Tucker Cluster Council Virtual Meeting Agenda with Minutes from February 22, 2022
I. Welcome & Introductions
Sabrina Chambers & Stephanie Wilson (TCC Co-Chairs)
Sabrina Chambers opened the meeting at 6:33PM. She introduced herself and Stephanie Wilson again, welcomed everyone and began calling on principals
II. School Updates (Including COVID) from Tucker Cluster Principals
Brockett (Principal Antoinette Seabrook)
Geared up for 2nd semester – 1st semester was a little shaky getting everybody used to being back in person
PrPreparation for field day – excited they will get to have it – planning to hold it right before spring break
5th grade students participated in stock market game last year and they placed – planning to compete again this year and hoping to place! Mrs Seabrook works with them 2x a wk
Moving along on IB process – teachers had 3 days to step out of the classrooms and write IB units – which will get them closer to authorization – hopefully end of next school year
For 1st time doing after school tutorial – 3rd-5th students – focus on test prep for GA Milestones; K-2 will be focusing on foundational skills
Idlewood Principal (Principal Robin Elder)
Bowties and Tennis Shoes today (I think that’s what it was called)
Started after school tutorial in Jan that will run through March
Read Across America week – kick off AR during that time and Drop Everything and Write campaign – will also have a virtual literacy night for parents
STEAM day Mar 4
Book Fair hosted by PTA
Mar 13-31 have parent teacher student conferences for the first time – students and parents can set goals and understand map scores – looking forward to growth by end of year
GA Milestones parent night in March
Livsey (Principal Shawna Pickett)
Annual STEM night – over 40 families participated – Microsoft and Fernbank Science Center along with Livsey teachers presented
Girls Who Game participated in national comp on Feb 3rd – great experience
4 students placed at Dekalb Virtual Technology Fair
Girls Who Code – kids love it – thanks to Ms Kelly for making these clubs happen
PTO planning Spring Festival – (previously Fall Festival)
Midvale (Dr. Tara Dougherty)
Glad to be back!
Preparing for IB & STEM visits at end of May – virtual visits for reauthorization
1st in-person book fair since Covid – kids really excited and loved being able to choose books
Preparing to start In-person fundraiser – penny war between grades
Student celebrations – Three 5th graders in Soc Studies fair – going to regionals
5th grader published 1st book!
Smoke Rise (Principal Pamela McCloud)
Girls mentoring group – Strands of Pearls – mentoring group for girls in grades 4-5 – having a coat drive – had a chance to meet with new pastor at Mountain West church – the church will help them to deliver coats to needy families
Boys mentoring group – Boys of Distinction – will also be doing community service – male teachers and custodians work with those kids
Virtual STEM night is tomorrow (2/23)
GA Milestones bootcamp – for parents – understanding the Milestones and how they can help prep students
Beta Club – 2nd semester induction coming up
Team of teachers and Ms. McCloud just got back from New Orleans from the National ESEA conference – heard great info about students with disabilities; how to better prepare students with ESL, and how to support teachers and students through virtual
Tucker Middle – No one present to update
Tucker High School (Dr. Eric Parker)
Continuing to celebrate student successes – for first 4.5 weeks and last semester with Principal’s list and A/B honor roll – over 400 students earned one of the two
Boys basketball team won regional championship
Robotics team has qualified for World Championships again
FBLA and FCCLA placed at state level
Reading Bowl team placed in their competition
Going through IB reauthorization
Over 200 students applied through school choice for either IB or IB CTAE for next school year
THS has 338 seniors – school is focusing on graduation and college readiness efforts
Working with 9th grade students as they continue to transition in (many returned to in-person this semester)
Tutorials after school – EOC test preps
Working with City of Tucker to address parking concerns
Recognize the need/desire for for a drama club/theatre program and are working towards that
Community engagement initiatives – Restarting PTA and Tucker High School Foundation – the Foundation is having a golf tournament on March 21 at Stone Mountain
III. DeKalb County School District Board of Education Updates
Mrs. Allyson Gevertz, DeKalb Board of Education Rep for District 4
Mr. Diijon DaCosta, Dekalb Board of Education Rep for District 6 was unable to attend this meeting
Allyson Gevertz, DeKalb Board of Education Rep for District 4 – Mrs Gevertz was unable to attend but provided the following update:
Just wanted to follow up with the biggest news from the Board meeting last week. Because of the input from you and so many parents, the Board modified the proposed volunteer policy. The version that passed does NOT require fingerprinting and background checks for Level 2 volunteers. Level 3 volunteers (those who will be alone with students, for example, on field trips) will need fingerprinting and background checks. There will not be a charge for those and the District will have a mobile unit available to assist with access during peak times. Now that this policy is passed, the administration will work on a timeline for visitors and volunteers to return to our buildings. Mr. Arnold may know more about that by Tuesday.
The Board’s CMP discussion was moved to a called meeting on Friday, Feb. 25th.
I will be at the Northlake Panera from 3:00 to 5:00 on Monday, Feb. 28th for my next “4 Feedback” listening session. All are welcome to swing by and share your thoughts.
IV. DeKalb County School District Updates
Mr. Trenton Arnold, DCSD Regional Superintendent, Region II
Visitor Policy – Mrs. Gevertz made the motion to alter tier 2 volunteers and Mr. DaCosta expressed concerns about peak times and making sure that the equipment is available and ready to efficiently process tier 3 volunteers – both of our board members were effectively engaged in amending the policy
Mr. Arnold clarified that the Board is not actually approving/voting on the CMP – but accepting the recommendations made by the consulting firm – The BoE may choose to make some changes and recommendations as well; Also before many of the recs move into an active phase there will be further discussion and voting by the board on specific activities – e.g. Smokerise becoming K-8 or the consolidation of Livsey/Midvale; The Livsey/Midvale consolidation is actually not an Esplost 6 rec, but would need funding from Esplost 7 – therefore, would still necessitate voter approval under Esplost 7 – the current CMP recs have lots of far off targets that will still have to come under consideration in the future – so this is more of a long range plan
Mr. Arnold did encourage folks to tune into called meeting on Friday to hear the discussion – the board will look at any other recs that come back in and then will talk about specific operations and funding as they progress
DOWNLOAD THE DCSD CMP FROM FEB 25th 2022 HERE
Volunteers/visitors are being welcomed back in to schools – the district has been rolling it out slowly in other regions – after seeing how it went with those schools they are ready to move forward – principals were very thorough with implementing visitor requirements
Mask requirement still in place in buildings and on buses
Close to having a principal named for TMS – 2 finalists today – candidates will be taken to superintendent – new principal will hopefully be named in early March
V. Tucker Youth Sports Program
Mrs Simone Paceley
Thanked Dr Parker, his staff and all the other principals for all the work they put in behind the scenes to make student’s education successful.
Tucker Athletic Association is here to help the body of the student athlete – they working with THS to revamp their sports programs – increase participation among students and make sure facilities are up to par.
THS just hired a new coach for high school football team – more news later.
VI. Closing Remarks / New Business
Reminder that TMS STEM applications are open until Feb
Pre-K applications open until Mar 8
Sabrina Chambers offered to help in anyway to get the word out to elem school parents related to the TMS STEM program – if principals need any help
Community Questions:
- Is the metal detector that was at the high school last week going to become permanent – or is there any more information related to it’s temporary appearance at THS?
- Dr Parker – Safe schools did a random search of students as they entered the building – the metal detector was brought in for that purpose – this usually happens once or twice a year – similar to when dogs come in for a random search – he has tried to reiterate to parents and community that it’s a normal part of the process – THS also does random lockdown and fire drills – this was not much different than that
- Mr. Arnold also stated that this was normal – just hadn’t felt it in 2 years – all the schools go through this process – designed to dovetail into the priority of keeping students safe – started back in 2017 or 2018
- Sabrina Chambers announced Esplost meeting that’s by Zoom tomorrow night (2/23) at 6:00
- Matt Holmes – clarifying that if you have any comments on CMP – best to give them before Friday? Mr. Arnold: Yes, but there will be other opportunities for feedback on more specific things in the future, however stakeholder feedback is still being received and reviewed
Meeting was adjourned at 7:09PM
Download a PDF Version of the Minutes Here