Eli Pinney General Meeting Minutes
February 18th, 2015 at 2:00PM
In attendance: Troy Ehrsam, Alice Lawler, Amy Andrews, Sandy McLoughlin, April Tuza,
Becca Wleklinski, Lara Abou-Chakra, Shannon Schmidt, Michelle LoParo, Danielle Hodge,
Kim Kern, Carrie Klingel, Stacey Walmsley, Andy Guerrera, John Cai, Beth Fligner and Laura
Swain.
Guest Speaker – Kimberly Miller: Dublin Schools Chief Academic Officer
• Marge Mulcahy, Dublin City Schools Gifted Services Coordinator, also attended.
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• This is Kimberly Miller’s 1 year in Dublin. She is an OSU graduate and was a teacher and principal in
the Cincinnati area for 25 years. She also has a background in gifted education.
• She is here to update us on the changes with our Gifted Services Program.
• 4 Goals to address as Chief Academic Officer:
1. Facilities - We have a growing district.
2. Middle school schedule - Need to change the model to offer more to students.
3. Staffing – What is the plan when our district is growing?
4. Gifted education and services.
• We essentially have had the same gifted services model for 10 years. (yet the district is
becoming larger and more diverse.)
• We also have had changes in state standards. What students are asked to do is more
vigorous/significant.
• Community feedback - Dr. Hoadley has had over 15 community coffees and consistently
gifted services came up as a topic to address.
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In September 2014, a task force was convened to consider the need for revisions to Dublin City
School’s elementary gifted service model. The Task Force was comprised of 26 representatives from
all 12 elementary schools, one middle school, central office, and the Board of Education.
o Pinney representatives are Mrs. Snider, Mr. Lowe, Mrs. Casto, Mrs. Neader and Mr. Ehrsam.
o Investigated:
1. What are the laws and rules in Ohio for gifted identification and service?
2. Who is our “gifted” population (based on achievement tests) This is very important on
how to design services. (Example if 2% gifted vs. 61% gifted)
3. Looked at research - Reviewed over 30 articles on the most effective service models.
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Based upon this study, the Task Force determined that a revision of services would be appropriate.
In November 2014, they drafted a model, which was shared with staff, PTOs, and the community to
gather feedback in order to make revisions if necessary.
After receiving a significant amount of feedback, the Task Force reconvened in January to make
revisions to the draft model, creating draft two. The second draft was also shared with staff, PTOs,
and the community.
The Task Force met again in February to make final revisions to the service model.
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The final recommendation to the Board of Education will be on Monday, February 23 .
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o Minutes from the Feb. 23 BOE meeting can be found at this link:
http://www.boarddocs.com/oh/dublin/Board.nsf/Public
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Handout (at PTO meeting):
o Center Circle is K-5 Instruction (high quality, differentiated)
§ K-3 enrichment circle:
• Currently no gifted services in K-3
GIS (gifted intervention specialist) would go into classroom
o Gives every child this opportunity and access
o Builds capacity for teachers as they learn from the GIS how to help
the gifted learner and differentiate within the classroom.
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4 -5 Superior Cognitive Pull-out with GIS Circle:
§ State requirements:
• Superior cognitive is an IQ (ability index) of 130 or higher. (This is about 3%
of national population and about 8% in Dublin schools)
• Specific academic ability – scoring at 95% on math or reading test like MAP
(Measures of Academic Progress). (34% of Dublin scores this high)
§ We don’t need to do pull out services for 50% of learners, but the 8% learners, we
need to do something. They think and process differently.
§ Recommending 2 services for this superior cognitive group:
1. Cluster Group in Regular Classroom
2. Pull-Out with GIS – problem based learning, research, diving deep into
research and thought. Also need support with the social aspect of school.
• Will not be a full day like LEAP is currently. The thought is that it will be
a couple of times a week for shorter periods of time.
Grade 5 compacted 5/6 math Pull-out Circle:
• All schools in state are looking at advanced math pathways
• Criteria to be considered:
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o Test scores: 4 Fall MAP, 4 Winter MAP, 4 CogAt
o Teacher rubric
o Work ethic and willingness to do advanced math
o Maturity and commitment to math because 2 years of math in 1 year.
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Questions/Comments:
o Mr. Ehrsam: Hoping to have all data by the end of May to begin working on next year’s
classroom planning. Very important to put clusters of Superior Cognitive students together.
(Almost more important to group kids together and not what teacher.)
o Differentiation teaching is another huge piece of this model. Flexible grouping/teaching.
o Alice Lawler: Will we be hiring more teachers to help with the GIS staffing. Answer: We are
looking at the numbers and at this time there is no need to add teachers. We will possibly
shift teachers.
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o Alice Lawler: Is subject focused acceleration still an option? (Example a 1 grader doing 2
grade math?) Answer: This is still an option that is available to any student.
o Overall Math goal is that for every student that wants to take Calculus in high school to have
the opportunity. (Even if students have to double up geometry and algebra in high school)
o Danielle Hodge: Question about middle school gifted services program.
§ There is a middle school scheduling task force currently looking at schedules and
services for 2015-2016.
§ Math options:
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• 6 grade math, 7 grade math, compacted 7/8, and 8 /Algebra I.
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• There is not a 6/7 compact. Very important not to skip 6 grade math.
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• What used to be Algebra I is now 8 math.
§ Reading:
• Right now, no advanced offerings in Language Arts.
• Next year, not anticipating any changes.
• Dusty Miller is lead on looking into changes for 2016/2017.
o Lara Abou-Chakra: For a child that is pulled out in LEAP in elementary school, how is this
child stimulated in middle school? Answer: Marge Mulcahy works with middle school
guidance counselors and shares with them LEAP participants, IQ, etc. Middle school
classroom teachers are aware of this information and they also have access to MAP data.
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Danielle Hodge: Looking at the middle school schedule, it seems like some of the fun
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classes (like cooking) are no longer offered. Answer: Meeting on March 9 to discuss middle
school offerings/schedule.
Mrs. Miller advised questions for parents to keep in mind: What do you know about my child
as a learner? How do you use that to help them grow? What can I do to help at home?
We have a 25.4 ACT average in a district of 15,000+ students. State average is 22. National
average is 21.
Principal Report - Troy Ehrsam
• Thanked the PTO for all of the grant money!
• Facility Update
• Dublin City Schools goal: To determine the number of needed classrooms and identify where
classroom additions make the most economic and educational sense.
• Future/Scope: 22 classrooms needed to accommodate the growth through the 2019/20 school year.
• Eye toward minimizing redistricting
• Build capacity where growth trends are shown
• Best position the District for the next phase of Pre-K-5
• Preschool growth currently equals 1-1.5 classrooms per year
• Conclusions/Forward:
• Goal is to have classroom additions by fall of 2016
• Some redistricting will be necessary prior to the 2016-17 school year. (The amount is dependent
upon which option is selected.)
• Redistricting decisions announced Dec. 2015/Jan. 2016
• 3 options will be recommended to the Board of Education on Monday, February 23.
• Option A (Board voted 5-0 on this option at the 2/23/15 BOE meeting):
• 4 classrooms added at Bailey, Chapman, Glacier, Thomas, Scottish Corners, and 2 classrooms
added at Olde Sawmill. Pinney is NOT in this option. Least amount of boundary changes.
• We are still in capacity and we would have no construction. Could lose our preschool in a couple
of years. (May move to Glacier Ridge)
• We have 591 students right now. Our building capacity is 550. With 4 portables up to 650.
Understand our class sizes are high and we are looking into that. Next 3 years projection around
600 students.
• Option B:
• 4 classrooms at Bailey, Chapman, Glacier, Pinney, Scottish Corners, and 2 classrooms added at
Olde Sawmill.
Option
C:
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• 4 classrooms at Chapman, Glacier, Pinney, Thomas or Wright.
President Report
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“State of the Schools” address can be viewed online at http://www.dublinschools.net
Community Quality Profile is also on the website under “Dublin Difference” (test scores, etc)
Dublin Chamber of Commerce and Dublin City Schools are now accepting nominations for the 10th
Annual Community Champion Awards at www.dublinchamber.org/cca until March 1st
• This award recognizes students in grades 4-12 and staff members
• As of 2/18/15, our Pinney community has nominated the most out of all elementary schools. Thank
you!
Summer Camp Expo - February 25th at Jerome High School from 5:30PM - 8:00PM for grades K-12
• Approximately 30 organizations will be in attendance.
Youth Activities Section on District Website - This is listed under “For Parents and Students” and will
help communicate for organizations like DSL and DYA
Creativity Rules II Presentation on Thursday, March 12th at 6:45PM-8:00PM by Jason Blair
• RSVP to Jason at blair_jason@dublinschools.net if you would like to attend
• Dance A Thon Update – was scheduled February 20 . New date is March 9 .
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• Money raised will fund Creativity Spaces (created by 5 graders last year) and Phase II of Library
renovations.
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• Accolades to Sue Casto and the 1 year Pinney Choir
• Time With Teacher Raffle - March 31st until April 2nd
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• Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast - Wednesday, April 15 at 9:30 a.m. General meeting will follow.
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Grant Review - Vote
• We have 3 grants that need approval by the general PTO membership today and a 4 grant to discuss.
1. Jamie Riley (Librarian) - Pebble Go - $895.50
o Subscription to use in the library and at home.
o Michelle LoParo motioned to approve. Sandy McLoughlin seconded. All approved.
2. Molly Foglietti, Sheila Snider, Dona Givens, Kristy O’Connor (3rd Grade Team) – $889.24
o Classroom Books for Classroom Libraries (for independent and sustained reading)
o Becca Wleklinski motioned to approve. Carrie Klingel seconded. All approved.
3. Sue Casto (Music) – $1310.00
o Stands and Tables for Instruments
o Danielle Hodge motioned to approve. Stacey Walmsley seconded. All approved.
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4. The Pinney 5 grade teachers and Related Arts staff – ROTO project - $4000.00
o Opportunity for students to create outdoor play spaces for Pinney students.
o The staff and students are working with ROTO, an international design firm that designs,
creates and manufactures interactive exhibits for museums.
o Some of this will be funded by the PTO, but the Board has decided to table this grant until we
get an itemized cost.
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o This grant will be voted on at the PTO general meeting on Wednesday, April 15 .
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Grants Passed In November 2014
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Lauren Barr (Administrative Intern) - Brain Pop Jr
Lisa Guzik (Reading Support Specialist) - Fountas and Pinnell Literacy System
Susan Marschhausen (4th Grade Team) - Scale and Circuit Sets
Wendy Hamby (Kindergarten Team) - Pioneer Valley Books
Vice President Report
• No Report
Treasurer Report
• Passive Fundraising Update
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• Amazon Smile - received check for $62 on February 15 . Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible
purchases to our PTO, so $62 represents roughly $12,400 in eligible purchases.
Secretary Report
• Read Across America Week - March 2nd until March 6th (Sports Theme)
• Testing will be going on during this week, so going to tone down RAA this year.
Thank You To The Following Committee Chairs:
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Kinder Key Caroling - Candace Kane
Welcome Warehouse Adopt A Family - Jenny Richardson, Cindy Conroy, and all of our room parents
Skate Night At The Chiller - Stacie Ernst
Teacher Hospitality - Carolyn DuBois and Carrie Klingel
Out To Dinner - Katy Bradley
Passive Fundraising - Tracy Hayes