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APC March 2013 Retreat Summary

The Academic Policy Committee (APC) met at the school facility on March 2, 2013 for a board retreat.  Facilitating the retreat was Norm Wooten, Director of School Improvement, Association of Alaska School Boards.    The retreat began with APC members answering two questions:
  1. Why did I run for election to the Academic Policy Committee (APC)?
  2. What do I hope to accomplish as a member of the Academic Policy Committee?

 
The initial discussion centered around the roles and responsibilities of APC members utilizing the provisions of the Twindly Bridge Charter.  Areas covered included:
  • APC as the governing body
  • Board members authority to act on behalf of the school
  • Examination of the mission
  • Employment of the administrator
  • Responsibility contracting
  • Professional conduct
  • Settling disputes
  • Conflict of interest
  • Executive sessions
  • Fiduciary responsibility
  • Indemnification of board members
  • Procedure for amending bylaws

 
The board members examined in some detail the provisions of the Alaska Open Meetings Act (AS 44.62.310).  Topics covered included:

     Executive sessions:
  • How to convene
  • Proper wording of a motion
  • Topics permitted for discussion
  • Appropriate “noticing” of a meeting
  • Method of “noticing”
  • Remedy for correction of “improper” meeting

 
The APC examined the previous board goals (2009-2010) and updated the progress made on each goal.  
 
The APC then did an internal analysis of their school strengths.  These included:
  • Robotics
  • STEM (Science)
  • Strong technology base
  • Diverse classes
  • Facilitators/variety of classes
  • Sessions are a positive learning community for my children
  • Small
  • Parents expertise is recognized
  • Parent volunteers (not number – but quality)
  • Parent run
  • You make as big a difference as you want
  • Parents have a big say in direction
  • Diversified
  • Individual gifts celebrated
  • Kids steer their own future
  • Versatile curriculum meets various needs
  • Small student/teacher ratio
  • Staff
  • Supportive
  • Open minded
  • Mutual respect – parents/staff
  • Responsive
  • Teacher-advisors have time to contribute more to the school than correspondence support
  • Cheerful staff
  • Differing staff strengths
  • Approachable staff
  • Teachers
  • Customer service
  • Available
  • Listening

 
The APC then examined the challenges facing the school:
  • Some teachers are not freed up for special events
  • Continuous stronger teacher support for robotics
  • Free up tech teacher
  • School safety
  • Permanent front desk position (mentioned 5 times)
  • Limit on amount facilitators can charge per session
  • Field trips
  • Low parent volunteers (mentioned 5 times)
  • Educated students more thoroughly about post-graduate options
  • Need more training opportunities
  • Rules – too many
  • 100% homeschool support
  • Knowing students by name
  • Need more teachers with more diversified expertise (i.e. HS science)
  • Best classes often full
  • Father involvement
  • Limited time with all student body
  • Evening staffing
  • Few evening sessions
  • Sports with other schools
  • Balancing curriculum costs with class costs (larger allotment)
  • Test scores affect all families
  • More community involvement
  • Educational outreach (lack of)
  • Creating school community
  • Some parents resist tests
  • Test prep
  • Some families lack organization or education needed
  • Independent attitude can keep us apart
  • Time to develop relationships
  • Make sure that developed programs maintain staff direction
  • Overtaxed (excellent) staff/facilitators
  • Communication to families
  • Parking lot safety
  • Need more rooms to support instruction
  • No social area
  • Space
  • Lack of space for large events
  • Inadequate facility

 
The group then divided into three groups and worked on goals.  The three groups came up with the following:
 
     Group #1

  • Developing staffing needs
  • Facility needs
  • Parent needs
 
     Group #2

  • Space – reconfigure what we have
  • Full time front desk
  • Technology/Comp/math teacher committed to full time programs
  • HS/College prep – traveling – like school nurse/ 1-2x mo?
 
    Group #3

  • Increase capable upper level ed w/increased staffing
  • Explore possibility of new facility or improve/expand current building
 
NEXT STEPS:
• APC to take three sets of goals and condense them into one set of goals
• Assign action plans with responsible party, timeline
• Regularly report on progress at APC meeting

Twindly Bridge Charter School, 141 E. Seldon Road, Wasilla, Alaska 99654 | Phone: 907-376-6680
  • Home
    • Why Parents Choose Twindly
    • Charter
    • Facilitator Resources
  • TBCS Staff
  • Parent Resources
  • High School Resources
    • Graduation
    • 4 Cs