>> Yeah. And it might help with the teachers who have [clears throat] their their conference schedule is packed. >> Absolutely. >> Because some of the teachers they have a very full schedule and others don't. And so if those teachers can spread out the interventions a little bit earlier in the semester, that would be huge for them. >> But I think too like we do a great job with the strategic plan. And I think we have to talk about like the impact because I think >> to your point a lot of it is just behavior. The date comes up you're used to registering for the conferences. I just go I >> it's a lot of it's like why you know to your point I just go because I feel like as a engaged parent. So I mean I think it's that and saying you know teachers can't fit it all in.
Now, what's exciting about that and connected to what we heard tonight was we heard our students talking about their engagement with poetry and how some of them now are right away starting to grow a love and understand that poetry is a really wonderful way for them to express themselves. So, we'll see more of that in the future. Uh, on January 30th, Dr. T-Bolt, Mrs. Paveo and I attended a legislative breakfast that was hosted by the Children's Advocacy Center. That's actually uh an event that we go to every year. And the reason that's important for us to do that do that kind or attend that kind of event is because uh what we take from it is opportunities to provide professional learning for our staff and students. In this particular group, um Katie's working with them to come to Dartmouth. They'll be in Dartmouth with us for two sessions during upcoming early elementary early release days.
So ham and turkeys. Okay. >> Yeah. I'm not picky. >> Okay. Thank you so much. >> He's used to In-N-Out Burger Heidi. I know he likes that animal style, >> protein style. >> I don't know what you got, but that's >> we probably shop. It was a big change. But they were like, you could actually see the flame. That's they kind of get to that a little bit. >> A little bit of that charcoal. >> Yeah, it's a it's a favorite of mine. My wife's not a huge fan, >> so I'm off Friday and she works and so I'll go there and read and just now it's nice >> like having lunch for you. >> But to chase it would want to >> and then we sometimes switch it up. You probably do this with all the garden soupads for lunch. >> Every once in a while.
We're trying to prioritize. Think that's a really important part of the the messaging and probably the bigger change is for parents, right? Getting the ones to come that aren't coming and getting the ones that are used to coming >> like changing our howing it. >> Yeah. >> As parents. Yeah. >> Right. Where do you want to spend your time? Where will it be most effective? Like Yeah. You might not be able to sit through seven You won't be able to sit through seven teachers presentations that night. Who do you need to see? like who haven't like if I've already communicated with the teacher six times about like my student struggling in that class, I've already talked to that teacher, right? And okay, like I might just walk by and say, "Hey, I'm the one you've been talking to on the phone for the last three weeks, right?
So, we have that going on. Um, last week we had Amplify professional learning representatives here to support our teachers as they continue the implementation of CKLA. again, broken record, but supports our our teaching and learning, our professional development, and that is one of our our core commitments. Uh, on February 4th, Quinn School held a celebration of reading. I was lucky enough to be welcomed as a guest reader. Um, so I got to read to a second grade class, Mrs. Rebecca Kelly's class. And if you ever need a book that will make kids laugh out loud and make you feel really silly, the book title is the book with no pictures. It's a winner. And they laughed through the whole book because I had to say some really silly things. And seven year seven and eight year olds really enjoy watching adults make themselves look foolish.
>> Yeah. >> Experiences. You like your language learning some new words or something like that. I've almost had a couple >> instead of here. >> Yeah, exactly. For sure. >> Thanks for showing up to this. Of course. Oh my gosh. Thank you so much. >> Everything. >> Awesome. Oh my goodness. I appreciate it. >> Sure thing. We appreciate you. >> So they'll think that they're center. >> Oh, but with the optic again takes all that away. Just bring the dog out. >> Thank you. If there's time that you should >> go hopefully I see the >> Yeah. >> All right. I'm gonna go put my stuff away and >> help you clean up. >> That's true. You guys have a blessed night. >> I love you, Billy. >> Love you, dear. >> Hey, remember that if you love me, you won't leave. >> You can always call me.
But I I might not need to sit through the classroom presentation because I already know what that teacher is about, right?" Um or depending on your time, like if you only had 30 minutes that like we assume every parent has that whole night to come sit through their kids' schedule, right? Um but if I only had 20 minutes to stop in and just I need to go see that one teacher and make that connection and then I I get out or if I can't at all that night, this helps reinforce that, hey parents, hey families, if you need to talk to a teacher, it's our culture. Reach out. make that connection, right? Don't, there's no waiting for a day. We're here for you. Um, so I think it, you know, and I think the more we get people in dialogue and talking, the better they'll get at it, the more they'll lean on it.
So it was really fun. But we had quite a few staff members out there in the building at the Quinn school reading to students. So I always welcome being I always love being welcomed into teachers classrooms uh to engage in that kind of experience. So under safe and supportive schools at the secondary level uh Mr. Chrysafully and Dr. Teol are actually working with the children's advocacy center to bring presentations on digital safety to health classes at the middle and the high school. So those are the kind of relationships that we continue to work toward building. Um Kim Redlon has begun convening the district team. Again, those are our if you remember the train the trainer model. So she's doing that work. Now I would also mention under safe and supportive schools and I think this is equally important and I know you know this but the uh the issue around snow removal of the winter that we're having has has been a big I think a lot of work for for our maintenance staff.
You and your lovely wife and call me. >> She's always in Atlanta. >> Did you have everything there? >> Oh, yeah. She brought me a a bunch. I'm totally thrilled. >> Okay. I was like, you know what? I need to tell him because part of my job I was like all this stuff. >> Austin, do you need something to drink? >> Oh, no. I have this here. Thank you, though. >> It's a classic. Oh, well, I >> highly doubt >> of it. I mean, actually tuned in as very well in a different town or setting that's like not even necessarily bigger but just >> likes to do things online. >> It could be a lot different. when I went to play that video was like update, do this, do this. No. >> And like I already had it all pulled up. I just had to hit play, >> of course.
They won't wait for, you know, this longer period. They, okay, I had a teacher. I had a conversation with this teacher. It was successful. Now I have a concern about this other class. I'm going to reach out and have a conversation with that teacher as well. Right? And it's about changing some of the culture about how we interact and dialogue about student success. We're already documenting all of these interventions, all these supports. A student's grade is updated in real time in the student information system. Like there is a wealth of information out there available to families that want to track student progress. This then gives us some real strategic tools of how to move that needle. The proposed changes to the parent teacher conferences was by the committee. Correct. >> Was the committee also responsible for proposing the changes to the calendar? >> It's all comprehensive.
I know I have a friend who lives here in Dartmouth and she said oh they are out Saturday. I saw them everywhere getting the schools ready to uh open for Monday. if you want to just talk about that, Jim, because I know you've been in touch with John about that on a regular basis. >> Sure. It seems like every weekend it's [laughter] it's just been really a bear this winter. Um I, you know, commend John and his staff um in facilities and the custodians cuz boy, it there been some tough conditions um with the temperatures so low too. on Saturday. Uh it was particularly challenging with the timing of the snow and um trying to get cleaned up late Saturday, but um you know, they've been they've been working uh diligently to you know, maintain our environments as best they can in uh very very challenging conditions for sure.
>> And I'm just like, all right, whatever. >> It's got to make a fool out of me every once in a while. >> Oh, well, that's okay. I get all tripped up when I talk about the kids and stuff. So, >> I hate that I do that, but it's like >> you mean it. >> Yeah. >> You know, and it's from all sincerity. So, >> yeah, >> whatever. You're just being you. >> I get it. >> I'm ready to go home, though. Mhm. At >> least my wife is in Cotton Cottonwood visiting a friend. So she's not waiting for me. So >> Oh, I got to bring the other chair back. Someone's chair is missing a arm. >> Mhm. >> Oh, no. >> And we can't figure out where did it go. >> Oh, seriously? It just disappeared. >> Well, we we saw it the other last week and then uh Cindy saw it and then it's we can't we've looked everywhere.
Yeah. Usually the calendar committee would work on that. If this all comes together, they would hand off to the calendar committee like, hey, the board's behind this, the administration's behind this, the committee's behind this calendar committee. Good luck. at all. >> And you said you're going to be surveying staff on the changes to the parent teacher conference. [clears throat] Are you also going to be surveying the staff on the changes to the proposed calendar? >> This it's a comprehensive proposal. >> It is. So it's a two question survey. What do you like kind of what don't you like? And uh then we'll sus all of that out. >> Can you go back to the timeline? >> Yeah. Screen, >> please. Oh, I think it's the other way towards the end. So can you can you just walk us through this from from today until >> Yeah.
We haven't seen a winter like this in a long time. So, >> so I say that under safe and supportive schools because that could go under budget and capital improvements as well, but snow removal is clearly related to the physical safety of our students, our staff, and our faculty. I'd also mention that on February 4th, I I mentioned that this was going to happen, but Dartmouth High School did host anformational panel for families of students with disabilities focused on post-secary accessibility services. five local colleges participated and the recording of the panel will be posted on the Dartmouth High School uh YouTube page. So, you can look for that. I think that this my my next comment goes along with something that we've talked about earlier, which is that I've been meeting with several area superintendent to begin planning a legislative breakfast for the South Coast communities.
>> Oh, no. So, I just brought one with the I I lent him mine and put mine back in my office. But, >> I mean, how does a I mean, I wouldn't think somebody would throw it away, >> right? >> But you never know. My bike club assistant coach is running a half marathon in Mesa uh this coming weekend. >> Nice. >> So, it's his first. He's not much of a runner, >> but he just kind of got pulled into it and they have like the Town and Trails Run Club >> and so he knows the person who runs that, so he kind of got pulled in. But >> I think he'll do really well. I guess it's kind of a really good like qualifier course for things because it's all just slight downhill and low elevation and stuff like that. So >> that's the Tucson one down.
So this so from now until the end of the school year, right? So the way that I would see it working if the board tonight is in favor of us continuing to move forward would be we have our feedback window open for staff right now that tomorrow we would do our board communication of what the board discussed. We discussed this proposal. you know, here's the a short little two-minute video that explains how it works because we used AI to do that. Um, and then a link to this meeting where if somebody wanted to dive in and hear the whole discussion, they could. And uh some documents targeted to families uh that we've prepared that is really the outline of what we're talking about here and some FAQs that goes with it uh in text form. Uh, and then a link to fill out the same type of thing.
So, we have tentatively set a date of May 15th and Mike Watson, who I know you all know, superintendent of Greater New Bedford, has graciously agreed to host agreed to. I'm not sure he volunteered, but he agreed. >> Volunt. >> Yeah, volunttoled. And we'll be sharing more information about this. We wish it could be earlier, but we can't make that date an earlier date work. But this is something that we've talked about. As you know, I attend a monthly superintendent roundt. It's not just made up of South Coast superintendent, but also Cape superintendent. And apparently, from what I'm learning, the South Coast has not had a legislative breakfast in quite a while. And so, that's something we're working together to plan for. And even though it's a little later than we would normally want, it's still something that we believe we should do and earlier in order to just get things started.
Tucson smoke and fast course. It's like constant downhill. You don't bang your you know bang your knees up bad, right? >> But it's just enough of a downhill to where you just really can cruise. >> Well, and I didn't realize that certain like marathons you have to qualify for. So people are looking for a course that can make it a little easier. >> It has to be USAF, US traffic track and field certified. >> Um >> I guess this is one of those that people use. Yeah. >> Tucson is too. And and that's one that a lot of people use. Um, and it's it's twofold because there's some races, you know, Boston, New York, whatever, that you have to submit a qualifier time >> and then there's other things like all the other bigger rate like the Disney races and stuff. If you don't submit a qualifier time, >> then you get put in the, you know, if they have crowds A through G, you get put in like F and G.
What do you like? What do you have concerns about that we could go through and factor in? Then I would like to come back at the end of the month with what we've learned from that and maybe we're ready to say, yeah, like we can take care of all the concerns that were raised or uh oh, somebody raised something we haven't considered yet. like we're going to need a little more time, but somewhere between end of February and spring break, we probably need to know, are we moving forward with this so that we can get the calendar all adjusted and everything else. Families can know that the like we're coming back a day earlier, that they're going to have Thanksgiving week off, like all of those pieces so family calendars can get aligned uh and that we can then move forward. Traditionally, I mean, we're talking about changing this for the 26 27 school year.
So I'll be sharing information more information with you about that as as the planning continues to unfold. I also mentioned that CPAC is going to hold its next meeting on Thursday, February 12th at 6:00 right here in the library media center. and the topic is um going to be post-secondary transition planning. So for family and community engagement, I actually already mentioned a couple of things to you. Um but I would like to also just let the public know that the preschool application process is open through March 20th. I think I mentioned this at our last committee meeting, but there will be anformational evening for families on February 25th at 6:00 p.m. at the Kushman School and the kindergarten registration process is open today. So that opened today and that is for the 2026 27 school year. As in the past, we want to urge families to register eligible children for kindergarten as early as possible because it it really is helpful to us in looking at uh what class size will look like and what our staffing needs will be.