Written by: Carrie Kollar, Accountability Committee Chair ACCOUNTABILITY COMMITTEE VIRTUAL MEETING 4/13/21 OFFICER ELECTIONS The Accountability Committee will be holding their monthly virtual meeting on Tuesday, April 13th starting at 5:30 pm. Meeting can be accessed here: https://meet.google.com/ekw-uevw-iry?hs=122&authuser=0.
We will be electing officers to serve on Accountability for the 21-22 school year. There are four officer positions and elections take place each year. The nominating committee has received nominations for the following:
All voting members of the Accountability Committee (those that were members as of September 30, 2020) are entitled to vote at this election. We hope you will join us Tuesday to participate in this election, as well as hear school updates from Mr. Griffin, discuss a proposed technology plan addressing cell phone use and other updates regarding D’Evelyn. Following the regular meeting there will be a Candidate Forum for those running for positions on the Steering Committee. This is another chance to hear from those that are seeking to serve in these important roles. Hope to “see” many of you on Tuesday! Written by: Bill Kottenstette and Melinda Bochner
The technology subcommittee of the D’Evelyn Accountability Committee has been meeting approximately monthly to discuss issues regarding the use of technology at D’Evelyn. Although the subcommittee has focused on remote learning much of this year, it has also sought to complete work that began over a year ago related to student cell phone use in school. In returning to this issue, we endeavored to take a meaningful look at concerns expressed by many parents and teachers about the extent to which cell phones and other types of personal electronic devices are progressively and negatively affecting our students’ ability to focus and learn, as well as their socialization. This school year, the subcommittee reviewed the current cell phone policy at D’Evelyn, policies of nearby middle and high schools, and a survey completed by D’Evelyn teachers last school year concerning student cell phone use in school. In examining the survey data and the policies, we concluded that cell phones are a common distraction in the D’Evelyn classroom and a hindrance to student learning. We also recognized that the discretionary nature of the current D’Evelyn policy allows for broad interpretation and differing degrees of enforcement. As the application of the current cell phone policy is non-uniform, students frequently carry and use their cell phones throughout the school day. After thoughtful consideration, the subcommittee recommends that the Steering Committee adopt a more structured and restrictive policy surrounding cell phone use during school hours, to enhance the learning environment in our classrooms and promote the overall wellness of D’Evelyn students. D’Evelyn’s Founding Document emphasizes that “[e]ach student has the right to an education free of disruptions that interfere with learning.” Consistent with this principle -- and recognizing that modern personal devices have a subtle, yet pervasive effect on our attention and work quality -- we believe that a revised and more specific policy will better support the proper functioning of the school and reinforce a deeper learning experience for all students. Specifically, the draft proposes a no cell phone policy during school hours, from 7:35 am to 2:30 pm. If students choose to bring their phones or other devices to school, all devices must be powered off and stored in lockers. At their discretion, teachers may allow students to utilize Chromebooks in the classroom for specific, teacher-directed activities. If there is general support in the community, we believe that an upgraded cell phone policy could be implemented at the start of the 2021-22 school year. With that in mind, we want to hear from you! To learn more about the proposed policy changes, and to share your thoughts and opinions, please join us at the next Accountability Committee meeting on April 13th at 5:30 pm. |
The Accountability Committee advises both the Principal and the Steering Committee by evaluating the schools effectiveness and researching pertinent issues. Archives
October 2022
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