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Individuals present: Rachael G., Principal G, Stephanie F., Megan L., Amara R., Sara N., Ryan N.S., Rich L., Alissa W., Samantha J., Jenny D., Tamika L., Natalie C.R., Mr. Brown, Adam W.
Agenda:
Financial Report and supply drive update
Spring projects
School planning discussion
Notes:
Welcome!
Financial Report
Total available: $6,424.88 ($2890.88 is available outside of the amount earmarked toward picnic tables ($2034) and for the next book fair (~$1500)
Scholastic dollars balance: $1538.79
Supply drive update
Raised $495.17
Spent: $405.72 on tissues, alcohol wipes, hand sanitizer. $190.78 on refillable water bottles.
Spring projects
Playground markings project - Getting input from staff and students; will have this done by March meeting. Steph will fill Pam in on timeline.
Chairs - will ask donor about purchasing these; if you have strong opinions about colors/styles, let us know
Kindergarten open house / staff profiles idea: Will be picking a date soon for the open house (due to the district on Fri) and will look to HSA for some supports. Will look more into writing some profiles of the staff - Steph will close loop with Mandy
Nominating committee for spring HSA elections in the works
Finalizing spring book fair dates - Week of May 16? Tuesday of that week we are closed for the election - in school M, W, Th, F. Maybe just W, Th, F – will plan to run to 4pm each day. Will probably need to do a bit of fundraising to get books for everyone again
School planning discussion
Presentation link: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qH1MunnBmaG2_U3NPpThJatrA9amg_ymNhsdAtzv6C4/edit#slide=id.g1131ff131ab_0_85
This year Lea is looking to include more stakeholders in the comprehensive school plan - school budget comes out March 8th and we’ll need to look at how to use our resources. Final plan will be submitted in June
Teachers from different grades, PFT, HSA, SAC, parent cafe reps, etc
Community association meetings: Would be ideal to also include Cedar Park as well as Walnut Hill and Garden Court (also maybe Spruce Hill)
Discussion of how to best reach parents/stakeholders - Dojo, FB, community groups, word of mouth, etc. Every channel misses people.
Talking to people in the morning is going to be important. Mr. Brown has talked about pop-up events, standing out in the yard to quickly grab families and get input as they drop off and pick up kids.
Bring back the printed Lea Express? Maybe see about a few parent/guardian volunteers to help with layout, printing, distribution? TLDR style graphics?
Surveys: What if we made it a fun competition? Set a goal per classroom? People like that kind of engagement
Breakout room reflections on people’s input at town halls:
Group 1: People are concerned about both teachers and students. Smaller class sizes. Feels important to value all our cultures. There used to be an international day, which was really lovely. How do we share all the different cultures at Lea? Equity and gentrification – does this need its own team to give it more dedicated attention?
Developing committees to address each of the concerning areas would be a great way to move forward in these discussions - more focus and expertise can come of these.
Group 2: Need for resources to go to individual and family supports (e.g. mental health, curricular materials esp science). Meeting shortages in fundamental things like staffing. Last year we had 2 supplemental teachers due to virtual learning - could be very helpful for us to have again
Group 3: There is a desire to preserve Lea’s diversity while we get these new opportunities. More staffing (subs, administrative staff, assistant principal), more opportunities for staff, more margin for creative and student-focused teaching, hope for changes to be sustainable and inclusive, hope for various organizations to keep their promises to do no harm. Rolling new changes out at the pace of what is possible with resources/time that exist, not just what we want to see happening.
Group 4: Facilities! (fixing building, needing new space, bathrooms, cafeteria, parking) Science supplies, curriculum, facilities. Separating the middle grades from elementary grades in some ways. Lea’s role in the neighborhood and its impact on gentrification.
There is supposed to be an update to the bathrooms before next year. They need to be made ADA compliant. Other facilities stuff is up in the air - no commitment there.
Group 5: Making sure spEd, AS, ES teachers and support staff are included intentionally. Better academics for everyone across the range of levels and interests. Building improvements and beautification (bathrooms are pretty horrible!). Communication – everyone needs to be looped in. Hiring more support staff, esp. an assistant principal.
Been talking with SpEd teachers quite a bit. May fully release someone to oversee SpEd and paraeducators. Also thinking about interventions teacher and learning support teacher.
Next meeting dates: (7pm over Zoom)
March 9, 2022
April 6, 2022 (moved earlier because of spring break)
May 11, 2022
June 8, 2022
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