How to Bring Our Schools Out of the 20th Century - Guilderland ...

GUILDERLAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES OF MEETING
NAME OF CABINET: FLES
DATE OF MEETING: December 7 th , 2006
MEMBERS PRESENT: Trish Abatto, Nancy Andress, Cathy Beadnell, Lynn Cipriano, Karen
Covert-Jones, Debbie Drumm, Barbara Fraterrigo, Al Martino, Jennifer
Politano, Shannon Tougher, Dianne Walshhampton, Jen Karins
CHAIR:
Nancy Andress & Al Martino
RECORDER:
Nancy Andress
ITEMS DISCUSSED BY TOPIC:
1. Welcome, introductions
2. Board of Education Goals
3. Plan for 2007-08 and Beyond
4. Next Steps
RECOMMENDATIONS OR DECISIONS MADE:
1. Welcome Introductions
Nancy Andress welcomed the group. Introductions were made.
2. Board of Education Goals
Nancy Andress and Barbara Fraterrigo shared the Board of Education’s goal on an
implementation plan for FLES.
3. Plan for 2007-08 and Beyond
The FLES Committee talked about these options for FLES implementation:
• Original Plan – Full implementation
- K-5 implementation, 3 FTE’s Spanish
- K – 20 minutes 1 time per week
- 1-5 – 30 minutes 1 time per week
• Gradual implementation options
- Grade 5 only – preparation for FMS
- Grades 3, 4, 5 – Teacher committee members feel difficult due to teacher
concerns about time, testing and curriculum demands
- K, 1, 2 – This will have the support of teachers k,1,2
• This will give 3, 4, 5 teachers more time to understand how the program
works.
• This would establish the program and gain parent support
• This would give us time to build the quality of the program
There’s been a concern about linking committee on the School Day to FLES. Our planning does
not require the school day to be extended.
There is a concern about talking to parents about the implementation plan – especially parents of
students in grade 3, 4, and 5. An explanation of the implementation plan should be sent to
parents.
The committee talked about offering optional courses on Spanish for teachers and teaching
assistants as the program is implemented.
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