PTSO Meeting Parent Teacher Student Organization October 10, 2010

AGENDA Overview Brief Orientation to “Parent Portal” UPDATES: Collaborative School Committee (CSC) All-School Updates from DSA Principal, Mr. Kohut Q&A on Meeting Handout In the Lobby…. Draft Directory for review Sign up sheets for Parent Interest Groups

Strengthen DSA as a resource and community Hierarchy of DSA Parent Priorities

PTSO Grants, All- School fundraising + volunteer projects Staff Appreciation, School Store, PTSO Newsletter Examples of PTSO Support for Parent Priorities

Parent Portal on Infinite Campus One key to DSA parenting

All-School Updates from Mr. Kohut

DSA Admissions Total students completing application 1039 Total students completing audition process 669 Students offered admission354 Students Waitlisted 44 Student denied admission271

Current Enrollment In Majors 6 th 7 th 8 th 9 th 10 th 11 th 12 th Total Band CW Dance Guitar Orch Piano Stage Theatre Video/ Cinema Visual Art Vocal

Staffing Update Class Size Relief Posted- hired- filled Library Tech- Para – Steve Bowley Posted- hired- filled 1.0 mild-moderate- Nicole Kitchen Posted- hired- filled.5 Social Studies –Sheila Anne Byrnes Posted with interview completed and position offered.5 Science Working on Math Visiting Scholar to help with small group tutoring and instruction in Middle School Math

District Changes to Transportation Recommendation:  Modify MS Magnet DSA, DCIS & Morey by utilizing shuttle bus stops Rationale (analysis) – The district currently provides [district-wide] transportation services to these schools for their magnet (DSA, DCIS) and magnet GT (Morey) programs. – 888 students take advantage of these services from outside the immediate geographic area – All 3 schools have waiting lists for students. It is believed transportation service is not required to maintain the current number and demographic makeup of students. Cost Savings Opportunity: – Move pickup/drop off locations from closest school to middle school locations creating a shuttle service. – DSA – eliminate 4 buses savings 120K; DCIS – eliminate 5 buses savings 150K; Morey GT - eliminate 5 buses savings 150K – Total estimated savings: $420K Impact on School/Program: – Students will be required to go further to catch a bus however ride times will be shorter.

District Changes to Transportation Next Steps to Approve/Implement Changes: – Meet with instructional leadership and principals at all schools – Meeting with CSC/community to discuss change and understand concerns – Requires change to BoE policy JC-R Secondary – Pupil Assignment; approval to be sought in November

Student/Parent Conferences Monday, October 25 th & Tuesday, October 26 th - 4:00 pm – 7:30 pm will be sent via Infinite Campus on Friday afternoon instructing parents to sign-up for conferences through an on-line appointment system Teachers will be scheduled for 10 minute slots with a break at 6:00 pm and the last conference scheduled at 7:10 pm

Student/Parent Conferences Parent/guardians will be asked to prioritize the teachers they sign-up with and will be limited to four conference slots so more families can be accommodated. Conferences with arts teachers will be limited to majors only. If there is a need to conference with an arts elective teacher parents will be asked to send those teachers an requesting a conference at a different time.

Collaborative School Committee Updates

Q & A PTSO Handout