Live reporting by
Breone Dupree
Warren Township school board discusses absenteeism
Bréone L Dupree, MSA
@Dupreezine
Hi everyone, I’ll be live tweeting the Warren Township Regular School Board Meeting at 7:00pm for #IndyDocumenters. Media Partners: @indydocumenters @mirrorindy
06:03 PM Aug 21, 2024 CDT
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy The meeting began giving honor to members of the Warren family that have passed away.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Warren Counselors are prioritizing and being very efficient and intentional using their time.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Raymond Park Intermediate & Middle School Counselors are outlining their goals
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy The Counselors thank the teachers and parents as well as admin all other community partners for their support to impact student success. Reducing failing grades and increasing attendance reaches for BIPOC students really shows.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy The freshman center is taking a new approach to welcoming incoming freshman.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Councilor Williams asks that they encourage these kids to think realistically about careers that they present to these students in order to afford to live by picking jobs that pay well over just doing anything because it’s getting harder to make enough to survive.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Butgereit thanks the board for its support and her 38 counselors throughout the district! Not all are in attendance this evening.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy The Superintendent presented Butgereit with her flowers for leading a phenomenal team
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Student Council President Chanasia Brown is presenting the Student Representation report. The block scheduling and longer class periods have been a success. 9/14 is homecoming.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy DPW have 2 50/50 cost share grants that they match $1 for $1 available to apply for their website.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Up next are Board Correspondence. The Impact Award Winner thanked the board for the honor.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy The consent agenda has been properly moved and second. There’s no following discussion from councilors. The motion passes unanimously.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Brian Simkins & Pam Griffin present the TEAM Evaluation Report. Getting back to constructive teacher evaluation is paramount to getting better. Provisional teachers are getting the support needed to be successful through collaborative goal setting.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy I believe 48-hour turn around on feedback after evaluation is quite fast. I think the growth will show exponential if things can be fixed at light speed.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Allison Woods speaks on the changes related to K-6 unexcused absences. It relates to 5 unexcused absences within a 10-week period requires a letter home statewide. Woods explains their steps to addressing this change and their system that starts at day 3.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy The new legislation also requires a conference after 5 days within 5 days of that 5th day. Say that 3 times fast. 😂
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Woods responds to questions on year over year numbers and current percentages. Missing the bus is not in the top 5 reasons students miss school. Adding a late bus is discussed but unlikely. All of this is still happening above 6th grade but this is specifically..
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy .. about the new law focused on K-6. There isn’t any official prosecution for the parents who don’t do their part. Policing is up to the schools at this point. The police aren’t required to attend a home visit which could be dangerous in my opinion.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Simkins delivers the good news on Teacher Appreciation Grants. The motion passes unanimously.. OF COURSE! Give these teachers their money!! Yeaahhhh!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy The full list of discussion items. You can see who will present each. Simkins is currently discussing 13.01 - 13.03. They are new or revised policies.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Marques Clayton explains how the revised policies extend beyond the normal contact sports to cover all students sports and revised training for automated external defibrillators (AED), concussions and sudden cardiac arrest.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy There are a minimum of 6 classes a coach has to take to coach at Warren Township. 8 for a head football coach plus an emergency action plan. New reporting guidelines are in place for IHSAA coaches as well as lengthy background checks are in place to protect players.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Woods discussion of items 13.07 & 13.08 focuses on student suicide awareness & prevention and suicide. A parent has the right to review materials on bullying and suicide prevention material. Reporting within 5 days of an investigation on bullying for both parties.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Brown urges Woods to consider Bring Change to Mind program to address these issues in the school system. Woods outlines all the other supports in place currently.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Parkinson & Schroder gave quick synopsis of the minor revision to purchasing at state and federal levels and changes to accessible websites respectively. Russell provides an interesting idea of going from school days to school minutes which would allow flexibility in makeup days.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Brown starts off closing contents. Congratulations go to the Counselors and iRead workers, staff members, and parents among others from the Councilors. Dorsey reiterates the importance of attendance.
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy Additional notes left out of this video are related to the new graduation plan affecting current 8th graders. The revision is praised. Support athletics!
@indydocumenters @mirrorindy President Triplett gives her closing remarks by also thanking the food vendor Aramark (not sure of the spelling).