits such as fostering critical thinking, choice, and the consequences of conformity. The group recognized that these themes provide important opportunities for discussion and reflection. The Curriculum Council reviewed the recommendation and voted unanimously to recommend that the book remains part of the curriculum affirming the book is thought provoking and supports the development of literary analysis skills. It was also noted that teachers provide context and support for students as they engage with the more challenging themes that may be present in text within their classrooms. 

2.  K-12 Communications: High School Topics 

• Leadership update was shared by Meg Alexander. The group is starting to plan a mental health day this spring due to the positive feedback it received last year. The vaping initiative has been ongoing to educate students about the risks and dangers of vaping. Students are planning to attend a leadership conference in April. Spring events and sports will be starting soon so the group will also be helping with events as they arise in the coming months.
• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates 
  1. Computer Science course proposal was reviewed and discussed. This would be a semester long course for 9^th-12^th grade students. A vote was taken and the proposal passed with 17 people in favor and 0 rejections. The course may be offered when it can fit in the master schedule.
  2. Kinesiology/Exercise Science course proposal was reviewed and discussed. This would be a semester long course for 10^th-12^th grade students. A vote was taken and the proposal passed with 17 people in favor and 0 rejections. The course may be offered when it can fit into the master schedule.
  3. Music Appreciation and Sound Exploration course proposal was reviewed and discussed. Collin Vogt-Williams also shared the reasoning behind trying to add this course to the High School. This would be a semester long course for 9^th-12^th grade students. A vote was taken and the proposal passed with 17 people in favor and 0 rejections. The course may be offered when it can fit into the master schedule.
  4. Music Production and Audio Technology course proposal was reviewed and discussed. Collin Vogt-Williams also shared some projects students may complete and topics that would be covered in the course. This would be a semester long course for 9^th-12^th grade students. A vote was taken and the proposal passed with 17 people in favor and 0 rejections. The course may be offered when it can fit into the master schedule.
  5. Musical Theater course proposal was reviewed and discussed. Collin Vogt-Williams shared the need for the course and ideas he has for various productions. This would be a year long course for 9^th-12^th grade students. A vote was taken and the proposal passed with 17 people in favor and 0 rejections. The course may be offered when it can fit into the master schedule.
  6. A Middle School/High School credit change revision was shared regarding the .5 technology credit that students are required to have to graduate. The revision included a list of alternate courses a student could take to receive the .5 credit while still meeting the requirement to have an online learning experience as required by the state of Michigan. This revision was made to provide clarity for pupil accounting and scheduling purposes. A vote was taken and the revision passed with 17 people in favor and 0 rejections. This revision is effective immediately beginning with the class of 2028.
• Counselor Update – The cash campaign has been ongoing encouraging students to complete their FAFSA and apply for scholarships, there was also a FAFSA parent night held earlier in February. Monroe County Community College will be coming to administer the Accuplacer for students who are interested. There will be a Schools to Tools field trip on Friday to expose students to careers in the trades. Preparations for scheduling for the fall are underway and there will be a parent night and student presentation for 8^th grade students in the coming weeks. 
• Monroe Community Credit Union will be providing a financial bootcamp to junior and senior students about budgeting and decision making. A culminating event will be held with various business partners in the coming months.
• Class of 2025 Top Ten was announced and celebrated.

 3.   K-12 Communications: Middle School Topics 

• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates 
  1. Amy LaVigne-Benore shared how the English department is incorporating Simplify Writing and the daily 5 review into literature classes. This spiral review provides students an opportunity to continually practice various grammar skills. 
  2. Seventh graders visited the Zekelman Holocaust Center in January to learn about topics they have been studying and reading about this year. This experience was highly engaging and received positive feedback from all who attended. 
• Counselor Update – Last week the counselors took 30 female students to the University of Toledo for a female engineering day, the students were exposed to various careers in engineering and were able to visit the college campus. February has been heart health month and students have been participating in various challenges during lunches. A group of high school students are in the process of being trained and will be providing presentations to sixth graders on the dangers of vaping in the coming weeks. Dept. McLaughlin and Mrs. Pawlak have been giving presentations to 6^th grade students about online, phone, and internet safety. The counselors will also be meeting with students to discuss scheduling and class options for next year. 
• Student council will be hosting various March is reading month dress up days and events. The group also wrapped up their prescription drug initiative. 
• The Student Support Provider has established a partnership with the Monroe County Opportunity Program and has a group of students who have been volunteering at the food pantry on the weekends and also working at local businesses. 
• Paraprofessionals are starting a training series to enhance their skills in supporting students effectively and learning more about how to help foster a positive learning environment.

4.  K-12 Communications: Elementary School Topics 

• Curriculum/Assessment Changes/Needs and/or Updates
  1. A new reading program will be adopted for the 2025-2026 school year. There are multiple teachers piloting two programs. Teachers will be sharing their experiences and voting on the preferred program of choice in the next month and a recommendation for adoption will be coming at the next meeting. 
• Counselor Update – classroom presentations have been taking place including lessons on social skills. Small grade level groups have also been meeting regularly to work on various skills. Girls on the Run will be starting soon.
• The elementary school is gearing up for a busy few months with the Read-A-Thon in March, a new Streaks behavior incentive program, kindergarten roundup, and a literacy night for families on March 5^th from 6-7:30pm. The reading month theme is wild about reading this year.

5.  Parent Group Report 

• Parent Group update was shared by Sara Batson. Many events have taken place since our last meeting including Santa’s Workshop and a Daddy Daughter Dance.  A mother son event will be held in the coming weeks at Level Up. There was a book fair in January and the annual bogo book fair will be held in May. There will be a lot of special activities that the group will be helping with in March for reading month including the Read-A-Thon, door decorating contests, and dress up days.

6.  Upcoming Student Events 

• Knabusch Math and Science Center Field Trips are available. Contact Nicole Shaughnessy if you are interested.
• MathCounts wrapped up their season earlier in February with a competition in Woodhaven. 
• STEM CEF (Chemistry Education Foundation) Regional Science Challenge for 5^th-8^th grade students took place at the ISD on February 27^th. Our Middle School teams took 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place and competed against other schools throughout the county. Congratulations to everyone who participated!
• Monroe County Science Challenge for 3^rd-4^th grade students will be on March 3^rd-4^th at the ISD.
• Quiz Bowl grade level competitions will be next week at the Monroe County Community College. Good luck to all of our teams! 
• Monroe County Authors’ Program is underway. Final writing pieces are due by March 19^th. 
• Monroe County Spelling Bee will be on Thursday, April 3^rd for 5^th-8^th grade students. Grade level spelling bees are taking place at the Middle School to determine the top spellers who will participate in this event.

7. Assessment Updates 

• NWEA/STAR Reading, K-4 took place in January. Grade level data was shared with the group. 
• Spring 2025 Testing Windows:
  1. 3^rd, 4^th, 6^th, 7^thGrade M-Step
     • ELA-April 7^th-May 16^th
     • Math-April 7^th-May 16^th 
  2. 5^thGrade M-Step
     • ELA-April 7^th-May 16^th
     • Math-April 7^th-May 16^th
     • Science-April 7^th-May 16^th
     • Social Studies-April 7^th-May 16^th 
  3. 8^thGrade 
     • PSAT 8-April 7^th-25^th (*tentatively April 9^th)
     • Science M-Step-April 7^th-May 16^th
     • Social Studies M-Step-April 7^th-May 16^th 
  4. 9^thGrade
     • PSAT 9-April 7^th-25^th (*tentatively April 10^th)
  5. 10^thGrade
     • PSAT 10-April 7^th-25^th (*tentatively April 10^th)

1. 11^thGrade
   • SAT-April 7^th-25^th (*tentatively April 11^th)
   • WorkKeys-April 10^th
   • Science M-Step-April 7^th-May 16^th
   • Social Studies M-Step-April 7^th-May 16^th 

• NWEA and STAR testing will begin at the end of April/beginning of May for kindergarten-8^th grade students.

8. Professional Development Opportunities 

• If you have any PD ideas for 2025-2026 school year, please share them with Sarah Ash. Feedback and suggestions provided on PD surveys are being reviewed for potential topics of interest. Collaboration with other districts throughout the county are also being discussed.
• Monroe County Dyslexia Summit – March 3^rd, 8:30-3:00 pm
• Michigan Science Teachers Association Annual Conference – March 7^th-8^th in Lansing
• Michigan Reading Association Annual Conference-March 7^th-9^th in Grand Rapids
• MACUL Annual Conference – March 19^th-21^st in Detroit
• MiAEYC Annual Early Learning Conference – April 13^th-15^th in Grand Rapids
• Physical Education PD Day with Dr. Deb Burkey – April 22^nd at the Monroe ISD
• Michigan Council for Social Studies Annual Conference – April 25^th-26^th in Grand Rapids
• Michigan School Vocal Music Association Summer Conference – July 23^rd-24^th in Lansing
• SHAPE Annual Conference – November 6^th-7^th in Lansing
• 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

• Next meeting May 15, 2025-8:15 a.m. in the Middle School Library. 

Adjournment 10:15