Ross  Montessori  School   Board  of  Directors  Meeting   Minutes  -­‐  June  1,  2015   Residence  on  New  Ross  School  Property  (1599  CO  133,  Carbondale)  

  In  attendance:  Dave  Gensch,  P.C.  Drew,  Carolyn  Williams,  Shelly  Sheppick,  Yuani  Ruiz,  Greg  Mohl,  Alan   Cole,  Sarah  Oates,  Mark  Kavasch,  Gella  Sutro     Also  in  attendance:  Head  of  School  Sonya  Hemmen,  Director  of  Development  and  Enrollment  Tricia   Williams,  Middle  School  teachers  Laurie  Maier  and  Christopher  “C-­‐pher”  Bair     Arriving  late:  Mark  Ross  Montessori  Foundation  President  Robin  Cole     Not  present:  Mark  Gotfredson     6:00  pm  call  to  order     Middle  School  Program  Presentation  –  Laurie  Maier  &  C-­‐pher  Bair     The  middle  school  program  this  past  year  maintained  the  elementary  school’s  three  hour  work  block  as   well  as  mixed  aged  group  instruction.     All  the  state  standards  were  grouped  by  theme/quarter  of  school  year:  logic,  observation,  reading  &   literature,  research,  etc.     Afternoon  math  class  was  solely  dedicated  to  math.     The  teachers  wanted  to  prepare  the  kids  for  direct  instruction/lecture  and  worked  on  students’  note   taking  skills.    They  incorporated  small  lectures  to  start  with  then  extended  the  duration  as  the  year  went   on.     Other  high  school  transition  assistance  included  larger  reading  and  research  assignments.  They  took  a   high  level  reading  assignment  that  was  a  stretch  read  then  taught  students  to  break  it  down  in  order  to   make  it  approachable.     The  teachers  gave  students  reading  guides  to  help  them  pull  information  and  discuss  it.     Each  student  has  a  portfolio,  a  record  of  the  work  for  the  year.  Each  student  had  at  least  one  internship   this  year  and  each  student  got  to  share  what  his/her  career  interests  were  and  that  is  how  the   opportunities  were  arranged.    Once  the  word  got  out  that  the  internships  were  fun,  they  all  wanted  in:  Ski   Patrol,  Bike  Mechanic,  Interior  Design,  Fire  Department  were  some  examples  of  internships.  For   2015/16,  teachers  plan  to  incorporate  students’  internships  a  little  differently  with  the  entire  class   participating  in  some  group  activity  such  as  blacksmithing  at  the  end  of  a  unit  of  study  that  makes  sense   with  this.  (Just  an  example.)     The  teachers  also  instituted  peer  review  and  had  students  create  outlines  for  their  papers.    Each  peer-­‐ reviewed  project  had  4  to  5  reviewers  and  each  reviewer  made  comments  with  a  different  colored  pencil.   The  student  then  rewrote  their  work  after  review  then  submitted  that  revised  draft  to  the  teachers.  They   saw  a  huge  difference  in  first  vs.  second  drafts  of  these  papers.    

Keystone  Science  was  contracted  in  the  fall  to  plan  and  execute  the  middle  school  Outdoor  Ed  field  trip  to   the  Dillon  Reservoir.  Water  rights  served  as  a  big  theme  in  class  this  year.    Students  held  a  mock  town  hall   meeting  on  developing  a  dam.  Students  represented  different  stakeholders  and  had  to  think  about  the   issues  from  different  perspectives.  This  proved  to  be  very  successful.  The  teachers  also  focused  on   science  projects  with  a  historical  element.     They  continued  to  use  themes  that  incorporated  more  than  one  subject.  Students  made  replicas  of   historical  artifacts  and  geographic  maps  for  the  Genghis  Khan  project.     For  cat  dissection  they  incorporated  anatomy  and  chemistry.  Students  finished  with  geometry  and   physics.     C-­‐pher  will  be  attending  a  “Montessori  Summer  Lyceum”  training  in  Golden  this  summer.     Portfolios  are  in  place  to  document  work  throughout  the  school  year.    This  practice  helps  students   remember  what  they  did  (because  this  age  group  tends  to  suffer  from  academic  amnesia)  and  reflect  on   the  learning  they  have  participated  in  at  school.  .  Because  of  the  plane  of  development  they  live  with   daily,  a  large  project  that  involves  multiple  disciplines  over  time  also  allows  students  the  opportunity  to   refocus,  remember  and  revisit  past  work.     When  asked  a  question  about  grade  level  balance  (7th  to  8th),  the  teachers  explained  that  they  distinguish   students  by  ability,  not  by  age  or  grade.  There  are  two  years  in  the  middle  school  rotation:  year  one  and   year  two.  They  are  confident  that  the  planning  incorporates  Montessori  spirit  with  State  Standards.     Preliminary  data  on  enrollment  shows  the  numbers  on  track  to  be  about  the  same  as  last  year:  28,total.     When  asked  if  the  teachers  had  testing  results  showing  progress,  they  indicated  that  some  students   progressed  but  they  were  surprised  by  some  of  the  NWEA  test  results.  They  both  agreed  that  their   students  were  over-­‐tested  this  year  and  showed  some  fatigue,  like  all  other  tested  grades.       The  NWEA  test,  which  tracks  students’  progress  over  time,  was  the  last  test  the  middle  school  students   took  this  year.  The  teachers  felt  that  testing  fatigue  had  set  in  for  at  least  some  of  their  students  and  that   may  have  accounted  for  some  of  the  preliminary  results  they  have  already  begun  to  evaluate  and  use  for   future  planning  of  curriculum.       When  asked  what  the  middle  school  teachers  need  in  terms  of  resources  going  forward,  they  responded   with  a  request  for  new  Bunsen  burners  and  propane.  A  real  science  lab  is  high  on  their  wish  list,  as  are   huge  roll-­‐up  maps  for  history.  The  board  instructed  the  teachers  to  create  an  itemized  wish  list.     The  board  asked  the  teachers  to  explain  the  value  difference  with  Montessori  education.     They  have  more  one-­‐on-­‐one  time  with  the  kids.  Student  to  teacher  ratio  is  a  big  factor.    They  can   constantly  adjust  to  the  child.    They  can  create  units  with  multiple  disciplines  (subjects)  and  initiate  plans   to  tackle  multiple  subjects.    They  can  incorporate  language  arts  in  science.       These  things  are  simply  not  possible  in  a  traditional  public  setting.  Hitting  from  multiple  angles  allows   each  child  to  find  success.  They  work  together  and  team  teaching  happens  every  day.     They  want  to  grow  the  internship  program  and/or  ½  week  projects  to  incorporate  more  of  what’s   happening  outdoors.  They’d  like  to  do  service  projects  or  trips  that  are  the  culmination  of  academic  work   done  prior  that  year.    

This  fall  they  will  be  sending  home  a  workbook.  Major  assignments  will  be  listed  and  explained.  The   workbook  will  function  both  as  a  work  plan  and  a  day  planner.  It’s  similar  to  an  old  college  syllabus  that   some  might  remember.       When  asked  how  they  counteract  “spring  fever”  the  teachers  said  they  incorporate  brain  breaks  with   physical  activity.  This  age  group  needs  exercise  regularly.  They  prefer  to  keep  the  ultimate  consequence   of  discipline  (i.e.  a  visit  to  the  Head  of  School)  for  the  very  end  as  a  last  resort.  Discipline  is  a  learning   opportunity.       Founders’  Day  Update  from  Director  of  Development  and  Enrollment,  Tricia  Williams     Founders’  Day  is  on  Wednesday,  June  3rd  from  10am-­‐2pm.     The  Groundbreaking  Ceremony  at  the  new  school  property  will  be  that  evening  from  5-­‐7pm.     The  school  wanted  to  recognize  the  10th  Anniversary  so  they  made  special  baseball  caps  to  give  to   everyone.  All  the  food  for  Founders’  Day  is  donated.     Food  sponsors  include  Crystal  River  Meats,  City  Market,  Mi  Casita,  Village  Smithy,  Cocina  del  Valley,  and   products  from  Pepsi  (just  water  and  juices,  soft  drinks  were  saved  for  the  adults  at  the  groundbreaking).     There  has  been  great  community  support  for  the  event.     It’s  going  to  be  a  fun  day  with  a  dozen  different  carnival  games,  an  open-­‐mic  stage  with  a  few  minutes  per   performance  for  dancers,  singers,  and  musicians.  There  will  be  prizes.  Please  take  a  moment  to  thank   volunteers  and  donors  the  day  of  the  event.     Ethan  Hemming  will  attend  from  Charter  School  Institute  (CSI).       The  cookout  starts  from  11am  and  kids  are  welcome  to  leave  with  their  parents  early  or  take  the  bus   home  at  3pm.     The  Groundbreaking  is  at  5pm.  Trudy  from  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture’s  Rural   Development  Office  will  be  here.    Ethan  Hemming  from  CSI  will  also  be  here   (authorizer/superintendent).  Kathryn  Ross  and  Betsy  Hoke  will  both  be  there.  Nora  Flood,  Head  of   Colorado  League  of  Charter  Schools,  promised  to  attend  the  school’s  Ribbon  Cutting,  as  she  cannot  be   here  for  ground  breaking.       The  school  has  10  gold  shovels  and  30  hard  hats.  Summers  Moore  will  be  taking  the  photos.     Mark  Litzen  and  Justin  Mendenhall  from  FCI  (our  building  contractors)  will  be  there.       Frieda  Wallison,  the  woman  who  sold  the  school  our  property,  will  attend  as  well.       The  presentation  will  run  about  25  minutes  at  this  event.       The  existing  barn  on  the  property  will  be  torn  town  but  the  shed  next  to  the  residence  will  remain.     The  board  made  a  motion  to  approve  the  minutes  from  April  27,  2015.  The  motion  passed  unanimously.          

  Board  Election     Mark  Kavasch,  Shelly  Sheppick  and  Robin  Cole  met  with  Anne  Cerrone  and  asked  her  to  consider   becoming  president  of  the  Mark  Ross  Montessori  Foundation  (MRMF)  board.  She  said  she  preferred  to   remain  the  treasurer.       Greg  Mohl  is  willing  move  over  to  the  MRMF  and  assume  the  presidency.  Greg  has  been  intimately   involved  in  the  Foundation’s  finances.  The  Foundation’s  role  is  as  the  owners  of  the  land  and  the  signers   of  the  loan.  The  Foundation  Board  monitors  construction  budget  and  the  fundraising  income  and   expenses.     Greg  would  remain  on  the  Finance  Committee  and  transition  the  knowledge  of  School  Board  Treasurer  to   Yuani.     The  board  recommended  moving  the  Foundation  Board  meetings  (quarterly)  to  be  scheduled  before  the   school  board  meetings  on  the  same  day  for  convenience  of  board  members  that  will  attend  both   meetings.   This  will  also  allow  for  better  cross  communication  between  both  boards.     Mark  Kavasch  will  remain  as  VP.       Secretary  needs  to  run  the  Board  Elections.  The  Secretary  is  also  in  charge  of  keeping  track  of  board   terms.     The  board  made  a  series  of  motions  regarding  the  election  of  new  Board  Officers.     The  board  moved  to  add  Robin  Cole  as  a  member  of  the  Ross  Montessori  School  board.  The  motion   passed  unanimously.     Motion  to  nominate  the  following  slate  of  new  officers:     Robin  Cole  –  President   Mark  Kavasch  –  Vice  President   Yuani  Ruiz  –  Treasurer   Dave  Gensch  –  Secretary     The  motion  passed  unanimously.       The  board  moved  to  enter  Executive  Session  at  7:45pm  to  discuss  real  estate  and  personnel  issues.     The  board  returned  from  executive  session  at  8:35pm.  The  board  made  a  motion  to  give  the  Vice   President  the  authority  to  sign  construction  contracts.     The  motion  passed  unanimously.     The  meeting  adjourned  at  8:45pm.