Principals Cabinet Meeting

Date: October 17, 2016

Purpose and Intent: The purpose of Principals cabinet is for members of the
FMS faculty to work together to celebrate accomplishments and to explore
solutions for areas for improvement in order to make Forestbrook Middle
School the premier middle school in South Carolina.
Present: Sandra Shores, Kristen Galuppi, Melissa Price, Grace Burleson,
Brenda Hawks, Karen Troost, Ashley Rhodes, Michele Macasek, Raymond
Dobell, Macullen Byham, Marianne Bourque, Kayla Maxwell, Beth Welch,
Olga Toggas, Monty Carr, Beverly Pilkey
Responses noted in green following concerns.
Eighth Grade:
Praises:
1. Thanks a million to the custodians and other staff for doing a fabulous job
cleaning up the school after hurricane Matthew.
2. Thanks to Mr. Carr for trying his best to to attend all parent conferences. His
support is crucial.
Concerns:
1. What was the reasoning for HCS making tests 50% of grade (for all levels)? The
distribution of grade categories represents a balance of both practice of skills and
demonstration of mastery. Tests/major projects should be representative of a
students understanding and retention of content. With the transparency of
grades in the PowerSchool Parent Portal came the consistency of expectations
between middle school and high school. An additional example of the
consistency of expectations across levels came with the application of the
ten-point grading scale across all levels instead of high school credit courses only.
2. Committees - some people are on so many, others have none at all. Staff
members completed committee requests forms last spring, and committee
assignments were based on those. In addition, new staff members were invited to
express interests in committees once they were hired during the summer and/or
early fall. Based on feedback by members of the Principals Cabinet, some staff
members took the questionnaire to read as Im interested versus I want to be

on. Clarification will be provided when the committee request forms are
distributed in the spring. If there are staff members who wish to join committees
at this time, there are many who would gladly take additional members. If you
are unsure who to contact about joining a committee, you may email any
administrator.
3. Students are no longer allowed cups of water from the cafeteria, why? Can
teachers still have access to water? Mr. Baronich, the FMS cafeteria manager,
shared the following rationale for the change. 1.-There have been numerous
spills, which created delays in lines and having to provide another lunch to that
student(s) who had the spill occur on his/her tray. 2.-There are environmental
concerns with styrofoam along with cost of the cup. 3.-There is a water fountain
in the Caf for students to use, and this complies with the USDA regulation of
providing water. 4.-The cafeteria sells water, so this practice competes with the
sales of our drink products offered for sale. Mr. Baronich also asks that staff
contact him with any questions or concerns.
In addition, the cafeteria continues to offer plastic cups for the teachers as well as
water or tea. The cups are located in the center bay, middle register, behind the
ice dispenser on the service line. Teachers can ask a cafeteria staff member who
will gladly provide a cup.
Seventh Grade:
Praises:
1. Thank you to all who worked to make sure the school was ready for our return
today!
Concerns:
1. The lunch detention computer thing is super confusing and time consuming. Is
there anyway we can return to the paper version? Department meetings held a
how to for the input of the information in EducatorsHandbook. Mr. Carr has
asked that teachers contact him with specific feedback about what is confusing so
he can assist those that are struggling. The system allows streamlining and
automatically generates data and a take-home letter.
2. Is there any suggestions to help smooth out the transition between second
exploratory and 6th block? These solutions should be discussed during a 7th
grade hallway meeting. Dr. McCain will schedule a hallway meeting to discuss
this issue as well as the 7th grade concern. The instructional coaches will try to
help to usher students to class during this time. In addition, during grade level

meetings, students can be coached on the importance of getting to class on time

and not trafficking in the halls.
Sixth Grade:
Praises:
1. Congratulations to Mary Massey, Pam Lesley (formerly at FMS), and Kerri Quick
(NMBM) for facilitating an excellent presentation on online tools and small
group instruction at the national AMLE conference in Texas. Shout-out to Matt
Penna for being featured in a video used during the presentation for his effective
use of small group instruction.
2. Thanks to all custodians for cleaning and getting our school back to tip top shape
after hurricane matthew.
3. AM Announcements sound much better and clearer.
Concerns:
1. Birthdays are still being announced incorrectly. For ex. Panamarzcuks birthday
was today and did not get annouced. Ms. Price sent the master list of staff
birthdays, and Mrs. Pilkey will follow-up to ensure it is printed for AM
announcements.
2. 6th grade hallway would like a snack machine in the workroom. Each hallway
does not currently have a snack or drink machine in the teachers workroom.
Here is a list of vending machines by current location:
6th grade
Coke

7th grade
No machine

8th grade
Snacks

cafeteria
Snacks

front office workroom

Snacks
Coke
Pepsi

Any vending machines added in the building will be done so to balance vendors
and accessibility.
3. Mock trial students are very loud in hallways while practicing. It is very
distracting and disruptive while teachers are in their classrooms after school
trying to get work done, having conferences, tutoring students, or making phone
calls. When concerns arise regarding the noise level of any after-school clubs or
organizations, please initially contact the sponsor of the club or organization as a
professional courtesy. Teachers are volunteering to sponsor these clubs and
organizations and to support students in their extracurricular pursuits. If the
group is large, we should be able to work together to arrange for the use of a
larger classroom space so that the students can be within the same space to be
monitored without having to use the hallways. Several suggestions of larger

classrooms or spaces include the health room, library, cafeteria, or some

exploratory spaces.

Exploratory:
Praises:
1. Thank you to the exploratory teachers who consistently walk 6th graders all the
way down the hall at the end of the day. Your efforts make a difference and they
are greatly appreciated.
2. Thank you to the custodial staff and all other who had the building cleaned and
ready to go for returning staff and students! Your work is greatly appreciated!
3. Thank you Mr. Dustin Bishop for staying at the District Office until 11:30 on the
Tuesday announcement of school cancellation in order to ensure we all received
our paychecks on time.
4. Thank you to the administration, District Office, and PTO for the financial
support of the FMS music program

Concerns:
1. Are there any clubs or organizations of FMS helping out with families that
suffered, or are continuing to suffer, damage from the Hurricane. If not, can we
do a food drive or coin drive to help out those afflicted? Forestbrook Cares is
planning a food drive during spirit week next week, and a former FMS parent
who owns Island Bar & Grille is doing a food drive to support Forestbrook Cares
as well. Our wonderful FMS PTO is also making a donation to Forestbrook Cares
to support our families in need. Ms. Maxwell and Ms. Delloiacono will work with
Forestbrook Cares committee on Friday to discuss allocation of funds as well.
Administration is working on some additional ways to use funds to support staff
and families. Guidance is available in students need to talk about needs of the
family.
2. The ongoing [mildew] situation in the gym has worsened lately and has spread to
the curtains of the stage and into the offices of the PE coaches. When any
building-related issues are identified by staff, please report the issue to Ms.
Pilkey, Mr. Carr, and/or Mr. Moses to ensure a quick return for the work order.
Work orders are submitted as soon as issues are reported, and HCS Facilities
responds to those.
Please note that the area manager for HCS Facilities has indicated that it is
mildew. During the recent hurricane, we experienced both a power outage and

3.

4.

5.

6.

increased moisture and humidity in the building. HCS facilities has reviewed the
issue and determined that long-term solution would involve repainting the entire
gym as the cinder blocks are no longer sealed due to excessive and prolonged
cleanings of the walls. Both the FMS custodial team and the HCS facilities teams
have completed this cleaning process multiple times since July. Mrs. Pilkey has
submitted a new work order for this issue in the HCS Facilities system and has
followed up regarding the timeline for remediation.
Thank you to Guidance for putting together lists of students that will be gone for
testing and sending it to exploratory teachers. If we can receive those lists a little
earlier in order to better plan, it would be appreciated. Thank you for addressing
this concern with a suggestion for improvement. The Guidance Department has
indicated that they will email the lists earlier.
For the 7th grade first exploratory class starting at 11:30, those students coming
from Gator Time are arriving consistently 7-10 minutes prior to the 11:30 start
time. On the schedule, Exploratory teachers have until 11:25 for prep but, also in
the schedule, L2/Gator Time goes until 11:24. Can Lunch students be released at
11:24 to go back to class to grab things and Gator Time students be released at
11:25 to fulfill the Exploratory planning time? These solutions should be
discussed during a 7th grade hallway meeting. Dr. McCain will schedule a
hallway meeting to discuss this issue as well as the 7th grade concern. There is a
longer time built into the schedule for this transition, so all 7th grade teams
should release at 11:24 and have students visit lockers if needed prior to reporting
to Exploratory classes.
For those with Quarter 2 duties: will those duties start on the old first day of
Quarter 2 (October 21st) or the new first day of Quarter 2 (October 26th)? Duties
will start on October 26th, and the duty roster will be sent out next week as a
reminder
In the past, we have received a daily morning email from the front office of subs
that were in the building that day and who they were in for. Is it possible to
receive those emails this year as well? Thank you to teachers who are flexible in
helping cover classes that have not been picked up by a sub. The feedback from
members of the Principals Cabinet regarding ways that this information is used
in a positive manner was much appreciated. Several members indicated that this
is helpful information to know which classrooms may need support during the
day, which classrooms may have schedule delays, and which subs are quality and
used frequently. The administrative team has reviewed this request, and this
information will be shared with staff starting on Monday.

Office:

Praises: Thank you to the custodial team for all of the work on the building following the
hurricane.
Concerns: None raised
Library:
Praises: Thank you to Ms. Pilkey for her wonderful leadership during the hurricane.
She kept everyone up-to-date and informed regarding HCS school closings during
Hurricane Matthew and its aftermath. The emails and regular communication kept us
all on top of what was happening, and what we needed to do.
Thank you to our fantastic custodial staff who took such good care of the school, and
especially for their care of the Library Learning Commons. There was some water in the
library, and their prompt attention made all the difference in keeping the Library and
books safe and dry.
Technology:
Praises: Thanks to Admin and Custodial Staff for getting our school back together and
ready for all of us.
Teachers are doing a good job with reporting iPad damage in a timely manner. Damage
seems to be down some so far this year. Thanks for encouraging students to take better
care of their devices.
Concerns: When a student returns to us from Alternative school please let Mrs. Trimby
know so that she can get them a device set up if they have permission. Ms. Kershaw can
send an email to state when a student returns from the Alternative school.
All students should have updated to IOS 10 by now. Please have students check and
update during Gator Time if needed.
On the staff share drive there is a spreadsheet that shows devices turned in for damage
labeled 0-IPAD FORMS & DAMAGE CHART. This is help you keep up with who has
turned in the scratch and dent form, who may owe a repair fee and who does not have
permission. There are 3 separate sheets so make sure you click on the correct page.

Continue to check for the lock screen so that you can easily identify the owner. We have
had quite a few missing devices. Please make sure you are reminding students to also
check the lock screen on the device they pick up to make sure it is theirs.
Update on Skin in the Game (The District incentive to reduce the amount of repair
expenses by requiring schools to pay from school supply funds for half of the total fines
not paid for repairs during the school year.) : 2016-2017 Total Repairs Owed-$1300
2015-2016 Total Repairs Owed-$9390
We have 230 students who have not paid the optional $25 Technology Fee for this year.
Out of that we have 15 students whose parents did not want them to receive an iPad.
This is $5375 that could go to help us with repairs year. At the end of the year if we have
a surplus then FMS will get some of that money back for new technology. Mrs. Trimby
sent an email out to all those who have not paid. This is an optional fee. However, if
parents/guardians do not pay then each repair is $100. Any help you can give is
appreciated. All payments should be sent to Melissa Price if a student brings it into you.
If you have a student(s) that you know have financial hardships and need a scholarship
for this fee please email Mrs. Trimby the names. District practice is that a student is
issued a device every year, whether previous repair fine has been paid for or not.
Scholarship money is available to help with any sort of need. Administration also works
with parents/guardians to set-up payment plans to help families in need or with
multiple students in the district.
Guidance:
Praises: There are 291 8th graders taking the PSAT this Wednesday, October 19th.
The Guidance Department will be conducting IGP (Individualized Graduation Plan)
conferences November 1st - Feb 28th.
Concerns: None raised at this time.
Curriculum:
Praises: Teachers are planning around the time lost and are quickly adjusting to the
reduced schedule.
Concerns: A question has arisen regarding the deadline for students moving out of high
school credit courses since the end of the first quarter has changed. If a student is
moving out of a high school credit class, then this must be done by the end of the first

quarter. The new deadline is October 25th. After October 25th, no student should be
moved out of a high school credit class. After October 25th, students must remain in the
class. If the students continue to struggle, the teachers must remind the parents that the
student can retake the class next year. Communication with parents must be
documented in log entries.
Administration:
Carr: Mr. Carr requests feedback from all grade levels & Exploratory teachers about
detentions improvements and suggestions by the end of this week (October 21), so that
any adjustments can be made prior to Lunch Duty change for 2nd quarter. Please note
this does not include changing lunch detention assignments back to paper versus
EducatorsHandbook, as referenced in a previous concern. Mr. Dobell will email Mr.
Carr about suggestion that Mr. Roberts create a served previous school day section to
the daily ISS email to notate detentions served.

Toggas:
Thank you so much to Mr. Moses and our custodial staff for mending so many
issues in our building as a result of the storm. Thank you for covering all of the
computers and laptops and then uncovering and plugging in all of the equipment for the
teachers. We are so fortunate!
Thank you, Mr. Perry, for hanging up the beautiful flags in the library to honor our
students for Hispanic Heritage Month.
Thank you to the members of the Cultural Diversity Awareness committee for all
of their work in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month for our students. Thank you to
Ms. Toggas for all of her efforts as well.
Thank you to Mrs. Pilkey for the countless hours she has spent (and is spending) at
school making sure that students needs are being met and that our building is being
tended to with love and care.
Thank you, Special Education department, instructional coaches, and Mrs
Rhodes, for your flexibility, patience, and problem-solving capacity as we adjust
school-wide schedules and students services . . . and for all of the extra patience and
support that you have offered to each other as our district has shifted to birth date IEPs

and Standards-Based IEPs all at once this year. Your talents and teamwork are a model
for all Special Education departments in our district. Thank you!
Thank you, Coach Roberts, for working with us to develop an effective system of
tracking our consequences in PowerSchool using Educatorshandbook.com. Your
suggestions and your initiative are making a difference.
Pilkey:
Thank you to Mr. Carr and Mr. Perry for assisting with the initial inspection of the
school on the Sunday afternoon following the hurricane when Im sure you had many
things to do at your own homes and for your families. Thank you to Mr. Moses, Mr.
Godoy, Mrs. Barbara, Mrs. Judy, Ms. Sadie, and Ms. Price for making sure that our
school looked back to normal in time for teachers and students to return! Thank you
to our incredible Gator family for making our school such a special and safe place for all
of our students! The Sunshine Committee is looking at an opportunity to express
gratitude and to celebrate our custodial staff.
Next Meeting: November 14, 2016