Midvale Elementary
SCC 11.30.2020
ATTENDEES
Principal Lori Reynolds – Chair Steve Brown – Vice Chair Juliet Meinzer – Secretary Heidi Sanger
Council Members: Margaret McCann – Amanda Kraft – Alyssa Ball – Bryant Brown – Haydee Franco
Call Meeting to Order – Steve
Review and Approve Last Month’s Minutes- Steve
Margaret asked if the emails shared regarding the zoning changes should be added to the minutes. Steve and Lori agreed that they should. Lori also noted that the dates have been revamped for community discussions for feedback; she will notify us when those dates become available. Motion to approve the minutes with adjustments was made by Margaret; Alyssa seconded. Minutes approved with adjustments.
Drill Update – Bomb Threat drill scheduled for November 30th – Lori
This is an evacuation drill and was completed today. Our time was a little over 5 minutes to get everyone out of the building. The students did well.
December’s Drill – E.S.C.A.P.E. (Active shooter information for employees only)
School Safety Plan – School Safety Discussion– https://www.canyonsdistrict.org/safe-schools/)
Lori had asked members to review the School Safety information noted above. She asked for input from the committee on the following questions:
Who, besides the SCC members, participated (did you invite the SRO, school counselor, psychologist or district personnel?)
- Did you feel the information presented in the District School Community Council School Safety Report was helpful?
- Amanda said yes. Steve stated that it was helpful, but he isn’t sure how well published it is for the general community. Heidi noted that it is pushed out to the websites and social media by the District. Amanda asked about putting it on ParentSquare.
- What, if any, school safety items did your SCC discuss that were not in the report
- Group agreed that it was comprehensive.
- Your SCC has been asked to determine the #1 safety concern at your school after reading the report and discussing safety topics at your school. What has your SCC determined to be the #1 safety concern for your school?
Amanda stated that the pickup and dropoff is the most concerning. Kids and adults are not trained. Heidi, Lori, and Juliet agreed. Margaret agreed, and stated that it is scary when kids just dart through the cars. Lori noted that people don’t want to take the time to use the crosswalks. Margaret said that Mr. Navarro was great a few weeks ago to address each and every person who wasn’t following the guidelines. We did almost have a Kindergartener hit in the crosswalk by the faculty lot so that it is now closed off during that time. We need more people to be out there, and she doesn’t want to put teachers in that position. Bryant noted that the layout is terrible, so people easily are frustrated by the situation. Amanda suggested some positive reinforcement notes as well – noting what they did well. Lori noted that we could tie that to a reinforcer for the student. Steve noted that there is no good sidewalk that goes from the parking spots to the crosswalk, both on the north and the west sides of the school. Giving them a path may help. Lori mentioned adding another crosswalk may also be beneficial. Members agreed. Handing out parking lot expectations would also be helpful. Add this to student expectations that we teach and reteach. Lori also mentioned that keeping the rocks on the ground is another expectation we need to be teaching. Lori will take this information to make an action plan. Haydee noted that this message of expectations needs to get to families; if kids are not doing what is expected there should be calls home. Discussed doing Skylerts to push out information as well as other methods. Heidi can share previous flyers with Lori to review and revise. Steve noted that it costs nothing to send things out digitally. Some parents don’t read, so sending via Skylert is best. Haydee noted that it has been better since the new posts/cement blocks were put up on the north side.
- What additional items did you identify as primary concerns, if any?
- None noted.
- Does your SCC have an action plan to help address the concerns?
- Safety Patrol – Mr. Hartzler, 4th and 5th grade students.
- Positive Reinforcer to students – Orange Buckaroos handed out to students following school-wide expectations outside.
- Parking Lot Expectations were shared with families in the January Newsletter as well as Parent Square and Skyward.
- Week of January 18th – Admin will give out the safety coupons with a candy attached to families who are following the expectations outside. Reminders of parking lot expectations will be handed out to those who need a gentle reminder.
- New Crosswalk on the north west corner in front of the school – Mrs. Reynolds met with Kevin Ray from Risk Management and presented our concerns regarding the long “through way” in front of the building. He met with Rick Conger, the Director of Facilities and both agreed that this would be in the best interest of student safety to install. Timeline- Spring of 2021
- Goal is to get this to teachers on duty in the upcoming weeks to help reinforce expectations as well.
Digital Citizenship–
More to come after January 1st; it has been pushed back by the District.
Content Keeper and actions at school level – Lori
- On every school device, we have filters placed by the District. If a student searches something inappropriate on a school device, that information (that goes to Content Keeper) is now sent to the local administrator in addition to the District, so the school administrators can address them right away. When the 5th grade teachers told the students that Mrs. Reynolds can see what they are searching, it decreased!!!
Meeting on Dec. 14th or January 18th (dependent on today’s vote).
Haydee proposed to cancel the December meeting; Bryant seconded. It was approved by the members. Our next meeting will be January 18th at 4:00pm.
Bryant motioned to adjourn; Meeting adjourned at 5:00pm.
Lori Reynolds send the following follow up message to the SCC on Tuesday, December 1, 9:03am:
Good news that I forgot to share in our meeting below!
Our school met the following criteria to be recognized by the USBE (Utah State Board of Education) as a School of Excellence for English Language Instruction:
-More than 400 students
-80% – 100% of student body economically disadvantaged
-40% – 50% of students learning English
-40% – 60% of students achieving their annual growth goal as set by the state
https://www.ksl.com/article/50057472/19-utah-schools-are-tops-at-english-language-instruction
Pretty great right! We might not be able to pull it together YET in the parking lot, but things are happening in the classrooms!
We are also trying to get our 4th and 5th graders into leadership positions with a Safety Patrol. Mr. Hartzler in 4th grade will be working with those students and training them. They will be out there for reinforcement, so we will give them some of the tickets for students too!
