Summary of the February 25, 2020 Collierville Schools Board business meeting.

Mrs Chism absent (traveling). Rest of the board present.

Special Recognition: Collierville High School. Mr Roger Jones presented. Highlighted the musicians that played in the open area in front of the library.

Special Presentation: Update on the curriculum. Topic of interest for the fairly large crowd that turned out.

Mrs Louise Claney, Chief Academic Officer, presented on the refinement and realignment of the curriculum, specifically at the Middle Schools. Highlights:

  • Curriculum team overview, and summary of mission. Department continually reviews and assesses curriculum needs, student qualifications, etc.
  • Walked through history of middle school STEM cohorts, STEM for everyone in elementary schools, STEM for everyone in middle schools
  • Physical Science in 8th grade (honors course) will continue to be offered in 8th grade – high school elective credit
  • STEM will become graded elective, offered for 2, 3, or 5 days. This will be part of the possible 2 separate elective hours to take in middle school
  • Social Studies in 8th grade will have an honors CLEP-aligned course made available. Content to be developed by mid-summer to be ready for 20-21 school year.
  • English – low number of students (~30%) shows mastery on English I End of Course – which is below expectations. No (rigorous) English course available for seniors who took English I in 8th grade, which colleges/universities are asking for.
  • 6th and 7th grade will offer standard and honors options for English, based on CASE21 score and grades
  • 8th grade will have standard, honors, and English Honors I (Freshman English) options
  • Math: Algebra I results in middle school are showing alarmingly low levels of mastery on the End of Course exams. The EOC is not testing at the honors level, they are testing at the standard level. The overall conclusion was that students were not being served appropriately, and were being set up for failure. Only a very limited number of students shows as performing appropriately. External review of teaching done in the middle schools for Algebra I and Geometry in fall 2019 showed misalignments between the instruction and the standards. This is being improved through targeted professional development, and has shown improvement already in February 2020 independent reviews.
  • An additional consideration here is the escalation of math levels in high school for students who took advanced math (Honors Algebra I in 7th, Honors Geometry in 8th), and the inability of the school district to continue to provide appropriately escalating courses through 12th grade for students who are expecting to continue onto the highest levels of math-based university majors.
  • Entry into the accelerated 6th and 7th grade math courses in middle school will be more challenging and will be better geared towards properly preparing them for 8th grade Honors Algebra I enrollment. There will no longer be parental overrides accepted for Algebra I in 8th grade. Geometry will be offered in 20-21 for students currently in Algebra I in 7th grade.
  • No comments to address whether Algebra I would be an option to any 7th graders going forward for students who would legitimately qualify.

Moving on to public comments:

  • Several parents joining together to express concerns with changes. Parents are complimentary of the district and the teachers. Expressed thanks for the presentation by Mrs Claney.
  • Significant challenge with the parents’ arguments is they are using the EOC test results that combine ‘On Track’ and ‘Mastery’ (measured against the standard level) when Collierville Schools is splitting out only the ‘Mastery’ level as being decent candidates to continue on the advanced track (which has shown to be ~30-35%).
  • Parents are challenging the district to make sure the advanced levels of math remain available. Comparison to Germantown School District which is not removing these advanced options.
  • Question from parent whether further revisions of curriculum are planned, and whether parent input will be sought in the future. Mrs Claney responded that the ‘Portrait of a Graduate’ strategic initiative will include parent inputs. Additionally, she pointed to the Partners in Education program, which involves a lot of major local area employers in setting student expectations.
  • Board Chairman Hansen pledged that all questions listed on public comment cards will be responded to.
  • Additional parents commenting to support the advanced honors options that are being removed. “How will our students be able to compete with students at other schools who are taking more advanced courses that are not available at CHS?”
  • One parent challenges the district to add advanced options rather than limiting them.
  • Parents are asking what next steps are: have these decisions been made and finalized or is there further review? Mrs Claney: the presentation showed what will be available. “No courses are being removed this year.” (However, 7th graders will no longer be offered the option to take Algebra I with the published acceptance criteria)
  • Speakers on this topic challenge the board to maintain an attitude of leadership, increasing individual support/challenges and keep raising the bar.
  • Last speaker provides a bit of a different perspective that her son in High School has followed the advanced track, but is now being challenged past his comfort levels

Last speaker is addressing school bus issues. Frustrated by continuous failures by Durham to provide services. Calls for change of some kind, based on Durham’s apparent inability to provide the service levels that Collierville has contracted for.

Mr Hansen thanked the parents for their comments and suggested there may be a more informal forum set up to have more of a dialog between parents and the administration/board.

Approval of agenda, prior meeting minutes.

January financial statements. Comments during the financial update to address the shift of capital expenditures to commit and spend earlier in the cycle compared to the late allocation by the county, which requires allocated funds to be spent by September 30. Funding allocation just under $6M for current year. Some possibility to have funds held. Additional information shows that sales tax revenues are rising year over year for past 3 years, including online sales tax remittances. 20-21 budget cycle under way, which will include the reduction of the temporary title I funding. Statements approved.

Chairman’s report:

  • Portrait of a Graduate meetings are under way.
  • Tennessee School Board Association meeting, including visit to the State Capitol.
  • Update by Mr Warren to go over TSBA legislative update meeting. Significant concern about possible future legislation that would uncouple funding levels from county and municipal districts that would significantly reduce municipal school funding. This is a topic that is being studied by a task force, but not yet an actual legislative initiative.

Superintendent Report:

  • Thanks to the parents advocating for their children. Agree that we all have the same goals of what is best for our students. The bar is being raised.
  • State Budget has interesting additional funding for public schools, including (some) funds for teacher pay increases. Early reading initiatives may allow for districts to certify out of additional professional development requirements if warranted.
  • Portrait of a Graduate work is under way. Bartlett is also considering that same effort.
  • Spring break coming up.

Business item: Approval of Appointing the Disciplinary Hearing Authority Committee of Herchel Burton, Chairman, Andy Field and Jeff Jones for one year starting March 1. Note: Mr Burton plans to retire in June. Usually hears 25+ cases each year, only 10 so far.

Meeting adjourned.