Friday, July 31 - Sunday, August 2, 2009
Annual Retreat
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MEMBERS
PRESENT: |
MEMBERS
ABSENT: |
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Mr.
Daniel D. “Dan” Edwards, Chairman Mr.
William J. Brunke, IV Mr.
Todd C. Davidson Ms.
Emma L. “Em” Davis Ms.
Patricia G. Edmonson |
Mr.
Dan R. Lowe Mr.
Brent N. Mckenzie Mr.
Patrick S. Salyer Ms.
Sandra Smith-Jones Ms.
Carolyn D. Weems |
Ms.
Rita S. Bellitto, Vice Chairman August
1, 2009 10AM
– 2PM Mr.
Todd C. Davidson August
2, 2009 Ms.
Patricia G. Edmonson |
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Dr.
James G. Merrill, Superintendent |
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Friday, July 31, 2009 (6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.):
As a prelude to
their retreat, the School Board, along with Superintendent Merrill and Dr.
Sheila S. Magula, Deputy Superintendent, gathered at Ocean Way Condominiums,
500 Winston-Salem Avenue, for a social reception and dinner. All Board members were present with the
exception of Vice-Chair Bellitto who was absent due to illness. Also present was the Board’s Legal Counsel,
the School Board Clerk, and retreat facilitator, Dr. John P. Connolly of
Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates.
Following dinner, Dr. Connolly reviewed the structure for the weekend
then engaged the Board in teambuilding activities by dividing them into three
small groups to discuss individual issues of concern in the context of the
strategic plan objectives. Chairman
Edwards urged the Superintendent and the Board to keep fiscal realities at the
forefront of discussions to prevent decisions from being made that will likely
not occur because of financial constraints.
Top priorities that evolved from discussion was support for teachers,
student engagement, the Board’s continued desire to expand pre-kindergarten and
kindergarten opportunities with a focus on expansions where needed the most,
the need to transition the physical education program to provide more emphasis
on fitness and healthy lifestyles including nutrition and more aerobic based
activities, increasing the integration of technology into all aspects of the
school system, and service learning.
Saturday, August 1, 2009 (8:30 a.m. – 4:07 p.m.)
Sunday, August 2, 2009 (8:30 a.m. – 11:11 a.m.)
The Board
convened each day in the Virginia Beach City Economic Development Conference
Room under the direction of the facilitator, Dr. Connolly. All Board members were present with the
exception of Vice Chairman Bellitto who was absent due to illness. Mr. Davidson departed briefly on Saturday for
a funeral, and Ms. Edmonson was absent on Sunday due to the death of an immediate
family member.
Superintendent Merrill
set the stage for review and discussion of the strategic plan - Compass to 2015 by presenting a
background summary and status report on activities including clips from
community conversations; information on budgetary challenges; highlights of the
division’s successes; recognition of academic progress; and acknowledgment of
the support of the community and volunteers.
He stated much of the weekend retreat would be built around a
“leadership partnership” – how staff can best work with the School Board to
ensure student success. He then shared
his perspective on what he believes would be the crucial elements of the
partnership; first and foremost, looking to the Board to be advocates for
children; trusting the Board to collectively and individually keep its sights
set on higher learning; using connections in the community as a source for
innovative ideas and energy; and being open about concerns when it is believed
the division is taking the wrong track.
He concluded on a positive note updating the Board on the success of a
former graduate.
The Board then
reviewed Compass to 2015 by
systematically walking through each of the five objectives. Administration provided a detailed update on
each objective and responded to questions before the Board broke out into three
small groups to identify additional information they would like to receive, and
to determine ways they would pro-actively support each objective in the schools
and in the community.
The following is a
synopsis of each of the strategic plan objectives in the order in which they
were discussed:
Strategic Plan Objective
2: VBCPS
will develop and implement a balanced assessment system that accurately
reflects student demonstration and mastery of VBCPS outcomes for student
success.
Dr. Jared A. Cotton, Assistant Superintendent for
Research, Evaluation and Assessment, Dr. Kelly A. Hedrick, Director of Gifted
and Academy Programs, and Dr. Doug G. Wren, Assessment Specialist in the
Department of Research, Evaluation and Assessment, reviewed the balanced
assessment system with a concentration on the division-wide rubrics used to
measure student successes identified in the strategic plan as academically
proficient, effective communicators and collaborators, globally aware,
independent, responsible learners and citizens, critical and creative thinkers,
innovators and problem-solvers.
Additionally, Dr. Cotton discussed quality control to ensure student
performance tasks are meaningful opportunities.
Strategic Plan Objective
3: Each
school will improve achievement for all students while closing achievement gaps
for identified student groups, with particular focus on African American males
Ms. Jobynia G. Caldwell, Assistant Superintendent
for High School Education; Dr. Esther Monclova-Johnson, Director of Equity
Affairs; and Dr. Marie Balen, Director of Elementary Instructional Services,
presented activities in the area of responsiveness to students and advised of
opportunities that will be provided for all students to learn more effectively
ensuring that resources are available to support that effort. Dr. Monclova-Johnson specifically reviewed
group activities from the past eighteen months including candid conversations
about race, and débuted a video of student conversations in the words of the
students.
Strategic Plan Objective
4: VBCPS
will create opportunities for parents, community and business leaders to
fulfill their essential roles as actively engaged partners in supporting
student achievement and outcomes for student success
Ms Kathy O’Hara, Assistant Superintendent for Media
and Communications Development, Mr. Larry E. Ames, former Principal of Seatack
Elementary School and current Director of Custodial Services, and Ms. Melissa
T. McQuarrie, Director of Community Relations, provided information on
opportunities for parents, communities, and business leaders to become more
actively engaged partners in supporting student achievement. More information was given on
service-centered partnerships to provide students with meaningful ways of
serving the community as well as observing workplace environments.
Strategic Plan Objective
5: VBCPS
will be accountable for developing essential leader, teacher and staff
competencies and optimizing all resources to achieve the school division’s
strategic goal and outcomes for student success
Dr. Sheila S. Magula, Deputy Superintendent, Mr.
James M. Pohl, Principal of Princess Anne Middle School, and Mr. Daniel F.
Keever, Principal of Larkspur Middle School, presented information on the
training that will be needed for aligning a school’s plan for continuous
improvement with this division’s strategic plan, and also for cultivating
building-level work and service of the learning outcomes - shifting the
thinking of staff from doing more on top of everything, to one of rethinking
what the work requires – letting go of old ways.
Strategic Plan Objective 1: All teachers will engage every student in
meaningful, authentic and rigorous work through the use of innovative
instructional practices and supportive technologies that will motivate students
to be self-directed and inquisitive learners
Dr.
Christine W. Caskey, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction; Mr.
Donald E. Robertson, Principal of Salem High School; and Mr. R. Joe Burnsworth,
Director of Secondary Education, identified the 21st century skills
for the division and explained the realignment of curriculum, instruction, and
assessment with Compass to 2015.
Respectfully
submitted by:
S E
A L
Dianne P.
Alexander, Clerk of the Board
Approved:
Daniel
D. Edwards, Chairman