FH TUTTLE MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO MEETING MINUTES
APRIL 16, 2010 – 12:30 p.m.
L. Bradley, B. Balon, M. Murray, S. Borden-Arioli, J. Boardman, S.A. Kristiansen, J.
Godek, J. Canning, J Hendley (reporting).
1. Presentation by Joanne Godek, director of educational support services, South
Burlington School district
(Note: Supporting information for Ms. Godek’s presentation is posted on the sbschools.net website Just click on Educational Support Systems and got to the Parent
Page).
The district uses a 3-tiered approach to support to best meet the needs of individual students. The greatest focus (bottom tier) is to build a strong classroom that meets the needs of all children in that classroom. The next tier up is focused on those kids who need some extra help—literacy coaches, math coaches, and other services from the individual school’s support team. In general, this is about 5 to 15 percent of students—and students may move in and out of needing these supports as they progress through school. The top, smallest tier focuses on the small percentage of kids who qualify for special education interventions and supports.
Some children follow an EST (Educational Support Team) plan, a written plan created to set goals for students who need additional education resources, and adjust support accordingly as students meet those goals. This is in accordance with Vermont Act 230, a law designed to increase and improve service for kids without the lengthy process of having them pursue special education qualification.
Some children are on 504 plans, based on a civil rights law that requires equal educational access for kids with disabilities. Under a 504 plan, a school is required to provide accommodations that would make it possible for the student to participate in school (such as hearing aids for students with hearing impairment). Students follow an
IEP (Individualized Educational Program) that sets goals and outlines services required for that child.
Approximately 9 percent of children in the South Burlington school district qualify for special education support. This is relatively low compared with other districts, and suggests that most children’s needs are being met by the “bottom and middle tier” support efforts. Special educators are also embedded in each teaching team.
Additional supports such as Enterprise (tutoring and homework help) also help to meet the support needs of students. If parents or guardians feel their child needs additional classroom support or accommodations, the first step is to talk to the child’s teacher, who can help start the process.
South Burlington’s educational support programs face big challenges. Due to reductions in funding, one literacy coach resigning this year will not be replaced. The Vermont

legislature may also cut special education services. The district is responding by improving its efficiency, allocating more of its resources to help students early on in the
“bottom tier”—the main classroom, where studies show the resources are used more efficiently early on, rather than in more intensive interventions later.
2. Presentation by Matt Guyette and SB Skates
SBSkates is a popular after-school activity overseen by Mr. Guyette and paraeducator
Luke Richer on a volunteer basis. Three Wednesdays of each month, a group of about 20 students goes to Talent Skatepark to learn skateboard and inline skating skills (parents and Mr. Guyette transport them).
6th graders Ben, Gil, Pasha and Jeffrey, 7 th
graders Morgan and Matt, and 8 th
graders
Morgan, Melaya and Nicki shared their experiences with the program and answered parents’ questions. All of them said they were having a great time competing and learning new tricks. We saw some exciting photos of the kids in action.
“Boarding requires a lot of skill and athleticism,” said Mr. Guyette—“and it allows kids to challenge themselves and take risks in a healthy way.” This year more girls have signed up than ever before, he said. The program gets support from crime prevention funding (which helped subsidize the cool team sweatshirts some of the kids were wearing) as well as families; scholarship funding is always available. Talent Skatepark reduces its fees for the group, and doesn’t charge for helmet rentals.
“We really appreciate all the support,” said Mr. Guyette, who added that “a year’s pass is a great gift for a participating student.”
3. Principals’ Report:
Mr. O’Brien reported that the guidance and administration staff are busy with transitions.
They’re visiting area elementary schools and talking with parents of 5 th
graders. The incoming 6 th grade class is approximately 160—down slightly from this year. The 5 th graders will visit FHTMS for a day in June. Eighth graders have already signed up for classes already and SBHS staff has come over to meet with students. Parents Night is coming soon. SBHS parent groups have invited parents and guardians to attend their meetings. Guidance staff is also meeting individually with kids who need more support with transitions.
Newly hired principal Karsten Schlenter will start on July 1 st
. He looks forward to working with students, staff and families.
Sixth grade teams will have different configurations: Instead of the current three teams, there will be two larger teams—one with five teachers, and a smaller one with four teachers. Music and art will be affected by budget cuts; there will only be one band teacher for 6 th grade, and one jazz band session will be held after school. The integrated art program will be cut back to part time. The negotiations are still taking place, however, and the next meeting for negotiations isn’t until May 28 th
. If there’s an agreement with the union at that time the administration will revisit the decisions.

Approximately 10 FHTMS teachers have participated in an Inner Resilience program to help them learn and teach self-management and stress reduction techniques in the classroom; a conference for program participants is being held today. As an outgrowth of that, school wellness team plans to work with PTO to provide a comfortable staff room for teachers to use for relaxation and respite.
Mr. Weiss reported that 8 th
grade science testing will be taking place the second week in
May. Every other year (including this one) the tests include a “hands-on” component.
Currently FHTMS has had the highest science scores in the state, though overall performance on the testing, currently in pilot stage, has been low; our average score was
54 percent of kids passing, while the state average was only about 25 percent. The test may therefore be recalibrated.
One of the parents present (S. Borden-Arioli) expressed a concern that the 8 th
grade celebration should do more to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of many students (rather than just a select few), and asked if she (and other parents) could help with planning. Mr. O’Brien responded that “we are working on this.” Recognition of presidential scholars will be handled differently this year, he said, but he also noted that some people feel that when there are too many awards, the value of those awards is lessened. Recognizing kids in smaller-scale settings--e.g., their teams, their TAs, their extracurricular activity groups—is another way of recognizing achievement in meaningful ways. “We are always looking for a balance.”
Meeting adjourned at 1:45 p.m.
Upcoming Dates of Interest:
Wednesday, April 21 : Late start.
Thursday, April 22, 5:30-7:30 p.m., PACT Community Awards Celebration , St.
John Vianney Parish Hall. Tickets available at the SB Recreation Department.
Saturday April 24 through Sunday May 2 : School Vacation.