Minutes of the September Meeting of the Dean’s Parent Advisory Council

St. Louis Bread Company at National and Elm

September 18, 2001, 8:30-9:30

Participants: David Hough, Emily Carlile, Debbie Yocum, Arbindra Rimal, Scott Marrs, Mary Byrne, Jerry Masterson, David Meinert, Sarah Muegge, Kathi Beasley, Mark Hopkins, Chris Barnhart

Mary Byrne offered to continue to function as notetaker if all members agreed. The group unanimously agreed to allow her to continue in that role.

Dr. Hough addressed questions about the minutes of the August meeting. Several terms/concepts were clarified including explanation of the award-winning “Boot Heel” program; authentic Missouri State student experiences as experiential, rather than, theoretical learning; and public school presence at Greenwood taking the form of enrollment in innovative summer school programs.

Dr. Hough reported on the topics addressed at the Dean’s GLS Faculty Advisory Council meeting. Topics and participant comments from the faculty and parent meetings are as follows:

(1) Assignment of Missouri State education students to assist GLS faculty in the day-to-day

operations of the school. Faculty members indicated that they had need for

varying types of assistance, requiring individualized preparation of the Missouri State students. Dr. David Brown will provide that preparation before students are given assigned responsibilities. A parent participant suggested that pre-placement training is critical because untrained “aides” are not a help to teachers, but an additional responsibility.

(2) Parent involvement in classroom. Dr. Hough indicated that increased parent

involvement will be facilitated. Parents have a great deal of expertise that could

be tapped to provide additional support to GLS faculty. Parent roles must be

expanded from fundraiser to provide instructional support to students. Examples

of roles parents may assume include supervision of students in the use of

technology, maintenance of equipment, or content expertise. Missouri State faculty

throughout the campus may participate on the advisory committees of GLS

students completing their graduation exhibitions. A survey of parent skills and

availability will enable GLS faculty to identify parent skills and talents that can

support various education goals of GLS. Dr. Hough indicated that the “Boot Heel” program included parents as instructional partners in the classroom. Classrooms of the future will require teachers to be facilitators. GLS should be a model of parent involvement to all public schools.

(3) Development of innovative summer school program. Dr. Hough reported that

Rebecca Swearinger (Missouri State faculty) has been asked to implement a reading

academy at Greenwood. Chris Craig will offer a program for students who are

blind. He reported that GLS faculty proposed ideas for a Kids Kollege that

would provide an enrichment program for elementary students and remediation

for middle and high school students. Content area teachers suggested ideas based

on their specialization. Participants of the parent advisory council suggested that a

program similar to Summer Stars may be reinstituted. It folded because proceeds

from the program were distributed to Missouri State rather than dedicated to GLS. The

summer program should be designed to offer credit toward the practical arts

requirement. Suggested content includes business/economics, career exploration

in community work environments, exploration of diverse cultural groups. Content

of summer program should not conflict with programs offered by Springfield

Schools or Drury, but offer innovative experiences that fulfill unmet needs. A

summer school coordinator will be needed to organize and develop the summer

program. The coordinator is needed to recruit teachers, obtain supplies, address

any problems that arise. It is possible that an Ed. Administration student may be

recruited to coordinate the program, however, development of the program may

require employment of consistent leadership over time.

(4) Reinstitution of the Primary Center. Dr. Hough indicated that the former Primary

Center (PC) was organized in collaboration with Springfield Public Schools, but a

future PC may be created from the GLS waiting list of 80 prospective students.

Enrollment cannot be stratified to make GLS a microcosm of the world. However,

researchers can “capitalize on what we have rather than change it.” GLS could

provide important information to education decision makers with respect to

comparison of performance of various activities across different types of settings.

If the PC were to be reinstituted, Dr. Hough would like to explore the year-round

school schedule, similar to that of the Becky David School in St. Charles, MO.

The Becky David School is the oldest year-round program in the country and

receives national recognition. A parent participant suggested that a block schedule

may help teachers provide a more individualized curriculum for young children

who have a large range of academic abilities at that time in their lives, and avoid

“teaching to the middle.”

Dr. Hough reported that the student intern assigned to GLS is not “working out.” He is interacting with the Dept. of Ed. Administration regarding the student’s placement.

A participant raised a question as to whether Dr. Moseman should be present at the Dean’s Parent Advisory Council meetings so that he could address parent concerns. Responses from several participants did not support that arrangement for several reasons: (1) the freedom to be candid is protected by anonymity, that is, parent advice is taken as given by the group, rather than any individual; and, (2) the function of the council is to advise the Dean. The Dean is free to act on the information provided at meetings at his discretion. Dr. Moseman is given a copy of the minutes and the Dean discusses with him the input he receives from parents.

The absence of a dress code was introduced and discussed. Nixa and other surrounding public schools have implemented a dress code to minimize distractions to learning as reported in a recent article published in the Springfield News Leader. It was suggested that non-verbal communication that includes messages sent by body language and dress be included in the character education curriculum. The effect of dress and behavior of middle/high school students need to be reviewed in terms of the effect they have on the elementary school students. In addition, standards of behavior taught in the character education curriculum should permeate expectations for student behavior at all authentic situations, that is, school functions such at the school Halloween parade. GLS faculty should supervise student application of these standards.

Meeting Adjourned.

Respectfully submitted by Mary Byrne

September 18, 2001