GiftedandTalentedAdvisoryCouncil(GTAC)Minutes

February3,2015
APPROVED4/21/2015

Present:KimberlyBernstein,TomIdstrom,CathyKindem,PamMcDonald,NoelMehus,Janet
Rohlf,SteveTroen,SophiaTroutman,NidhiSen

ThecouncilwaswelcomedbyPamMcDonald,K8GiftedandTalented/YoungScholars
LeadTeacher.TheNovemberminuteswereapproved.Theminuteswillnowbeposted
onthedistrictwebsite.Additionally,theminuteswillbeonthenewGTACSharingSite
onGoogledocs.CouncilmemberscancommentonminutesaswellastheGTYSupdates
priortothemeeting.Memberswereremindedtoreviewtheelementaryandmiddle
schoolUpdateontheSharingSite.
Pamreviewedtheagenda.Duetotheweather,themeetingstarted10minuteslate.
Thetabletalkarticleandthebusinesspartnershipsdiscussionwaspostponed.Steves
FacilitiesPresentationwilltakeplaceafterthemeetingforthosecouncilmemberswho
havenotreceivedthisinformation.
JennyParkerandBryanSmith,bothFRMSSocialStudiesteachers,presented
informationabouttheadvancedonlinesocialstudiesclassfor7thand8thgraders.A
historyofhowtheclassescameabout,whattheclassescover,andhowitthecourses
aredifferentfromcurrent7thand8thgradesocialstudiesofferingswasoutlined.
Additionally,Bryansharedhisfirsttrimesterclasswebsitewiththecouncil.The
presentationwaswellreceivedandprompteddiscussionamongstthegroupaboutthe
possibilitiesofcontinuedofferingsofthisnatureatthe9thgradelevelandifthecurrent
offeringsmightchangeinlightofthe1::1deviceinitiativeincomingyears.
AfterJennyandBryanspresentation,SteveTroenaskedwhatkindofpresentation
councilmembersmightwantattheAprilmeeting.Thecouncilpreviouslyhad
elementarysciencefairpresentations.ThegroupfeltknowingwhatGTlookslikeatthe
HSlevelmightmakesense.Overtheyears,therehavebeenpresentationsdonefor
GTACbyhighschoolteachersandassistantprincipals.Pamsuggestedashortquestion
andanswerpanelwithcounselorsorAPsfromthehighschoolsitestoreviewhowGT
transitionsatthislevel.Pamwillcontactthehighschoolstoputsomethingtogetherfor
theAprilmeeting.
PamreviewedthenewGTACSharingSite.Thissitewasoutlinedasoneofthe
possibilitiesthatthegrouphopedtoaccomplishthisyear.Allgroupmemberswereable
toaccessandcommentontheNovemberminutes,theGTYSUpdates,theagenda,and
currentmeetingworkitemsviathesite.MacAirswereavailableatthemeetingsothat
councilmemberscouldcontinuetheirworkduringthemeetinginadigitalmanner.The
SharingSiteshouldalsoallowthecounciltocontinuetheirworkinbetweenthefour

scheduledyearlymeetings.Anexamplewasgivenregardingthecommentscouncil
member,JasonElias,wasabletomakeconcerningtheGTYSUpdate.GTACmember,
HeidiHegenbarth,wasalsoabletorespondtotheUpdatepriortothemeetingandPam
wasabletoactonhersuggestioninherpursuitoffundsforYoungScholarsDayCamp.
SteveTroenmentionedthatthistypeofaGoogledocssharingsitemightalsoworkwell
forotheradvisorycouncilslikeCIAC.
ThePossibilitiesPosterpresentedattheNovembermeetingwasreviewed.The
possibilitythatreceivedthemostimmediatesupportofthememberswastogather
informationregardingtheprioritiesofdistrictGTYSparentsandstudentsK12.Pam
sharedwiththegroupwhatthelastGTYSsurvey(2009),askedparents,studentsand
teachers.AsTomIdstrompointedout,thelastsurveycenteredonsatisfactionlevelsof
servicesGT/YSparentsandstudentsreceivedattheelementaryandmiddlelevels.This
timeweareseekingdifferentinformation.Knowledgeofbothsatisfactionandpriorities
canhelpusimpactprogrammingandopportunitiesforGTstudentsandfamilies.Pam
presentedabrainstormingdocumentontheSharingsite.Sheaskedthattablegroups
begintoworkthroughtheareaslistedinanefforttobegintofashionhowwemightget
thisinformationregardingprioritiesfromGTYSparentsandstudents.
Asthemeetingended,Pamaskedthatmemberscontinuetosharetheirthoughtson
thisdocumentandthatshewouldberespondingtocouncilmembersoverthenext
weeksinanefforttohaveinformationandnextstepsinthisprocessreadyfortheApril
meeting.Aprilisinnoway,theendoftheschoolyear.Itshouldbepossibletoget
someinformationviaasurveyorafocusgroupyetthisyearifwecontinueto
communicateandrefineourinformationoverthenextweeks.

Themeetingwasadjournedat6:20p.m.toprovideanearlierstarttoStevesFacilities
Presentation.

FutureMeeting:
April21