Rochester School Board
Instruction Committee
School Board Conference Room
November 15, 2007

        7:00 PM

 

Members Present:

Members Absent:

Others Present:

Mrs. Anne Grassie, Chair

Mr. Robert Watson

Mrs. Pamela Hubbard

Mr. William Brennan

 

Mr. Charles DeVito

 

Mr. Kent Hemingway

Mrs. Valerie McKenney

Mr. Martin Wintje

 

The Chair called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. with a quorum present.

 

1.  RMS French I / Spanish I Proposal – Mrs. McKenney and Mr. Wintje proposed to have Spanish I and French I classes offered to 8th graders at Rochester Middle School beginning in the fall of 2008.  Upon completion of the course and achieving course competencies, students would be eligible to advance to French II or Spanish II as Freshmen the following year.  (proposal attached)

 

Mr. Watson moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard, to approve Spanish I and French I instruction at Rochester Middle School beginning in the fall of 2008. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Wintje requested the Board to approve the establishment of a French Honor Society. He has submitted the application and it has been approved pending Board authorization. He will lead the Honor Society and is not requesting a stipend for the activity.

 

Mrs. Hubbard moved, second by Mr. Watson, to approve the establishment of a French Honor Society at Spaulding High School.  The motion passed unanimously.

 

Mr. Wintje explained that Advanced Placement French and Spanish courses will be offered at Spaulding beginning in the fall of 2008.   A Japanese I course is offered each semester, and Japanese II will be offered through Adult Education thanks to the initiative of the current instructor.  Virtual High School (VHS) courses are also utilized to expand student opportunities to study world languages.

 

2.  Proposed 2008-09 School Calendar – Mr. Hemingway presented the proposed 2008-09 calendar along with staff comments and suggestions.

 

Mr. Watson moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard, to recommend the proposed 2008-09 SY Calendar to the full Board for first reading. The motion passed unanimously.

 

3.  Field Trips – were reviewed as presented.

 

4.  Other – Mr. Hemingway informed the Committee of the administration’s work with the Brown University team addressing District in Need of Improvement status under No Child Left Behind legislation.  The group worked for two days on issues related to corrective action and included a representative from the Department of Education.  This was a "gap analysis" process.  Three key areas of focus were established. More information will be provided to the Instruction Committee and to the State in December.

 

At 7:30 pm, Mr. Watson moved, second by Mrs. Hubbard, to adjourn. The motion passed unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Mrs. Anne Grassie, Chair