2005-09-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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4O6 Ms. Hamilton said she take the contrary position. She said there were very public processes previously and she said the public can be snowed. Dr. Alvin Edwards, School Board Vice Chair, said it puts the Superintendent candidates in a very tenable position when their candidacy is made public. Mr. O'Connell said it is difficult if not impossible to do a public process for Superintendent positions. He said he became aware of the need for confidentiality when he was part of the Advisory Committee.. Ms. Peggy Van Yahres, School Board members, said she thinks there is a way to balance the need for confidentiality and public involvement. Ms. Gronlund provided an update on the Strategic Plan. She said Dede Smith and Louis Bograd represent the School Board on the Strategic Plan Advisory Committee. She said two retreats were held last week, one by the School Board and one by the Advisory Committee. She said strengths, weaknesses and threats were identified. She said a draft is due November 1. She said there will be many focus groups and community forums. Responding to a question from Mr. Lynch, Ms. Gertrude Ivory, Assistant Superintendent, said public comments will not be provided, but a summary will be published by the consultants. Ms. Laura Purnell, School Administration, provided an update from the School Improvement Team and reorganizations at central office. Ms. Hamilton said that the energy from the School Board and staff is different than this same time last year, and she congratulated them for pulling together and creating a team that is moving in the right direction. She said the new Superintendent will find a good group to work with. Mr. Lynch said he has concerns about specific schools, and asked about changes at those schools. Ms. Purnell said that there is more coordination, more contact, and more physical presence at schools. She also gave the example of eliminating tracking in the chemistry department at Charlottesville High School. Ms. Ivory said that the Leadership Institute has been offered to certain schools. Mr. Schilling asked if eliminating tracking in the chemistry department was site based or central office based. Ms. Purnell said the decision came from the teachers as part of the process to close the achievement gap. Mr. Schilling asked if this is considered to be good, to what extent will the School Board or central office foster expanding this rather than just letting it happen. Ms. Purnell said it is being done by the support of her position and others. Mr. Schilling said he is not hearing clearly that this is what the Schools are going to do. He said he would like to hear that this is a policy of where we are going. Ms. Ivory said this will come up during the Strategic Plan discussion. Ms. Hamilton said she likes hearing things coming from the bottom and being encouraged rather than coming from the top down. Ms. Gronlund allowed a member of the public to address the group.