Agenda - 11-10-1998 - Attachment #3a

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Lincoln Center personnel directly involved with that area: Human Resources - Hazel Gibbs; Finance - Grace Holton; Technology - Lisa Bartles and Doug Noell; Transportation - Marylin Truelove; Before /After School Programs - Mary Roberts and the After- School Directors; Preschool - Patsy Byrd; AG/Enrichment - Sandra Page; and Reading/Language Arts - Mary Clayton. Three focus group sessions were held on components of the model for teachers, other school personnel, and parents. Topics included an Open Forum on the Model, Differentiated Staffing and School Governance, and Extended School Day and Before/After School Programs. Information provided from these focus groups provided a sample response to the model from teachers and parents and gave information for the subcommittees to use in their planning. For individual teacher and parent sessions, there was an average of 6 teachers and 10 parents.. Additional information about the model was gained through a phone survey designed to solicit 600 responses from parents both within Southern Village and as well as outside the Southern Village community. The report from the company that conducted the survey, FGI, and the budget for the new school are included in the Appendix. Full development of all components of the model is provided in this report by outlining the work of the planning team and its subcommittees. This elaboration will give teachers and parents a clearer view of the model, assist teachers in their decisions about being a member of the staff, and parents in their decisions related to sending their students to our school. This model is significantly different in several aspects from the way our present schools operate. Areas of distinction include: -the use of resources and staff -the organization of classes and class size the governance of the school -the use of a consistent curriculum, delivery, assessment, standards and methods of reporting the vision of technology penetrating the home environment the use of time during the school day the before and after - school programs During the Edison/Model School process, skepticism was expressed about developing a district model rather than going with Edison, because it was not clear that the district would devote the necessary resources to quality implementation. While the district will not be able to offer all the resources that Edison can, we have several essential components in place. With the approval of the 1998 -1999 school budget, the entire request for the planning year for the new elementary school at Southern Village was funded. The funds for the planning year are significant. Start up funds for staffing (principal, assistant principal, technology director, media specialist) total $170,900. The planning year provides for the employment of the principal for 12 months, assistant principal for 11 months and both the technology director and media specialist for 6 months. Having these individuals on staff for this amount of time before the opening of school will ensure responsible planning with individuals being compensated at their certificate rate. The opportunity for this beginning core of staff to develop relationships with each other through the planning process and daily interaction is invaluable. Additionally, $95,000 is allocated for planning year stipends, secretarial assistance, supplies, and staff development. Extensive staff development is planned for teachers, teacher assistants and, as needed, parents. The internal support for preparing the refinement of this model has been exceptional. Weekly meetings are held with Cabinet to discuss a myriad of issues related to opening the new school. Each member of the Cabinet has met with me frequently to refine plans for areas they