SIT Meeting –Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Meeting called to order at 3:53 pm
Meeting opened by Mrs. Venessa Betancourt, Principal. Welcomed all present.
Present:
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10.
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12.
13.
14.
Venessa Betancourt - Principal
Patricia Pedroza – ELAR & SS. SCEI
David Herrera – Math & Science SCEI
Amanda Bechtel – 8th Grade Exploring Careers – CTE Department Rep.
Daisy Newport – 7th Grade Texas History, Campus EPAC Rep.
Raul Gamez – 8th Grade US History – SS Department Rep.
Mandy Porras- 8th Grade ELAR – ELAR Department Rep., SIT Secretary
Sara Castillo – Counselor
Seiglinde Fleenor- Assistant Principal
Cathy Dixon – Band Director – Fine Arts Department Rep.
Jaclyn Anaya- 8th Grade Science – Science Department Rep.
Eddie Lopez – Coach – Physical Education Department Rep, Campus Athletic Coordinator
Eduardo Flores – 7th Grade Math, Math Department Rep.
Mr. Alex Erales –Parent Representative
Agenda items were next brought to order.
Agenda Item – Direction 1 – Safe and Supportive Schools
Safety, Olweus, Attendance
Mrs. Fleenor spoke on:
1. 90% of the safety drills and evacuations have been done thus far. The final one that will be done in the coming
weeks will be the Silent Evacuation.
This week is Drug Awareness week. The counselors organized various lessons and activities to be done during Advisory.
2. Olweus –will continue be emailed. Team members are rotating the responsibility of planning future lessons.
3. Student ADA – Average Daily Attendance Year to date is 97.71% - on target. We need to be mindful of patterns
in student absences. Make calls home when you see that a student has been out excessively.
There will be a new attendance initiative – Attendance Competition by grade level each month. Student attendance will
be tabulated and the grade level with the best attendance will have a free dress the first Monday of the next month.
Announcements will be made weekly.
Teacher attendance is great. Hernando is 2nd in the District as far as teachers being in class. Our attendance counts.
The presence of a teacher is the best for the kids. There is no substitution for firsthand instruction.
Teachers are reminded to follow Policy regarding attendance. All absences must be entered into AESOP. Sick days must
be called in before 6 am. Personal Days Leave needs to be discussed with Administration, a minimum of 3 days prior to
the requested leave days.
EPAC Update given by Mrs. Newport
There was discussion on pushing the PR of all the Fall Festivals happening around the District. At the SAC on 10/31 there
will be a Benefit Car Show. Proceeds go to keeping students in school.
There is now an app for SISD. Parents and Socorro Employees are encouraged to download it. There are many useful
functions.
There was also discussion on the District Budget – Transparency is key. Enrollment is crucial to the District.
The District asks that campuses be frugal. If we are able to provide Professional Development that those opportunities
are sought through the DSC.
Supplies will be ordered through the Warehouse, to keep costs down. Do not be wasteful.
The campus is purchasing 3 new scanners. Two will be located in the SCEI room and the other 2 in the teacher
workroom. Next year they will purchase on more to replace one that is in place right now that has not been too reliable.
We hope to have the scanners by the 3rd week of November.
Concerns with copy machines were addressed once again. Every 3 years rental agreements are reviewed and
negotiated. We will not be up for renegotiation for another 2 years.
Costs effectiveness is the key to having the resources we need. I.e. copy paper, etc.
Departments that have additional funding can choose to use their money’s to for materials and supplies that are a bit
more luxury, but also educationally beneficial. For example – we will have only the regular pastel color paper from the
warehouse available for class use. No more neon colors. However if departments such as Bilingual or SpEd want to use
funds for neon paper that helps students then they can submit a purchase order out of their separate budgets.
Agenda Item – Direction 2 – AVID, THRIVE, Excellence in Urban Education Award
Mrs. Betancourt spoke on:
There is a big importance on refocusing our campus on AVID. While this is an outstanding initiative that has many
benefits to all students, even if they are not participating in the AVID elective, it is expensive to maintain our
membership to be an AVID Campus. AVID is faithfully being used in that elective class; however there are many areas
campus wide where it is not.
The cost to send one teacher to training is $1700. There are teachers who have attended, but did not get sent to the
right training strand that would then be beneficial to the students that they are teaching. Annual membership renewal
is $3200. There is also the additional cost of pay for the Avid tutors. For every 7 students in the elective class there is to
be 1 tutor at the rate of $8.00/hr. for 19 hours of work a week. There are occasions where tutors are need more time
and so we must pay additional time. Presently there is the need for 3 tutors and we have 2.
All students should have an AVID binder, but they are only used in Advisory. How do AVID teachers see the roll out?
Perhaps there is an issue with buy in because there are teachers who have not received training.
Perhaps having the SITE Team going out to the classrooms and having them work with strategies with students and
teachers would be helpful. Having them practice and them share best practices can build the confidence needed for
being consistent with AVID. This cannot be an initiative just put out there and then push to the wayside. We must
become experts, not the wearer of many hats, but the master of none.
Mrs. Bechtel will be also assisting with getting the Best Practices folders up for the teachers to share their lessons that
we must submit to AVID. Also because of her training in the Student Success Strand, Mrs. Bechtel offered her
assistance in those aspects.
Plans – incorporate AVID strategy in Olweus Lessons and Activities. Through PLC have those who attended training
share what they learned.
Department Chairs need to make AVID part of PLC. How will AVID look in our departments? AVID Reps need to try to be
present at PLC as much as possible to advocate for the program.
Fine Arts asked if they will ever get to attend training.
Mrs. Betancourt spoke on:
Excellence in Urban Education
Hernando submitted their intent to apply and will submit the complete application by November 12.
They are looking for content area teachers who are willing to be recorded teaching lessons that demonstrate high levels
of rigor. In need of two volunteers.
Agenda Item – Direction 3 – Highly Qualified Teachers
SCEIs spoke on:
Staff Development Day –
We will be getting back to the Basics – Cornell Notes. We are not seeing this happen in the class room, but they are so
beneficial. This style of notes takes students to the synthesis level as they take their learning to where we want to see
them.
There will also be presentation on Plickers and other classroom Tech programs.
Agenda Item – Direction 4 – Parent and Community/Business Relationships
Mrs. Betancourt spoke on
Winter Festival – December 11, 2015
Clubs will pay a $25 fee for a table. Fundraiser forms need to be filled out by school clubs. First come, first serve.
Those with concessions must obtain food handlers or have someone with a food handler’s card present.
Agenda Item – Direction 5 – Accountability for ALL
Mrs. Betancourt spoke on:
1. PDAS Observations – teachers being evaluated are reminded that they must attend a preconference. Previous
observations are being reviewed and we have had very high ranking PDAS’s in the past. All PDAS’s will be done
by Thanksgiving.
1. Department Chairs have been named.
Effective immediately, to be better aligned with the district when it comes to data, all core subjects will not be able to
create their 3, 6, and 9 week assessments. We will use the district exams to monitor pacing.
Welcome to Josh Johnson – new 7th grade Math teacher.
Adjourned at 5:05