SPECIAL SESSION OF THE WCHS SBDM COUNCIL
March 3, 2014
6:00 p.m.
Woodford County High School Library
Meeting began at 6:00 pm. Present: Rob Akers, Terri Morford, Chappie Mastin, Kim Joyner,
Denise Sandman, Joel Bailie, Scott Hundley, Sonya Curren, Jennifer Forgy, Susan Carey Absent:
Robert Stromberg, Lisa Johnson Guest: Social Studies Department and parents in attendance
Item
#
Agenda Topic
Presenter
Item
1.
Adoption of Agenda
R. Akers
In reviewing the Agenda, Mr. Akers
advised the parents in attendance that the
Social Studies Department will make their
presentation and then the SBDM
Committee will recommend a charge to the
Curriculum Committee. Agenda approved
by consensus.
2.
Adoption of Minutes
February 24, 2014
R. Akers
3.
Presentation: Social
Studies Department
RE:
Request/Course
Offerings
Social
Studies
Department
Brought to the attention of SBDM Secretary
that the attendance was incorrect and had
several members absent who were actually
present. February 24 minutes will be adjusted
accordingly. Minutes adopted by consensus.
Handouts were presented. Ms. Morford
advised the parents that many of their concerns
are the same concerns that the Social Studies
Department has. She advised that they are
trying to prepare students to be good citizens
and cited that the current Social Studies
Department has many years of experience here
and that they have had their kids go through
here and that some still have kids going through
here and they feel that their children have been
well prepared. She also noted that research
says that ability grouping is harmful and
reduces motivation and the quality of
education.
Mr. Smith continued the slide presentation
regarding flexibility ability grouping,
performance grouped and that it is difficult to
do. Ability grouping is grouping students
based on performance and tracking is not
flexible and is fixed academic groups.
Ms. Finney then continued with the explanation
of the National Standards and that the new
standards being tested by Kentucky now are
based on the C3 Framework consisting of Civic
Life, Critical Thinking (problem solving) and
Collaboration( ability to work with diverse
peers).
Mr. Fannin addressed the group and said that
for 20 years he has been on a board at UK’s
College of Education and has not ever missed a
meeting, but that he was missing it tonight
because he felt that the WCHS Social Studies
Department is that important and that he
wanted to be here.
Ms. Finney continued with the explanation of
21st Century Learning which includes the 4 C’s
of communication, collaboration, creativity and
critical thinking. Social Studies is designed to
prepare citizens and this is a national concept.
They want to be inclusive and not exclusive
and advised that diverse classrooms challenge
all students to learn and grow. It is all voices at
the table and that is what everything is based
on. Tracking students promotes both
segregation and supports the ideas of us versus
them.
Mr. Fannin stated that he heard that parents
want teachers to meet the students where they
are and he feels that the Social Studies
Department is already doing that. Teachers are
grouping students within the classroom.
Mr. Smith added that they work on
collaborative groups with project based
learning with mini documentaries, simulations
and debate.
Mr. Fannin and Mr. Smith stated that they work
on visual/constructive response and showed
examples of college prep questions versus AP
questions. Basically they were the same
questions with a little different wording and the
fact that the college prep question asked
students to choose 2 and the AP question asked
students to choose 3 components.
Ms. Carey then presented a new concept for
redefining honors work in Social Studies.
(Handout was presented of a draft honors
contract). They would like to try to move away
from calling classes general/basic and call it
what it is which is college prep. Students
would have the opportunity to sign an Honors
Contract which would be agreed on by the
student, student’s parent and teacher. There
would be clear expectations regarding what
would characterize honors work. It would be
both broader/deeper and more personalized. If
the student were to score a distinguished on
their EOC then they would earn an honors
distinction on their diploma.
Mr. Smith said that he was really excited about
the possibilities. He said he could see a student
try a honors rubic and surprise themselves by
4.
Committee Charge to
Curriculum Committee
3.
Adjourn
R. Akers
doing really well and the possibilities would be
endless.
Ms. Morford said they are looking at the new
schedule and continue to look for ways to push
students to higher levels. She said she is really
excited about an honors level and excited to see
the students get a chance to do it.
Mr. Akers asked the committee to consider
giving the following charge to the Curriculum
Committee asking them to consider whether or
not a third option should be required in a core
required class that only offers general and AP.
Ms. Carey said “so are we asking for a third
level” and Mr. Akers responded “yes”.
Mr. Mastin stated that he was impressed with
the Social Studies idea of adding in an honors
component and was wondering what the
parents thought about this idea. Mr. Akers
followed by saying that the charge needs to be
moved to the curriculum committee and that
comments can be made there in order to follow
the proper protocol. Ms. Morford stated that
the SBDM committee two years ago voted to
eliminate three levels in English and then it was
added back in. Mr. Akers said that was because
those classes had already existed.
Ms. Sandman asked for clarification about the
honors level to see if she understood it correctly
that it would be embedded in the current class
and was this for just social studies or any
subject. Ms. Morford said that was correct.
Mr. Akers asked for consensus to send the
charge to the curriculum committee.
Consensus was reached. Mr. Akers asked that
the curriculum committee get together to hold
two meetings and come back at next meeting
with their recommendation.
Consensus reached to adjourn.
Faithfully Submitted,
Cindy Patterson
Next Meeting: Monday, March 17, 2014 at 5:45 pm at WCHS