The Morris Brandon School Council met in regular session on February 9, 2011 at 7:15 a.m.
The meeting was held in the Library at Morris Brandon Main Campus, 2741 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30327.
School Council Members Present:
Karen Evans, Head of School
Julie Bassett and Katie Mori, Parent Representatives
Logan Ide, Lee Pritchard and Joseph Rogers Business Representatives
Betsy Nettles and Allie Fleckner, Faculty Representatives
Others Present:
Pete Settelmayer, Primary Center Administrator
Nancy Meister, Atlanta Board of Education
Emily Jordan and Rush Levitt, PTA Co-Presidents
Hyde Desloge and Margaret Warren, PTA Co-Presidents-Elect
Eight School Council members were present, representing a quorum.
1. Call to Order
Logan Ide called the meeting to order at 7:25 a.m.
3. Approval of Agenda
Logan Ide presented proposed Agenda. Moved, seconded and carried that the minutes agenda be approved.
MOTION: Karen Evans; SECOND: Lee Pritchard
VOTE: 8 Yes; 0 No
3. Approval of Minutes
Logan Ide presented draft minutes from the January 2011 meeting. Moved, seconded and carried that the minutes be approved.
MOTION: Katie Mori; SECOND: Lee Pritchard
VOTE: 8 Yes; 0 No
4. Remarks by Nancy Meister
Nancy Meister thanked the Council for the opportunity to attend and observe the meeting. She informed Council members that she had a meeting with APS Facilities regarding capacity needs at Brandon and Rivers. She also informed members of her weekly forum to update the community on APS actions regarding the SACS accreditation requirements. Council members discussed the revised APS calendar.
5. Brandon Capacity Issues
Lee Pritchard led a discussion regarding recent actions related to Brandon’s capacity shortage. Lee reported on recent meetings Council members had had with Nancy Meister, State Representative Edward Lindsey, as well as the status of updates provided to our Brandon community. He also reminded members of his scheduled meeting with APS CFO on 2/25/11, and reported that he is working to schedule a meeting with APS Facilities.
Lee and Council members discussed the proposed survey of Brandon families regarding the capacity concerns and proposed solutions. Sharron Pitts has requested input on that survey, and Council members agreed to finalize the survey for distribution in one week.
Council members agreed that our goal should be to work with APS far enough in advance of APS’s anticipated community recommendation to help shape any recommendation. Whether School Council issues a formal opinion to APS will depend on survey results, but Council members agreed to use the School Council process and authority to engage the Board of Education. Nancy Meister remarked that it is important that School Council engage in the process of seeking a solution rather than simply lodging complaints about overcrowded conditions.
6. School Achievement Plan
Karen Evans led a discussion regarding the Morris Brandon School Achievement Plan. She reminded Council members that the SAP is based on CRCT results, informal and formal class performance assessments and Accelerated Reader results. She explained that the SAP is the school system’s way to make sure schools have identified weaknesses, implemented strategies to address those weaknesses, and instituted a process for monitoring use of those strategies. Karen also reminded Council members that the primary focus of the SAP is on students who are in jeopardy of not “meeting expectations” on the CRCT. In the future, Brandon teachers and staff would like to spend more time on increasing the number of children who “exceed expectations.”
Karen noted that the “economically disadvantaged subgroup” has grown from 4% of the student population to 15% in the last 8 years. She believes that Brandon has provided a positive learning environment for these children, and that our SAP strategies will help them “meet expectations” on the CRCT.
Lee Pritchard inquired whether School Council can help Brandon monitor the effectiveness of the SAP. Council members discussed this topic and agreed that a quarterly SAP report to School Council would be beneficial.
7. Fall 2010 Survey
School Council discussed the results of the Fall 2010 survey. Council members agreed that the survey generated useful information regarding the start of school. In addition, the survey made clear that our parents need more information about International Baccalaureate. A third survey will be issued in the spring and will address a variety of topics, including fundraising.
8. Adjournment
With no further business to come before the school council, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 a.m.
MOTION: Lee Pritchard; SECOND: Allie Fleckner
VOTE: 8 Yes; 0 No
The next meeting of the Morris Brandon School Council will be held on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at 7:15 a.m. in the Morris Brandon Main Campus Conference Room.