November 19, 2019 at Tucker Middle School
Sonja Szubski called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM and introductions were made.
BOE Update and E-SPLOST Budget Issues – Allyson Gevertz
A welcome was given to new PAC members followed by “highlights”.
Superintendent Search – survey closes Wednesday 11/20. Called Board meeting for 12/2. Input from the survey will be summarized to create a profile for the new Superintendent.
GO Bond – discussions are happening by Board. Working to decide on list of how to use the GO Bond.
Redistricting process – Austin ES meeting 11/20, Pleasantdale was 11/18; Doraville 11/19. There was talk about Livsey’s geographic proximity—should Livsey be considered as a part of Pleasantdale ES.
Question posed regarding a cascading redistricting map. This idea did not gain traction at redistricting meetings.
2020 Facility Condition redo- SPLOST VI is coming in 2021. Talk of overall comprehensive redistricting may happen in 2021, if new schools are built.
Staff recommended plan to community re: redistricting. Interim Superintendent Ramona Tyson will bring her recommendation to Board in January when taking feedback to district Gevertz says Tyson stated she will review before she gives an opinion. Tyson is retiring so she is in a unique position to be helpful to DeKalb. She is thorough and meticulous and has been a Board Manager and Chief of Staff previously.
Connect with Allyson on Facebook, www.allysongevertz.com, and via her monthly newsletter.
Midvale Elementary’s Presentation: Morning Meetings Program
Midvale is in Year 4 of classroom morning meetings and in Year 2 of closing meetings (a reflection from morning):
- Greeting
- Share
- Activity
- Morning Message
The whole meeting takes 20-30 minutes
New this year are School wide Monthly meetings (2 groups: PreK-2nd & 3rd-5th)
Welcome – Greeting – Morning Message – IB Learning Profile –
IB Citizen of the Month – Closing
IB Ambassadors (students) will take more leadership mid-year.
Download a PDF version of the entire presentation here.
Tapestry Charter Public School’s Inclusive Practices (TIPs)
by Rich Benevento (Last Minute Fill in for Matt Tyson, Tapestry Public Charter AP & TIPs Director)
Inclusion model for autism. Tapestry won a grant after 5 years of operation. Due to this grant, Tapestry needs to share about their practices with other schools in order to keep their grant.
Matt Tyson, Tapestry’s Vice Principal, will be giving the full presentation at the DCSD’s December Cross-council Meeting
Best Practices include: Inclusion, Individualized learning, School Climate, STEAM, Co-Teaching (download the brochure)
More information can be found at www.tapestryinclusivepractices.org
School Updates
Smoke Rise Elementary: Oct 24th was groundbreaking for the new school. Began a decoding class through Ms. Bolsen’s STEM Foundation. Growth & achievement was 89.2. JaQuel Knight, former student and current famous choreographer, returned to Smoke Rise for visit with students and former teachers.
Tucker Middle Career day Thursday. Combined fine arts concert coming soon. $1500 Walmart grant for anti-bullying. FBLA finalists were competing.
Idlewood: Working on teaching Entrepreneurism. Working with kids on painting the school and taking pride of ownership in the school. New Principal doing a great job (submitted by PAC member)
Livsey: Had a “90s day” to celebrate their 91.3. STEM night was coming thanks to Laura Bolsen’s STEM foundation on 11/21. Lots of volunteers through a google RSVP. Microsoft coming, STEM for every child, SubZero attending. Using 5th graders as “tech-sperts”. Raffling a summer camp scholarship for Camp Invention.
Midvale: Morning meetings, Veteren’s Day celebration, new media center furniture, PTA working to get approval to redo floors. InTucker magazine featured a Tech teacher, had IB professional learning on their teacher workday, and getting new parking over Thanksgiving.
Open Work Orders – DCSD Regional Superintendent, Trenton Arnold
A year ago, Principals were asked to close unneeded open work orders. They have seen a 30% reduction of open work orders. Technicians need to close them out and support divisions to make sure they are closed.
Midvale down from 51 to 30 open work orders
Smoke Rise closed 37 of 45 open work orders
TMS 8 open orders, 32 closed
Idlewood – 50-60 need closing
Mr. Arnold says we should as a district tighten up on trying to let reflect accuracy of orders.
Closing Remarks
Laura Bolsen is willing to help schools with STEM and/or send teachers to training/conferences and can set up STEM night or bring coding to school. Her company, STEM for Every Child won 6th place out of 24 in Atlanta Magazine’s GIVE Atlanta Top Non-Profits 2019 issue.
City of Tucker has a school page feature Cluster schools: www.tuckerga.gov/schools
THS Foundation brought in almost $5000 from Casino Night on 11/2!
TCC’s next meeting on 1/21/20 will be in conjunction with Atlanta Food Bank/Networks Partnership. We need at least 25 people in the room to participate in and learn about how “food insecure” people navigate life. Bring your counselors and “super” volunteers.
Redistricting conversation likely coming in March 2020.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:24PM.
Click here to download a PDF version of these meeting notes.