SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE OCTOBER 30, 2017 @ 6PM

SOLON HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM LOBBY MINUTES

Members Present: Rickels, Eidahl, Timmons, Wear, Sheeley, A. Townsley, M. Townsley, Cook, Herdliska, Askeland. Also present: John MacFarland

1. SIAC Purpose, Membership and Introductions SIAC members introduced themselves and then responded to the following question, “If you could describe the Solon Community School District in only three words, what words would you choose?”

2. Overview 2017-18 District Goals Matt Townsley provided an overview of the district’s 2017-18 goals. SIAC members asked questions about 21st century skills, and how well Solon has done in previous years related to the 90/30 goal.

3. Iowa Assessments / State Assessments Update Matt Townsley shared information about the state assessment timeline. If the current appeal in Des Moines does not affect the outcome, students across the state will no longer take the Iowa Assessments beginning in the 2018-19 school year. SIAC members suggested sharing this information with the community once a decision has been made, specifically comparing the new assessment with the old one and why a change is being made.

4. State Standards Update (Science & Social Studies) Tim Sheeley, science and engineering teacher shared information about new state science standards, and potential impact on high school graduation requirements, beginning with 9th grade students in the 2018-19 school year. This is pending board of education approval. Matt Townsley updated the committee on new social studies standards and the state timeline.

5. Strategic Plan Update Dr. Davis Eidahl, superintendent reviewed progress towards the board-approved strategic plan. He shared the plan has been revised in the past two years and the administrative team is working on a timeline of actions.

6. Facilities Update Superintendent Eidahl provided a handout on recent and ongoing building projects.

7. Feedback on District Communication SIAC members provided school personnel with feedback on monthly video and newspaper communications. Specific suggestions include spelling out (in simple terms) the tax implications of these projects and creating mailings and/or posters to reach a broader audience.

8. Adjourn

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:30pm. The next meeting will take place sometime in April.

“School improvement advisory committee” means a committee, as defined in Iowa Code section 280.12, that is appointed by the board. Committee membership shall include students, parents, teachers, administrators, and representatives from the local community which may include business, industry, labor, community agencies, higher education, or other community constituents. To the extent possible, committee membership shall have balanced representation of the following: race, gender, national origin, and disability. The school improvement advisory committee as defined by Iowa Code section 280.12 and the board are also part of, but not inclusive of, the local community.

IAC 281.12 SIAC Membership for 2017-2018

Name Representation Term Expiration **Jennifer Stahle Parent 2019 *Susan Askeland Community 2019 *Dick Schwab Community 2019 Jennifer Timmons Parent 2018 *Joyce Cook Teacher 2019 *Tim Sheeley Teacher / Parent 2019 Andrea Townsley GWAEA NA Davis Eidahl Administration NA Matt Townsley Administration NA Jodi Rickels Administration NA Mike Herdliska Administration NA Nathan Wear Administration NA *Faye Duster Student Council 2018 *Zach Cramer Student Council 2018 *indicates new/renewal for the current year. **To be approved by board of education Males: 7 Females: 7

District Initiative Goals 2017-2018

Student Performance Annual Goal

• 90% of SCSD students will be proficient and 30% of students will be highly proficient on reading comprehension, mathematics, social studies and science on the Iowa Assessments.

Priority: Collaborative Learning Teams

• During the 2017-18 school year, a committee will identify at least one more 21st century skills gap to fill in each grade level (K-4) or content area (5-8 and 9-12: math, social studies, science, ELA, art, PE, music)

• During the 2017-18 school year, 7-12 ELA teachers/teams will update priority/power standards based upon the revised state standards.

Priority: Literacy / ELA

• During the 2017-18 school year, 100% of K-6 ELA teachers will be provided support to implement at least three writing units of study.

• During the 2017-18 school year, 100% of 7-8 ELA teachers will be provided support to implement at least one writing unit of study.

• During the 2017-18 school year, 100% of 6-12 social studies, science and world languages teachers will implement and receive feedback on at least four literacy-in-the-content-area strategies with one as an instructional read aloud.

• During the 2017-18 school year, 100% of 9-12 ELA teachers will implement (or revise) at least two concept-based units.

Priority: Teacher Leadership

• During the 2017-18 school year, 100% of our teachers will work with a teacher leader (instructional coach, mentor coach and/or collaborative classroom teacher).

TO: School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) FROM: Dr. Matt Townsley, Director of Instruction & Technology RE: State Assessments Update DATE: October 30, 2017 Required Assessments: Iowa/Solon uses the Iowa Assessments as the federally required annual statewide assessment. The following subtests are used for federal reporting:

• Reading (given in 2 parts for 3-8 grades and 1 test for grades 10 and 11) • Mathematics (given in 2 parts for 3-8 grades and 1 test for grades 10 and 11) • Science (given in grades 5, 8 and 11)

To meet state mandates, Iowa/Solon uses Teaching Strategies' GOLD to assess preschool. To meet Early Literacy Implementation (ELI) requirements for grades K-3, Solon uses a state-approved assessment called FAST. (Source: https://www.educateiowa.gov/student-assessment#Required_Student_Assessments) Future of Iowa’s Statewide Assessments (Currently Iowa Assessments) The 2017-18 school year may be the last year students in Iowa are tested using the Iowa Assessments. “SF File 240 was signed into law on May 11, 2017 directing the Department to issue a request for proposal (RFP) for the selection of a statewide assessment of student progress in reading, writing, mathematics and science to be administered beginning in the 2018-19 school year” (Source: Iowa Department of Education). On September 28, the Iowa Department of Education announced, “a formal notice of intent to award was issued naming a proposal from American Institutes for Research, an independent nonprofit organization. AIR’s proposal for an assessment called Independent College and Career Readiness Solution scored highest overall in a competitive-bidding process that followed criteria set by Iowa lawmakers this year” (Source: https://www.educateiowa.gov/article/2017/09/28/iowa-department-education-announces-winning-bid-new-statewide-assessments). Since that time, an appeal has been submitted, so we are waiting to hear the outcome of this process before learning more about this new state assessment.

Solon%Community%School%District!–!Strategic!Plan!update!(Nov2017)!%

Vision%Graduate!each!and!every!student!prepared!for!postsecondary!success.!!

Mission%Engage!each!and!every!student!in!rigorous!and!relevant!learning!experiences,!maximizing!achievement!through!exceptional!teaching.!!

Core%Values%*Student!first!focus! *Collaboration!!!*High!Expectations!!!!!*Lifelong!learning!

!Postsecondary%Goal%

Within!five!years!of!graduating!from!SCSD,!90%!of!students!will!have!earned!a!postsecondary!certification!or!degree.!!

Annual%goals%1. 90%!of!SCSD!students!will!be!proficient!and!30%!students!will!be!highly!

proficient!on!Reading!Comprehension,!Math!Total,!Science,!and!Social!Studies!as!measured!by!the!Iowa!Assessments!in!grades!2T11!

a. Adopted!district!priorities!(Literacy,!Collaborative!Learning!Teams)!b. 9!T!12!ELA!conceptTbased!units!c. KT6!writing!units!of!study! d. KT12!revision!of!TAG!plan!of!service!e. 7T12!reading!in!content!area!strategies

!2. 100%!of!SCSD!students!identified!in!the!special!education!or!low!SES!subgroup!

will!achieve!a!standard!score!equivalent!to!1.5!years!growth.!a. KT8!MTSS/RTI!enhancement b. KT8!Comprehensive!Intervention!Model c. KT12!Leveled!Literacy!Intervention

!3. 100%!of!students!will!complete!postsecondary!credit!coursework!before!

graduation.!a. Transcript!analysis b. Add!personal!finance!course!as!college!credit.!!Add!college/career!readiness!

Kirkwood!course !

4. 100%!of!students!will!participate!in!career!exploration!activities!KT12.!a. District!plan!developed.!!Adopted!vendor b. Revised!career!exploration!activities!scope!&!sequence!KT12

5. School!will!annually!administer!and!review!a!culture/climate!survey!to!students,!

staff!and!community!for!continuous!improvement.!!a. Developed!district!survey!map!(administer,!analyze,!report,!action!steps)!b. Developed!surveys!to!administer!to!students,!staff,!parents,!community!

!

!Solon!Community!School!District!–!Construction!update!(Nov2017)!!!Funding!Sources:!

• General!Obligation!Bond!–!!($25!million)!New!Middle!School!and!Center!for!the!Arts!

• SAVE!–!!($11!million)!New!Intermediate!building!

• Private!Funding!!($6.5!million)!HS!addition!/!remodel!

!The!district!has!invested!$42.5!million!into!facilities!since!2015.!Only!$25!million!came!from!local!property!tax.!!Projects:!

• Middle!School!!o 80,000!sq/ft!building,!all!new!furniture,!technology!(designed!for!7!

sections!per!grade!level)!o Designed!for!collaboration,!instructional!practices!o Green!energy!efficient!!o Punch!list!remains!with!a!few!amenities!(landscaping,!bike!racks,!

shade!screen,!etc)!!

• Center!for!the!Arts!o 809!seat!auditorium!o Set!shop!o New!art!room,!green!room,!sound!booth!o Lobby!to!accommodate!250!with!table!and!chairs!

!• Intermediate!(Opening!August!2018)!

o For!students!in!4th!and!5th!grade!(accommodates!7!sections!per!grade)!o Designed!with!additional!wing!to!include!a!competition!gym,!art/tech!

room!and!7!sections!of!3rd!grade!!o Designed!to!support!instructional!practices,!collaboration!o Green!energy!efficient!

!• HS!remodel!/!Addition!(opening!March!2018)!

o Expanded!commons!to!include!additional!80!seats!!o New!front!entrance!and!front!office!with!safety!features!o New!flooring!and!painting!o New!library,!classrooms,!gymnasium,!weight!room,!fitness!room,!

running!track!!