Beasley Weekly Bulletin
Week of October 17, 2016
Beasey Level 2+ (Reason?)
1. Budget Reduction
2. Personnel Impacts
3. Decline in enrollment from 1,416 to 1,362
4. Possible CTU Teacher's Strike
I believe that our Level 2+ rating was no accident. This occurred for a reason and that is to reveal something to us. Only we can make us a Level 1 or Level 1+ school or not. I was asked at an LSC Meeting what I thought were the reasons why our SQRP Rating fell. I said it is because of our school culture and climate and it needed to change. We have to move from discouragement to encouragement. We have to move from problem-seekers to solution-oriented. We have to move from undermining to supportive. We have to move from fault-finding to shared accountability. We have to focus on student achievement data, school effectiveness framework, and our CIWP strategic priorities.
Last year, I really could not spend a lot of time focusing on improving the school but rather putting out the numerous fires that were in our school. This year I am committed to improving the school and will not allow these types of distractions that occurred in the past to undermine my vision. This year you can expect me to run a tighter ship. I know things are changing for the better. I believe that from day 1 of the school year, I made sure that we had order, safety, consistent communication to parents, tighter arrival and dismissal routines, and a calm culture/climate.
Effective Leadership - Process Improvements
- Overlap in PE classes (3 classes at one time)
- Room 114 is no longer a classroom and was on the schedule
- 3rd and 4th grade have Resource last period eliminating swim as an option
- Mr. James cannot work on Fridays because of Clinician Team Day
- Inequity in Resource classes among Resource Teachers (some have less classes)
- PreK resource may need improvements
- Parent communication is needed to assist children's preparation for resource classes
The business strategy I used is called process improvements. Process Improvement is the proactive task of identifying, analyzing and improving upon existing school processes within an organization for optimization and to meet new quotas or standards of quality.
I would like to extend a huge thank you to Mrs. Wilson-Turnbow in her efforts to create the schedule that went out last week. It is a huge task and it is not easy doing a schedule because there are so many things to be considered. Moving forward, I will be taking the lead of revising the Resource Schedule. I have collaborated with some of the teachers to make sure that we implement a more well thought out schedule to replace the French and Industrial Technology classes. I plan to have it finalized by Monday morning.
Process Improvements:
- Assistant Principals will provide Health classes to classes that had 3 PE at the same time.
- Room 114 was removed from the schedule and other classes re-scheduled.
- 4th grade will have resource at 1:45 to 2:45 affording them swim as an option.
- An AP or other staff member will have to do Mr. James' class on Friday.
- Any Resource teacher who has less classes will be the first utilized if we have a substitute shortage (fairness).
- PreK should have either have library or music, Spanish (preferred but may not be likely)
- Parent communication is needed for effectiveness. (via parent letter, website and Robo-call)
2. Payroll - The District only provides schools with one clerk by seniority. Therefore, I have taken the lead to train myself on payroll and have been entering your time. My goal is train administrative and other clerical staff to learn how to implement payroll. It is not hard but can be tedious if staff member do not swipe in and out daily. However, I have observed that many staff members are not coming to work on time. Those staff members received a copy of a Time Detail Sheet from me and a copy was filed away. If you habitually come to work late your pay may be impacted. Moreover, you must swipe in and out every day. Please adhere to this policy because it may impact your evaluative performance ratings under professional responsibilities for teachers and the criteria of dependability for ESPs on their evaluations.
Ambitious Instruction
- REACH Teacher Observations are continuing this week.
- Children's International Film Festival Free Field Trips have been planned. Teachers are to collect the money for the school FACETS Curriculum will be provided to support our students' development of the social justice themes and their comprehension skills. Please ask Mrs. Rendleman about the school buses and what is needed.
- REACH CIM Performance Tasks are to be administered to students (Pre-assessments).
- All TRC/DIBELS Testing K-2nd have been completed.
- Evidence of small grouping schedules is due this week by TRC/DIBEL Level for K-2nd.
- Evidence of daily small group instructional schedules in all grades 3rd-8th are to be posted now.
- Network 9 Classroom Checklist. Please make sure that your classroom adheres to this checklist. Be prepared for any walk through from Network 9 personnel which includes the Chief of Schools.
- Family Cooking Classes. A special thanks to Ms. Rendleman and Ms. Armstrong for agreeing to teach the cooking classes again. The first class was a huge success and the students made basil chicken and salad. It smelled and tasted delicious!
Collaborative Teachers
2. All Teacher Team meetings resume on Tuesday and Wednesdays.
3. Building the Gifted Community (BGC) is on Thursday, October 20 at 7:45 a.m. in the LRC.
4. Network 9 Math TLI Training. Please read below if you plan to attend.
Pre to 5 TLI
Learning Hub Code: N9CYCLE1P5TLI
At the Colman gym 4655 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60609
From:8:30 to 3:30
On 10/28/2016
6-8 Grade TLI
Learning Hub Code: CYCLE1N96HSTLI
At the Colman Gym 4655 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60609
From 8:30 to 3:30
On 11/2/2016
Supportive Environment
- Complimentary Coffee/Tea for staff is provided and paid for by the principal (not the school budget). If you would like a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate, please bring your own cup or mug for the Keurig Machine. Sugar, cream,and stirrers are also provided by the principal.
- 2nd District CPD Meeting - All "Killer Clowns" incidents must be reported to administration immediately.
- We no longer have a Dean of Students. All Discipline must be referred to the Asst. Principals and Mr. Richards (Disciplinarian).
- After School All Stars Program begins on Monday, October 17. It is important that Security personnel have names of students who are participating in these programs. Moreover, any student who is not in a program and is stranded at the school, DCFS and the Chicago Police Department will be notified. A special thanks goes to those teachers who were able to participate in our after school program. Please refer any ASAS questions, to Ms. Hickman, ASAS Coordinator
Parental and Community Involvment
Thank you for such a smooth week!!!
Dr. BC