APP TASK FORCE MINUTES

May 17, 2001

7:00 PM


Jane Fellner, Chair


Attendance: Kelly Bradford, Linda Carlson, Alex Ginn, Jane Fellner, Heather
Holmback, Marissa LaMadrid, Dorothy Neville, AJ Skurdal, Marian Sussman,
Katherine Triandafilou, Bob Vaughan


The minutes from the April meeting were approved with no changes.



SCHOOL REPORTS


GARFIELD:


Marilyn Day, Garfield's newly appointed principal, attended the PTSA
meeting at Garfield last week.  Jane reported that while people were
unhappy with the principal selection process, they were supporting Marilyn
Day as Garfield's principal.  She has experience at Garfield and as
principal of WMS, which has similar programs to Garfield.


12 teachers and other staff members are leaving Garfield at the end of this
year. There is a large effort to find replacements for the science teachers
who are leaving and there is a hope that more science courses can be
offered.  There is also a search for a new AP European history teacher.


The district-wide AP exams have just concluded at Garfield.  More than 700
Seattle School District students took the exams.


WMS:


Superintendent Olchefske spoke at Washington on Tuesday, May 15.  He talked
about the renovation planned for Washington as well as the search for a new
principal.  He said that there could be a committee to act in an advisory
capacity, but that it was his job to appoint a new principal. There are no
known candidates at this time.


A letter was sent home about how the I-728 money was to be spent at
Washington.  This included extra reading classes, LA/SS blocks for all 7th
and 8th graders, and extra honors classes for students in the regular
program. Jane reported that WMS did not receive a lot of feedback in
general, but there were comments that it was unclear how it would benefit
the APP and Spectrum students at Washington.  Several parents expressed the
view that they should have asked for input up front rather than making a
fairly detailed proposal and then putting parents in the position where
they would have to object to changes that would benefit other students. The
school intends to send out more information and have a meeting on the
proposal.


LOWELL:


Spring Zoog had Jane report that the activities concerning standards, class
size, future planning, etc. are progressing.  While no math specialist was
hired, Teresa Roth has been hired 1/2 time for tutoring and support for all
teachers. Hal is sharing his job as principal with Margie Cates for the
remainder of the year.  Lowell has hired two new teachers from among many
good candidates. There will be two new 4th grade teachers and one new 2nd
grade teacher and Spring will move to 5th grade. To accommodate the
additional classes, one room currently housing the YMCA will be used.



COORDINATOR'S REPORT:


Bob reported the numbers for next year's APP classes at Lowell: 1 - 1st
grade; 2 - 2nd grades; 1 - 2/3 grade split; 3 - 3rd grades; 5 - 4th grades;
and 4 - 5th grades.  There will be 16 teachers and class size is expected
to be around 22 to 25.


Math issues remain high on the highly capable program agenda, especially
math disparities. Bob will be meeting with Lowell teachers on the May 18
teacher in-service day and will give a report next month.



HIGHLY CAPABLE REVIEW PROCESS


Jane gave some highlights of the recently-completed highly capable review:
(1) re-examine the testing process for APP to try to get more
underrepresented groups into the program, (2) have Spectrum in every school
with the school deciding how to accommodate the qualifying students, (3)
abolish district set-aside seats for Spectrum, (4) give every teacher
training in teaching highly capable students, (5) have more AP courses at
high school in science. The major changes to the programs would begin in
the 2002-2003 school year. Jane expressed dismay with many aspects of the
highly capable review process and results. We discussed some of the
literature that the review committee looked at and talked about issues,
such as: (1) grade skipping vs. Spectrum, (2) ways to change the perception
that "highly capable" is synonymous with "elitist," including changing the
way we talk about the students and the program, (3) problems with having
every teacher have to incorporate gifted education into their classroom,
(4) suggestions that principals receive more funds to accommodate the new
Spectrum students at their schools, and (5) methods to evaluate the
progress of students in APP and Spectrum.


There is a meeting scheduled on May 19 to present the results of the review
process to parents.  It is anticipated that there will be a fairly large
turnout of parents who have concerns about the process and the results.



FUTURE MEETINGS


The remaining Task Force meeting for the 2000-2001 school year is June
14th.  The focus of this meeting will be to discuss the Highly Capable
review results as well as elect Task Force officers for next year.  All
those who like to take minutes are encouraged to attend.



The meeting adjourned around 9:30.


Submitted by:

Heather Holmback, APP Task Force Secretary