The committee engaged in a discussion about the proposed plan to implement honors classes for English Language Arts (ELA) and math in the 8th grade, with the possibility of expanding to 7th grade. The committee’s conversation revealed a divide on this issue, with concerns raised that the current proposal was a departure from what had been previously advocated by parents, students, and teachers. The original motion in January had called for an honors program encompassing all core subjects in all grades, which was not being met by the current proposal.

Members also showed frustration with the decision to limit the program to only two subjects and to only 8th graders. The discussion touched upon the criteria for student placement in these courses and the need for additional staff to facilitate the expanded program. There was a debate on whether to approve the proposed plan or to continue discussions to extend the honors program to all grades.

Furthermore, the committee raised concerns about the process of student qualification for the new program, debating issues such as teacher bias and the impact of personal relationships on student selection. The use of rubrics and District Common Assessments was discussed as a means to determine eligibility. The optimal number of students per class and the impact of high student-teacher ratios were also topics of contention.

The committee decided to table the discussion on the honors program and requested a detailed implementation plan from the administration. This plan should include teacher input and collaboration, to be reviewed in a future meeting. The need for clear communication and collaboration between the committee and the administration was emphasized, particularly in light of the challenges and obstacles presented by the proposed program.

Another portion of the meeting was dedicated to the modular update project. The committee faced the challenge of securing design services for the modular buildings, as three design vendors on call with the city declined the job. A request for qualifications was submitted to hire a design firm, with the understanding that the modular vendors would only handle delivery, installation, and removal of the buildings. Concerns were voiced over meeting the timeline and ensuring funds are encumbered before the June 30th deadline. Discussions also covered leasing the modular buildings on a monthly basis, negotiations with vendors, and potential cost savings based on the contract length.

Additionally, the committee addressed issues related to late school field trip submissions. There was a debate about the adherence to the policy requiring field trip approval to be 30 days in advance, and concerns were raised about the readability of handwritten field trip submissions. The importance of reiterating submission deadlines and the need for reminders to ensure policy compliance was discussed.