This is your invitation to attend our meeting of CAASP
Connecticut Association of Alternative Schools and Programs
Directions to The Alternative Center for Excellence,26 Locust Ave.,Danbury,Ct. 1-(203)-888-7795
From the EAST-(Waterbury,Hartford AREA)
Take I-84West to exit 6.Make a left at traffic light onto North Street.Proceed to second traffic light (C-Town Market on right) and take a left onto Maple Avenue Extention(one way street).*Proceed to next traffic light and make a left onto Osborn Street.Proceed straight on Osborn St. and pass WCSU Science Building on the right.Just after the science building,make a right onto Ninth Avenue.Proceed one block, and the Alternative Center is on the left at the corner of Ninth and Roberts.
or
From the West -(New York State)
Take I-84 East to Exit 5.At stop sign, proceed straight down hill to light.At light, cross over Main St. to next traffic light.Make a right onto Maple Avenue Extention.
*Proceed as above.
Minutes for the CAASP March meeting held at Lincoln College formerly, Briarwood College at Southington.
In attendance; Mark Hill, Southington; William Scalise, Killingly; Rick Rumsey, Putnam; Rob Melillo, Danbury ; Wayne Theriault, Retired, and Vicki Gustavson, Wallingford.
We met at Briarwood in preparation for the planning of the STARS Celebration Conference on March 26. Debra LaRoche, representative for Briarwood met with us and showed the many rooms and facilities available to us. We then collated all the student teams and individual events with timing and rooms. The discussions revolved around planning and foreseeing eventualities. As this is a new format for CAASP, we are looking to learn and to be prepared. We have approximately 60 students involved and more than 20 adults. We still need “judges” . Mark Hill will check with the Southington Chamber of Commerce. The conference will run from 8:30 to 9:15, Registration/signups
9:15 to 9:45 Opening ceremonies, 9:45 to 12 noon, Events and lunch with closing ceremonies and awards, 12 to 1 pm. The STARS t-shirts should be ready this coming week..
The scheduled events will include a public speaking area with an audience and a public speaking room with reviewers/judges only. We will also have team advertising, team commercials, Community service projects career portfolios with mock interviews and continual art displays and project demonstrations.
The next meeting may be a board meeting only as the April calendar was not filled. There will be a general meeting on May 12th in Danbury. That is the final official meeting of the year. We hope to be planning our November Professional Development day for the following November.
The meeting was adjourned at 6 pm.
Present: Ron Benner (NEA/CEA), Bruce Blake, Dave Canavan, Steve Craig, Donna Delany, Vicki Gustavson, Merrie Harrison, Mark Hill, Damon Lewis, Rick Rumsey, Bill Scalise and Wayne Theriault
Secretary’s Report: Steve Craig shared that the CAASP meeting minutes from the October 14th meeting are available on caasp.org.
Treasurer’s Report: Wayne Theriault reported that as a November 16th, the CAASP account balance stands at $6,904.59, with $2,350.92 allocated to funding STARS for the 2009-10 school year. The CAASP PD Day and membership made up $727 and $660 respectively in recent deposits to the account.
Vice President’s Report: Rick Rumsey noted that another webinar hosted by Regional Educational Laboratory Northeast and Islands is scheduled for Tuesday, December 1st. The webinar, featuring Dr. Michael L. Kamil of Stanford University, is entitled, “Bridging Research and Practice: Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices.” It will be held from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm. More information is available at http://www.relnei.org/events.upcoming.policychallengesadolescentliteracy_12_01_2009.php
PD Day Feedback: Vicki thanked all who participated in the CAASP PD Day at The Academy in Milford on November 3rd. Bill Scalise noted that most of the feedback he received about the conference was generally quite positive. The question was posed as to whether it would be worthwhile to continue offering the PD conference each year. It was felt that even if the conference was drawing only 25 to 50 participants, the offerings at the CAASP PD Day are of more interest and relevance to alternative educators than those provided in respective districts. Vicki also requested the addresses of presenters so that thank you letters can be sent as soon as possible. Rick Rumsey questioned whether or not it would be possible to get a better idea of the number of participants attending the conference to help facilitate the planning of workshop offerings/sessions. Bill suggested that most of the planning for themes and workshops topics should be completed by the final CAASP meeting of the year. He mentioned that members could be canvassed by email to find out what topics would be of interest to them earlier in the year.
April Meeting: Vicki noted that she has had no confirmation from Norwalk about hosting the April meeting. She asked that any program interested in hosting the meeting as an alternate contact her as soon as possible.
STARS Conference: Bill Scalise and Vicki Gustavson explained that board members discussed restructuring the CAASP STARS Conference in such a way that the emphasis would be on student leaders meeting to develop action plans and formal presentations/demonstrations, or to engage in performance-based activities. The focal point would be the organization of a legislative day at the state capital building. Leadership activities might be more in line with the student government model adopted by MAAP STARS in Minnesota. A planning committee of 20-30 students would meet monthly to establish the agenda for the March conference and the roughly 100 students who would be attending the conference will be sharing audio/video presentations, skits or demonstrations, participating in public speaking, and sharing community service projects and career portfolios. Dave Canavan had suggested at the last meeting that board membership for students could be framed as a two-year commitment to ensure continuity. Bill Scalise reiterated that point and noted that participating in a student board could also be motivational and could contribute to student “buy-in.”
Mark Hill investigated the availability of Briarwood College in Southington in March 2010. He found that a facility is available on Thursday, March 11th at no cost, inclusive of coffee and pastries. Lunch, which would likely be a D’Angelo’s box lunch, would be available but the cost has not yet been determined. It was felt that 3-4 rooms would be necessary for conducting the business of the conference or to provide space for presentations.
Some concerns were raised about the CAPT schedule in March and how that would impact the ability of some programs to participate. Vicki asked if Mark could talk with Debra Laroche from Briarwood College about some alternate dates. Mark will be meeting with her on Thursday, November 19th to determine additional availability.
The first tentative date for a STARS leadership meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8th with YMCA/Camp Sloper staff at Derynoski Elementary School in Southington.
Discussion Topic for November Meeting (ALPHA): The topic for discussion at the November 17th CAASP meeting at ALPHA in Stratford was Universal Design for Learning. Ron Benner of the CEA presented an overview of UDL rationale, principles and strategies.
December CAASP Meeting: The December 9th CAASP meeting will be held in Milford. It was proposed that a short business meeting should be held, followed by dinner at the SBC Brewing Company.
Present: Dave Canavan, Steve Craig, Donna Delany, Vicki Gustavson, Peter Micari (Principal of Killingly High School), Rick Rumsey, and Bill Scalise
Secretary’s Report: Steve Craig presented the minutes from the September CAASP meeting; they are also available on caasp.org.
Treasurer’s Report: Wayne Theriault was not in attendance at the meeting and no treasury report update was available.
Webmaster’s Report: Bill Scalise has recently updated the CAASP PD Day brochure on the caasp.org. However, he noted that the CAASP PD Day application for November 3, 2009, while updated, is not currently available on caasp.org.
Vice President’s Report: Rick Rumsey mentioned that Michelle Kinsella, coordinator of the Farmington Alternative High School, contacted him to inquire about how other alternative programs are tracking graduates and former students. Rick noted that this is an important consideration for alternative programs and he has decided to make student tracking one of his professional growth goals for this school year. Vicki suggested that having a yearly celebration and placing an advertisement in a local paper inviting former students to attend is one way to reach out to graduates. She explained that she has asked students who attend to fill out a questionnaire or form with current address and contact information. Another suggestion is to keep a follow-up file folder to track students regularly, or to set up a Facebook group that former students can join.
ALPS Student Presentations: Jessica Booker and Shelby Pendleton, two ALPS seniors delivered presentations in which they discussed the positive influence of the alternative learning opportunities on their lives. Both young ladies shared their stories of how they came to be alternative learning students and how the program helped them to turn around their academic careers. Jessie and Shelby also explained their participation as members of the ALPS Student Advisory Board. Their responsibilities include intervening on behalf of their peers when an issue, disciplinary or otherwise, occurs in the program. There are currently seven students on the Advisory Board, all of whom have completed a quarter-credit Leadership elective course in order to be eligible. Potential candidates are interviewed by Bill Scalise, the program coordinator. The Advisory Board meets to propose a course of action when a problem arises. The decision of the Advisory Board is subject to approval by the program director, but is generally followed on a conditional basis. Vicki Gustavson proposed offering an Advisory Board workshop for interested students at the CAASP Student Conference 2010. Dave Canavan and Rick Rumsey also suggested that Advisory Boards could also be used to give student leaders a hand in the interviewing process for prospective students.
PD Day Update: Rick Rumsey provided an update on the workshop speakers scheduled for the November 3rd conference. Rick noted that the Big Picture School speaker from Bloomfield will be unable to attend, but he will be contacting a representative from Mansfield. Otherwise, he stated that speakers from the middle college model, NovaNet, and VLA are confirmed. Bill Scalise confirmed that Mike Vose and Steve Craig are presenting on RTI and Promoting Literacy Across Disciplines respectively. Bill also noted that would contact Bruce Blake to work on room assignments and to find out if any staff members at The Academy intend to provide additional breakout sessions.
STARS Conference: Bill Scalise and Vicki Gustavson discussed the merits of restructuring the CAASP STARS Conference in such a way that the emphasis would be on student leaders meeting to develop action plans and formal presentations/demonstrations, or to engage in performance-based activities. The focal point might be the organization of a legislative day at the state capital building. Leadership activities might be more in line with the student government model adopted by MAAP STARS in Minnesota. A planning committee of 20-30 students would meet monthly to establish the agenda for the March conference and the roughly 100 students who would be attending the conference will be sharing presentations or demonstrations around public speaking, community service, or career portfolios. Dave Canavan suggested that board membership for students could be framed as a two-year commitment to ensure continuity. Participating in a student board could also be motivational and could contribute to student “buy-in.”
It was suggested that Mark Hill, as Conference Coordinator, should be contacted and given input into the process of revisiting the conference structure. Bill also suggested that a PD Day conference breakout session could be included to allow members to discuss conference
Discussion Topic for November Meeting (ALPHA): The topic for discussion at the November 17th CAASP meeting at ALPHA in Stratford will be the possibility of restructuring the CAASP STARS student conference.
Present: Bruce Blake, Nicole Bunnell, Dave Canavan, Steve Craig, Donna Delany, Vicki Gustavson, Mark Hill, Rick Rumsey, William Scalise, and Wayne Theriault
Secretary’s Report: Steve Craig presented the minutes from April and May CAASP meeting; they are also available on caasp.org.
Webmaster’s Report: Bill Scalise noted that the CAASP Membership form has been updated to reflect the new individual membership option.
Treasurer’s Report: Wayne Theriault reported the updated membership list from the 2008-09 school year. The list included 15 paid programs and one individual membership. He also noted that the balance in the CAASP account is $2,168 and that $3,208 was paid by programs toward the 2009 CAASP STARS Conference.
Vice President’s Report: Rick Rumsey shared that a webinar will be held on September 30, 2009 from 12:00 to 2:00 pm by The Regional Education Laboratory-Northeast &Islands entitled “Bridging Research and Practice: Six Recommendations to Address Dropout.” Webinar participation requires a computer, an Internet connection, and a telephone/speakerphone.
Derby Alternative Education: Nicole Bunnell represented Derby Public Schools and explained that Derby High School is in the process of planning an alternative program and is anticipating a budgetary decision to be made this spring by the board of education. The new superintendent is supportive of the program despite the fact that the board of education has voted down past attempts to begin an alternative program in Derby. No space would be available for the alternative education program until the middle school students moved from the shared middle-high school building to a new facility in the spring.
2009-2010 Meetings Dates and Sites: Scheduling for this year’s CAASP Meetings will be as follows:
October 14, 2009 Killingly ALPS, Danielson, CT
(November 3, 2009) CAASP PD Day, The Academy, Milford, CT
November 17, 2009 ALPHA, Stratford, CT
December 9, 2009 The Academy, Milford, CT
January 13, 2010 PALS, Putnam, CT
February 10, 2010 Somers Alt. Ed., Somers, CT
March 10, 2010 ALTA at The Pyne Center, Southington, CT
April (TBA) Norwalk Alternative Program, Norwalk, CT
May 12, 2010 ACES, Danbury, CT
Discussion of Potential Topical Issues for Meetings: Student Advisory Boards will be the scheduled topic for discussion at the Killingly meeting in October. Computer –based or online credit/course completion options will be discussed at the Milford meeting in December. Bruce Blake suggested that the Early College Initiative that Milford and Norwalk are involved with through an interdistrict grant may be an excellent topic for the meeting in Norwalk. Topical discussions will be approximately 20 minutes in length and Vicki Gustavson requested that presenters prepare a brief description of discussion topic prior to the scheduled meeting. Response to Intervention is another area of interest that was suggested that may be addressed at a future meeting or at the PD Day by Killingly High School 9th/10th Grade Coordinator Mike Vose.
PD Day Planning: One of the themes that will be emphasized at this year’s CAASP PD Day Conference will be cost-effective education delivery. To that end, Rick Rumsey has contacted and confirmed several presenters for the conference scheduled for November 3, 2009 at The Academy in Milford, CT. Among those tentatively slated for the conference breakouts are Jennifer Marshall-Nealy of the Big Picture magnet school in Bloomfield, Gino LoRicco of Quinebaug Valley Community College’s Middle College, and Marianne Kouchoukos, a representative of NovaNet (credit recovery software company). Vicki Gustavson has spoken with Paul Flinter, Chief of the Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services & Adult Education for the Connecticut State Department of Education, to serve as a keynote speaker and will also contact the CEA to investigate the possibility of scheduling a UNISERVE representative to discuss the impact of teaching out of certification areas on teacher retirement. All present were in agreement that holding breakout sessions by teaching discipline were very valuable last November and should be include in the schedule this year as well. Bill Scalise will also be putting out another call for additional workshop presenters, as well as updating the conference registration form. He will later meet with Vicki Gustavson to begin scheduling breakout sessions and room assignments.
CAASP STARS Conference: There was continued discussion of investigating other venues for the conference in response to the decreased numbers of conference participants and increased costs at Central Connecticut State University. Bill Scalise volunteered to inquire about Manchester Community College and Mark Hill will contact Tunxis Community College and the Connecticut Culinary Institute to find out about available facilities and costs for holding a conference. Mark, as conference coordinator, is also in the process of planning for the first STARS meeting and will be forming an executive committee to schedule the remaining student meetings and leadership activities.
Dropout Prevention Summit: Bill Scalise reminded members that The Governor’s Summit on Dropout Prevention will be held on October 19, 2009 at The Crown Plaza Hotel in Cromwell, CT. He noted that superintendents from many target districts have been invited and asked members to check with their respective superintendents to assure that they are attending. Bill also shared that conference participants will be receiving flash drives preloaded with documentation about programs and other conference material. Bill stated that data collection will continue to be an emphasis for schools and state agencies with regard to decision-making and intervention in relationship to dropout prevention. Dave Canavan agreed that data collection is important, but is concerned that not all of the success of our programs lies in the numbers. He pointed out that students who move on to adult education or GED programs are viewed as dropouts in the eyes of the State Department of Education.
Discussion Topic: Work Experience Components in Alternative Education: Rick Rumsey led a discussion of work-study credit opportunities in the PALS program. In addition to the coursework on employability issues, completion of research reports on careers, and hosting presentations in the classroom, PALS has an afternoon work-study component that comprises 70% of the two-credit course for the school year. Students are required to work a minimum of 10 hours a week, which includes actual employment, community service and efforts to seek employment. Rick monitors the progress of the students by accompanying them on work projects or by maintaining regular contact with workplace supervisors, who complete the required PALS Workstudy Evaluation Form. Small businesses such as car detailing services have also been designed and run by PALS students in past school years.