K.W. Barrett Elementary School
PTA Meeting Minutes
January 8, 2018
Welcome and Introductions
7:03 p.m. – PTA President Dan Wendell called the meeting to order.
Approval December 2018 Minutes
Will Le made a motion to approve the December PTA Minutes; Arturo Ramirez seconded the motion; minutes approved.
Principal Report, Dan Redding
· 6 new students registered this week, 582 enrollment – largest Barrett has ever been, still in bottom third of APS
· Next school year projections coming in February/March
· Turf update: sidewalks were installed over break, APS talking with installer – "temps need to be 50 degrees for 3-4 days" to install turf, awaiting back on clarification!
· Title 1 Update:
o To be a Title 1 school 45% or more of the student body has to qualify for free & reduced lunch
o In Arlington there are 8 elementary schools identified as Title 1
§ Abingdon, Barcroft, Barrett, Campbell, Carlin Springs, Drew, Hoffman-Boston, Randolph
o Qualified, effective teachers
§ At least a bachelor's degree & are certified in each area they teach
§ 100% of our teachers are highly qualified
§ Parents have a right to know about their child's teachers' qualification
o Additional instructional support, our 2 additional Title 1-funded reading teachers provide:
§ Increased capacity for extended instructional time
§ One-on-one or small group learning opportunities
§ Use of alternative instructional models
o High academic standards
§ Focus on all students meeting challenging content and achievement standards
§ Student progress monitored throughout the year
§ Instruction tailored based on assessment results
§ Schools must meet annual student achievement goals, which increase each year
o Accountability: Under ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act), schools will be identified for support and improvement based on multiple performance indicators
§ Academic indicators:
· Academic achievement – measured by pass rates on the Standards of Learning (SOL) and the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) reading and mathematics assessments
· Growth in reading and mathematics
· Progress in English Learners gaining proficiency in English – measured by the ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 English Language Proficiency assessment
§ Indicators of School Quality or Student Success:
· Chronic absenteeism
· School Accreditation rating, found here:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/federal_programs/esea/
o Federal Accountability School Quality Indicator: Virginia School Accreditation
§ Virginia has revised Standards of Accreditation
· The revised SOA simplifies system, schools now earn one of the following 3 ratings: Accredited, Accredited with Conditions, or Accreditation Denied
· We are Accredited!
· More info: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/accreditation/2017-soa-impact.shtml
o School Quality Profile
§ http://schoolquality.virginia.gov/schools/barrett-elementary
o Parental Right To Request Information on Assessment Opt-Out
§ All students enrolled in Virginia public schools are expected to take the applicable state tests. Virginia regulations do not provide for what is sometimes referred to as an "opt-out policy" for students regarding the Virginia assessments. If parents refuse to have their student participate in one or more of the required Virginia assessments, they should be aware that their student's state assessment score report will reflect a score of "0" for any test that is refused.
o Early and Comprehensive Instructional Interventions
§ Leveled Literacy Intervention /O.G.
§ Reading Recovery
§ Summer Mailbox Books
§ Young Scholars
§ Services for Homeless
o Professional Development
§ Title 1 supports additional learning opportunities for our staff
§ Variety of high-quality courses, workshops & conferences specific to developing our staff in ways that support our students' learning
o Family Engagement
§ Title 1 funds support family engagement activities
§ APS FACE Policy and PIP at a glance: https://www.apsva.us/wp-content/uploads/legacy_assets/www/33ece8dfc4-At_a_Glance.pdf
§ Family Engagement Guidelines
§ Opportunities to get involved
o Community Partnerships
§ Outreach to partners
§ Connection to resources
§ Support for students and parents
§ Gates of Ballston, Aspire Learning, Culpepper Gardens, 4H, etc.
Parent question: What percentage of our total school budget is funded by Title 1? Dan Redding: Our budget is $9 million, $8.5 million of that is staff, we have a very limited discretionary budget (paper, toner, soap, paper towels, etc.) – Title 1 gives us a little under $300K.
Parent question: Do our class sizes benefit from Title 1? Dan Redding: Under Title 1 the K-3 class cap is 23 students; 28 students for grades 4 and 5.
Roving K teacher has been hired (with addition of new students last month), still waiting finalization from Central Office. Still unsure if we'll get an additional classroom or have roving teacher format next year (1st grade) for this class.
Parent question: What are sub group benchmarks based on? Dan Redding: Past year test data & incremental data to get to the end goal number.
New Business
· Family Fitness Night, Jan. 18, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. – 3 stations (yoga, Zumba, gym activities)
· Winter concert, Jan. 24
· Valentine's Dance, Feb. 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
· Read-A-Thon coming in early March – our big fundraiser for the year
· As a follow-up to the additional teacher budget requests discussion last month we need to formally add $2,000 from Checking to our budget:
o Dan Wendell proposed to move $2,000 from the PTA Checking account to the budget; Lora Strine made a motion to approve this transfer of funds; Aleda Kaufman seconded the motion; motion approved.
· Our School Board Rep Tannia Talento will be at Barrett at 8 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 1 to touch base, please join us for this informal discussion
· PTA taking requests for February meeting speakers/subjects
Teacher Report, Cristina Torres
· STEAM Night will March 21st, 6-8 p.m., all students encouraged to conduct an experiment and prepare a poster board
Treasurer Report, Dan Wendell
· Primary credit this month: $3,900 (Bingo Night!); primary debits include artist visit ($1,000), Principle Fund (meals) and $1,060 on Bingo Night supplies.
· Checking: $78,709.84
· Savings: $16,776.37
Shout Outs, Dan Wendell
· Bingo Night, great attendance (we ran out of Bingo boards!), many thanks to Friday Volunteers who made all of the food and took ownership of the event
· Barrett Gives, Arturo Ramirez – 167 students were gifted holiday items before the break (up from 60-70 students in previous years), school counselor Claire Vellente sends thanks to the whole community for the contributions which made this a huge success!
Adjournment
· The meeting adjourned at 8:04 p.m.
· Next meeting on Tuesday, February 5
