K.W. Barrett Elementary School
PTA Meeting Minutes
May 7, 2019
Welcome and Introductions
Meeting called to order at 7:03 p.m.
Approval April 2019 Minutes
Aleda Kaufman made a motion to approve the April PTA Minutes; Will Le seconded the motion; minutes approved.
Principal Report, Dan Redding
· ParentVUE rolling out for elementary families this summer (widely used in middle and high school already), back to school packets will be submitted this way
o There will be two "how-to" seminars for setting up an account, dates TBD
o In the future all kindergarteners will register this way, moving towards a paper-less administration
Standards-Based Grading and Reporting, Dan Redding
· Over the next two years all APS elementary schools will be moved to a "standards-based reporting" style report card – Discovery piloted this when they opened
· Barrett will start this format next school year, 2019-2020
· Purpose of the Report Card:
o A communication tool
o A valid representation of student's progress
o Inform students and parents of strengths and challenges in learning
o Included in a student's record and cumulative file
· Success Criteria for Grading Systems: Accurate, Meaningful, Consistent, Supports Learning
· Why Implement?
o More specialized reporting: precise and specific info about a child's progress towards a standard
o Meaningful, consistent and accurate picture of student proficiency on agreed upon standards
o Supports students in answering:
§ Where am I going? Where am I now? How do I get there?
· Why implement standards-based grading and reporting?
o Alignment to teaching and learning (focus is on learning not earning)
o Specific (a single grade doesn't reflect a clear picture of what a child can do)
o Consistency (among teachers' grading practices and expectations)
o Focus on what students know and can do (teachers can better explain where a child may be struggling/where they excel)
o Student-focused (students better prepared for performance-based adult world)
· Mindshift – Learning is Progression
o Exceeds Standards, Meets Standards, Developing Mastery, Insufficient Evidence
· Standards-Based Grading
o VA SOL has identified specific elements of knowledge and skill that all students should know and be able to do as a result of being in a grade level for a year
o Does NOT equate to letter grades ("meets standards" does not indicate an A,
· Features of the Reporting System
o Uses proficiency ratings instead of letter grades to reflect students' progress toward academic standards
o Progress indicated relating to the knowledge and skills a student is attaining
o Includes a comments section
· More Information
o https://www.apsva.us/standards-based-instruction/
o Parent info session to explain new progress report (Oct/Nov 2019)
o Questions? Sarah Putnam, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, 703-228-2879, sarah.putnam@apsva.us
Parent question: Do you think we'll start school before Labor Day in 2020? Dan Redding: I believe it'll be one of the calendar proposals and suspect there will be a lot of support for it since we start later/end later than most neighboring counties.
Parent question: Are all APS county-wide school lunch menus consistent, specifically snack options? Dan Redding: Cafeteria managers get a certain amount of latitude in selecting menu each week though all have the same options.
Parent question: What's the latest on the budget? Dan Redding: County board did fully fund the budget so only Tier 1 cuts will be implemented – in grades 3-5 class size could go up from 27 to 28 (Board meeting this Thurs), library assistants will go down to overall teacher assistant hours (still a 5 day position just fewer hours); overall this is GOOD news considering some of the cuts that were potentially on the table.
New Business, Dan Wendell
· Spring Concert, 5/23: daytime performance at 1:30 p.m., evening performance at 6:30 p.m.
Teacher Report, Amin Littman
· Thanks to Aleda for the teacher lounge update!
· Thanks for all of the Teacher Appreciation love this week
· Is there a deadline for teacher reimbursements? Dan Wendell: Soft deadline of June 1st but we'll reimburse through the end of the school year, please submit receipts to PTA Treasurer Kate Sleeth.
Treasurer Report, Dan Wendell
· Main credits: more than $10,000 (!) from Read-A-Thon, $500 from Pupatella, $600 from Amazon; Main debits: teacher grants
· Savings: $16,779.13
· Checking: $79,463.41
· Request for increased in funds for Fifth Grade Promotion for Friday Volunteers for decorations approved.
Shout Outs, Dan Wendell
· Learning Showcase
· Garden Work Day
· Stella & Dot Fundraiser
Adjournment
· The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
· Last PTA Meeting of the year, Tuesday, June 4th
