Friday, May 9, 2008

GPAC Meeting Minutes 22 April Meeting

Here are the first meeting minutes from GPAC, the Gifted Parents Advisory Counsel.
This is the CHCCS group that has the charter to help influence policy and implementation of gifted education in CHCCS. It includes parents, administrators, gifted ed specialists, school board members, and teachers. Carol Horne has done a good job pulling together the group.

The minutes have been reviewed by the GPAC members.

We should discuss how PAGE members would like to contribute to GPAC. Especially, I think that we should try to come to a consensus as to what are the top 3-5 issues we would like to see the GPAC take up in the 2008-2009 school year.

PAGErs, what do _you_ think?

Also, note that I've deleted email addresses of GPAC members because of privacy.

Minutes:

Gifted Programming Advisory Council (GPAC)

This district-wide advisory group will provide regular updates to the Coordinator of Gifted Programs about the progress made in schools to implement the 2007-2010 Plan for the Education of Gifted Students. One parent representative from each school, selected teachers, one member of Parents for the Advancement of Gifted Education (PAGE), and one administrator provide information about the status of gifted programming across the schools. The group meets every other month during the school year.



Summary:

We agreed on high-level goals of GPAC as described in last group's meeting. See documents forwarded in subsequent mail.

GPAC members include the gifted ed coordinator (Carol), parents, gifted ed specialists, a principal, and a school board member.

For voting, decided we decided we will first try with 2/3 of members needed for quorum, with votes decided by simple majority of those attending. Jean (board member) and Carol (coordinator) aren't voting. We will revisit this when we meet in the fall to confirm this is acceptable.

Next face-to-face GPAC meeting is 3 September, with 3 more f2f meetings to take place during the school year.

GPAC school reps will also meet at least 3 times with AG parents from their schools.

GPAC team agreed on meeting & group ground rules (i.e. be nice and civil and a good group ;))

Rob Perkins and Jacques Morin will co-chair GPAC

Main goal of next months is to get organized,

We'll probably work on defining first 1 or 2 issues GPAC members think we should address before next Sept.

New Action Items (AI):

New AI: All GPAC reps to read Gifted plan and Dr. Edision's gifted report by end of June:

http://www2.chccs.k12.nc.us/education/components/docmgr/default.php?sectionid=3354

New AI:

New AI: Jacques to get list of proposed dates to group

New AI: Rob to distribute agendas ahead of time

New AI: Carol to get room for 3 Sept 6:30-8:30 PM

Attending:

26 people.


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Detail:

History of gifted plan

* Approved last May

* Will ask teachers to join in the Fall – 1 elem, 1 middle, 1 high

* Principal of FPG will be coming in.

* Memo went to gifted teams- also member selections

* Two parents in each school acted as advisers for selection.

GPAC Purpose discussion

* See dark blue handout from Carol

* Want GPAC members to be liaison

GPAC Function- (Implementation)

* GPAC members are also members of gifted parents' team at schools or SIT

* In elementary and middle school, GPAC member will be a liaison to school SIT

Q: Chris?- to whom do we make recommendations

Carol: We have 3 gifted ed specialists on GPAC.

Carol: We'll figure it out as we go along- all stakeholders. Will look at district issues, and as school

Carol: Would like all GPAC reps to send out info to the AG community at their schools

New AI: Rob- Draft and get GPAC reps feedback on a common template for reps to use to introduce themselves to their schools.

GPAC reps are committing to 7 meetings.

* Suggesting 4 meetings, Sept/Oct, ?, ?,

* We'll be creating focused questions for all GPAC reps to bring to school and get coordinated feedback.

* We also need to agree on our agenda

GPAC reps will meet together as a team,

Will also have meetings with SIT.

Jacques and Dabney are SIT members.

Ground Rules:

- Create communications mechanism- Blog (I suggest email list)

- Focus on reasonable agenda, respect time limits, don't interrupt

- No sidebar conversations

Next meeting 3 Sept- 1830-2030

Location & Room TBD



Contact: Carol Horne: chorne@chccs.k12.nc.us

967-8211 (ext. 279)

Member School or Group Liaison Role Email
Bridgette Araba/

*Hansy Laurenvil

Frank Porter Graham Alternating Parents - GPT /SIT
*Greg Bell Ephesus Parent – GPT/SIT
Kit Carson/ *Maryanne Welch Rashkis Alternating Parents - GPT /SIT
*Hui Di (temporary) Estes Parent – GPT/SIT
Sarah Ludington Carrboro Elementary Parent – GPT/SIT
*Mats Mahadevan Glenwood Parent – GPT/SIT
Alexa Middlesworth Scroggs Parent – GPT/SIT
Bhuvana Nandakumar McDougle Elementary Parent – GPT/SIT
Melissa Segal-Miller Seawell Parent – GPT/SIT
TBA Morris Grove Parent – GPT/SIT
*Lisa Josephs McDougle Middle Parent – GPT/SIT
*Janet Newcity Phillips Middle Parent – GPT/SIT
*Janine Sobolewski Smith Middle Parent – GPT/SIT
*Monica Tsotetsi Culbreth Middle Parent – GPT/SIT
*Dabney Grinnan East Chapel Hill High Parent – SIT
*Jacques Morin Carrboro High Parent - SIT
*Jim Williams Chapel Hill High Parent - SIT
*Zhiheng Wang Dual Language Program Parent – Dual Language
*Jean Hamilton District Board of Education
Elizabeth Angell (maternity leave in 2008) Glenwood Literacy Coach
Shelia Burnette Frank Porter Graham Principal
*Robert Perkins PAGE (Partners for the Advancement of Gifted Education) PAGE Parent Community
Becca Norris Scroggs Gifted Education Specialist
*Penny Shockley Ephesus Gifted Education Specialist
Carla Smith District Central Office Administrator
*Carol Horne District Coordinator of Gifted Programs
Cindy Sinicrope and Lisa Joyner (rotating) Culbreth

Phillips

McDougle

Middle School GESs
TBA Elementary Classroom Teacher
TBA Middle School Classroom Teacher
TBA High School Classroom Teacher
Information from Carol Horne:

Gifted Programs Advisory Council Meeting

Monday, April 21, 2008

Lincoln Center, Room 118 A and B

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Facilitator: Carol Horne Time Keeper: Margaret Blackwell

Desired Outcomes: By the end of the meeting, we will have:

  • Developed familiarity with GPAC purpose and function.
  • Identified group norms/ground rules for GPAC meeting participation.
  • Determined a method for group decision-making.
  • Selected GPAC co-chairs.
  • Determined a meeting calendar for 2008-09.
Time Topic Notes
6:00 Welcome and Introductions Members introduced themselves and shared why they are interested in serving on GPAC.
6:15 Agenda review Carol Horne described the outcomes for this meeting.
6:20 Goals and

Background Information: Formation of GPAC

Carol Horne provided historical background for the formation of GPAC. She referred to the following documents, which were provided for the GPAC members:
  • Excerpt: 2007-2010 Plan for the Education of Gifted Students.
  • Recommendation from District Gifted Leadership Team (formerly District Steering Committee for development of 2007-2010 Plan for the Education of Gifted Students) to combine this committee with GPAC. (Meeting notes, January 28, 2008)
  • Recommendation of liaison model for GPAC Purpose/Function from District Gifted Leadership Team (Meeting notes, January 28, 2008)
  • Memo to school Gifted Program Teams/principals for GPAC Purpose/Function/Member selection. (3-17-08)
  • Role and Responsibilities of GPAC School Representatives

Comments:

  • Review gifted plan and other important docs before mtg. #1: www.chccs.k12.nc.us/Gifted
  • Strategies for communications include GPAC share-outs and agenda planning during meetings. In most cases, the District Coordinator would share information and concerns with Gifted Ed Specialists during monthly meetings. Since there is Board representation on GPAC, this liaison role includes relating pertinent information as needed at the Board level.
6:40 Ground Rules

for Participation

Identify and agree to norms for GPAC meeting participation:

1) Focus on the "global good" rather than the individual child.

2) Create a blog for this council.

3) Respect time limits on the agenda.

4) Do not interrupt other speakers but at the same time allow for natural flow of conversation.

5) Come prepared for meetings.

6) Set agenda collaboratively in advance and stay on topic.

7) Review rules regularly and revise ground rules as needed.

8) Chair's role is to keep the conversation moving/he is the ultimate arbitor when needed – has the final say.

7:00 Group Decision-making Agree on consensus, majority, or quorum method. Quantify "quorum", if that is the mode determined for group decision-making.

The following points for consideration were made:

  • Jean should not be a voting member. (agreed)
  • Carol should not be a voting member. (agreed)
  • School reps and staff/admin. should vote, i.e. all other GPAC members (agreed)
  • 2/3 quorum for vote at meeting in order to vote; and 2/3 majority for decision. Consider a "core representative" group within the quorum, e.g. all 3 levels are represented.
  • Strive for consensus.
  • Robert's Rules of Order for procedures. (May not want to adhere too closely.)
  • Votes – by show of hands.
  • 50% for quorum plus one – majority rules
  • Core representation may make it hard to reach decisions.
  • If quorum is not reached, email may be used for voting.
  • Early voting may be considered but may not take conversation into account.
  • Quorum may be 2/3rds to 75%.
  • Striving for consensus may take up time.
  • Email voting – would this encourage absenteeism? Need voting members to hear the conversations.
  • Should be present to vote.
  • Higher percentage needed for a decision, i.e. 75% or 2/3rds
  • Balance may be achieved by having a high threshold for quorum but lower threshold for what can pass. – whole group, majority rules.

Decision: 50% vote. (If this does not seem to work next fall, the method can change.)

How will we "vote"? - Show of hands.

Meeting Facilitator(s) Select GPAC co-chairs for 2008-09 using the decision-making process that has been determined:

Self- nomination was allowed. The group voted unanimously by show of hands for the following co-chairs:


At this point, Carol Horne invited the two newly elected co-chairs to make the transition to their new roles as meeting facilitators.

7:45 Meeting Schedule for 2008-09 Agree on date for first meeting in early fall; identify other meeting information:

Day of week – (Tuesdays and Thursdays are not good days.)

Wednesdays are fine.

Wed., Sept. 3, 2008 – 1st meeting. (Location TBA.)

Additional dates will be sent by the co-chairs via email.

Time of meetings – 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Carol agreed to check on room availability and will be point of contact for the co-chairs.

7:55



8:00

Meeting




Plus/Delta

Adjourn.

General input:
  • Enthusiasm for a blog. Who will be responsible for facilitating the conversation? (Googleblog, …)
  • Can agendas be distributed one week in advance?

Plus:

Delta:

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