SIAC makes recommendations to school board

     Iowa Code 280.12 spells out “Uniform School Requirements.” One of those requirements is the implementation of a School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC).

   The code spells out that the “board of directors of each public school district and the authorities in charge of each non-public school shall” appoint a SIAC to make recommendations to the school board. The committee is to be made up of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members.

   Their recommendations to the school board help to determine: educational goals, student-learning goals, long-range goals, desired levels of student performance, and harassment and bullying prevention.

   During the March 25 Monticello School Board meeting, Curriculum and Special Program Director Robyn Ponder provided a SIAC update to the board during her report.

   The MCSD SIAC committee includes the following members: Zach Yates, Taylor Gassman, Lily Moestchen, Tony Amsler, Craig Stadtmueller, Angie Bertling, Ginger Taylor, Nicole Moestchen, Lindsey Meyer, Johna Phillipson, Terri Tallman, Diane Temple, Todd Hospodarsky, Callie Smith, Lindsay Ryan, Brian Jaeger, and Ponder.

   The committee first met on Jan. 8.

   “We discussed the district data that had to do with attendance, climate and culture, and our conditions for learning surveys,” shared Ponder.

   They recently met again on March 4.

   “We went over more the academic data,” added Ponder. “Our FAST testing, MAP testing, ISASP for reading, math and science. We always go over what are the recommendations that we feel like the (school) board should consider.”

   Ponder said both meetings included a lot of “great discussion.” She said having the students involved provides a different perspective.

   The five goals presented to and approved by the school board included:

   • Plan for district-wide understanding and use of data and results of testing, which includes students.

   “Looking at those results and making some changes,” explained Ponder. “That was coming right from students to be a part of that data analysis.”

   • Continue to prioritize 80 percent proficiency on assessments.

   “We know that if we have 80 percent proficiency, our core instruction is working. The core is meant to meet 80 percent of our students’ needs. We have that 20 percent who might need extra support or advanced work.”

   • Celebrate improvement and growth on assessments.

   “We want to continue to look not only at proficiency, but at the growth that we have in assessments.”

   • Investigate ways to improve the quality, quantity, and time for school lunches.

   “That was driven by some parents and some students,” noted Ponder. “We had a great discussion about what we would love to have but there are restrictions on what we can do and Pat Kelly (Director of Nutrition) would have to be a part of that.”

   • Refine school-wide behavior management systems to reduce disruptive behaviors so they are resolved and recurrence is prevented.

   Board member John Schlarmann asked how Ponder chooses the various students who serve on SIAC. She said she reaches out to each classes Student Council members, the presidents and vice presidents.

   Schlarmann also sought clarification on the phrase “quality and quantity of school lunches.”

   For example, Ponder said one of the students on SIAC is a football player. When there is a game on Fridays, the players would prefer a meat option for lunch.

   In addition, many students travel to the Kirkwood center over the lunch hour and miss out on eating.

   “Can they get their lunch in time before making it out to Kirkwood?” Ponder proposed. “We were just reminded that there is so much that goes into this, that we really have to investigate what are the restrictions, what does the district have to follow, what does the schedule look like. There are so many pieces to the puzzle.”