March 19, 2019 at Midvale Elementary School
Tucker Cluster Council (TCC) Meeting Notes
Welcome and Introductions were made by Erin Kirn.
Public Comments
- Matt Holmes from City of Tucker spoke about the school page in the InTucker magazine which includes a Brag sheet with positive info on every school in the Cluster. This issue also included an article about how Tucker Brewing Company (TBC) is partnering with Idlewood Elementary (read all about it here).
- Idlewood representative (insert name here) shared that there have been meetings for parents sharing strategies in math as well as counselors sharing info on community services (employment, violence prevention, multicultural services). TBC, their Partner in Education is conducting a fundraiser. Keller Real Estate gave a pizza party, they have implemented an Employee of the month program and had a huge Black History Program. Idlewood also has students participating in Science Olympiad and is having a Mother/Son Father/Daughter dance.
- Roger Carter thanked Idlewood for their support. He is using his business (WellMed) and working to leverage other businesses to assist at Idlewood and create positive change. He is interested in starting an Ambassador Program and starting Focus Groups inviting principals and community members to share in community.
- Anne Thomas shared that Tucker Middle School is hosting a Rising 6th Grade Parent night in conjunction with the TMS PTA on March 26th at 6:30pm
- Dr. Cunningham shared that the Tucker Middle School Robotics won first place in recent competition
- Sabrina Chambers shared that Livsey Elementary is presenting “A Hairy Tale” on Wed/Th March 20/21 at 7pm at THS
- Jennifer Lenac shared that Midvale PTO has a Silent Auction at Greater Good BBQ on Saturday, March 23rd from 6-9pm; $15 tickets for one; $25 per couple
- Tucker Middle School Chorus is going to Carnegie Hall in 2 weeks. Was invited due to having 3 Gold performances.
Presentation on GA IB Programs by John Denine, Executive Director of Center and Study of Independent Education (CASIE)
- IB is growing fast in urban public schools
- Paid for with public and private funding- 4 programs: PYP- Elementary Program, MYP – 6th-8th grade Program, DP and CP – 11th/12th grade Programs
- DeKalb has no CP programs but has 2nd most in number of programs behind Atlanta Public Schools
- DeKalb has 39 IB programs currently trying to get authorized.
- 3 Clusters in DeKalb have IB. Since 1982, CASIE has authorized 84 IB programs in DeKalb.
- IB has a Learner Profile with 10 character attributes to generate in children.
- There is a 73 item rubric for implementation and the IB process takes 3-5 years. Once authorized, there is a check in every 5 years to remain certified.
- Costs of IB: 1)IB Coordinator 2) World Language Staff – must teach proficiency in a foreign language 3) Annual fees are $10,000 or less depending on the program 4)Teacher training
- Brockett is working toward starting the process of becoming an IB candidate school. Needs to be a unanimous decision by leadership, staff, and parents.
- DeKalb does provide some funding in the budget
Midvale says the district has been very supportive of their IB program helping with PYP program enhancements and working to help get school-wide training. Transdisciplinary learning/cross curricular learning is something Midvale is working on.
- TMS – every IB student takes a world language either Spanish or French. 8th Graders are working on a presentation/paper to help solve problems in the world; staff has professional learning training on Wednesdays; Mr. Knapp is their IB Coordinator; TMS went through reauthorization last year.
- IB is taught to the State standards…there is no PYP or MYP curriculum so teachers must teach standards through an “IB lens”.
- THS has DP. This is a program where students apply and are selected. into the program. THS is working to expand their IB cohorts by having a PreIB track with around 75 kids in PreIB in 9th/10th grades. Presentations of Extended Essays occur by IB students in 12th grade.
- THS is applying for the CP Program currently. This will allow THS to be more inclusive of STEM initiatives and career pathways.
- THS has an IB DP Westpoint Appointee.
- Budget- teacher travel is a district choice. CASIE trainers are international.
- State level is not as good at funding IB
- Richard Woods is the IB contact at GADOE. Let him know how he can better support IB in our schools.
Presentation on NEW Smoke Rise Elementary School by Trenton Arnold, Regional Superintendent – View PowerPoint Here
- Located at old Sears building on corner of Mountain Industrial and Lawrenceville Hwy?
- Currently only one entrance/exit…they are looking at making a second entrance/exit on Flintstone
- New SRES will open in August 2021
- Similar footprint to Fernbank Elementary school with 900 seats
- There will be redistricting conversation in Sept-Nov of 2020. Public meetings for redistricting will be in 3 rounds:
- 1) Public input
2) Several options given by county for input from stakeholders
3) Final option presented for input from stakeholders
- 1) Public input
- Superintendent will take final proposal to Board in January 2021
- Rising 5th graders can remain in school even if redistricted according to District policy
- Possible that students are redistricted out of the Cluster? That would be looked at in Round 1 of meetings
- Invite realtors to district meetings
- Use TCC to help move our Cluster’s interests in Redistricting
- Deferred maintenance Items from SPLOST VI???
Idlewood HVAC needs – Trenton Arnold
- There will be 500 million dollars available from SPLOST VI and will begin in 2022.
- Click here to get benchmark data from the DCSD website (Community > Building Spaces > Data > FCA & FEAA Data)
- Talk to Principals to see what needs are
Tucker Education Foundation – Ashley Little, TEF Committee Member
- TEF has drafted bylaws and are refining them as a committee
- Working to get their 501(C)3 status
Next meeting at Brockett Elementary, Tuesday, May 14th, 6pm
Meeting was adjourned at 7:30pm.
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