County Seat Newspaper
of Clare County
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By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY
Cleaver Senior Staff Writer
HARRISON – The March 9 regular meeting of the Harrison Community Schools Board of Education was preceded by a get together recognizing this year’s top 10 students. However, when it came time to lead the meeting’s Pledge of Allegiance, only one of those remained, thus Haley Neff led the gathering in the Pledge.
Next came the month’s Guiding Belief Awards, this month honoring awardees for the Value of Neighborliness. There were 16 awardees, five of whom were in attendance: Heather Jensen, Corey Bingham, Todd Palmer, Jessica Cameria and Carly Young. Others were recognized by Superintendent Judy Walton as well.
Also recognized was Matt Latunski for his scoring of 1,000 points. He is a junior who, unfortunately, could not attend the meeting but his parents were on hand for his special recognition. Walton emphasized the importance of the home environment in support of school and academics as being crucial to the success of every student.
“So, even though Matt couldn’t be here tonight, I think it is important to recognize Mr. and Mrs. Latunski for all they do,” Walton said. “Not just for Matthew, but for all of our athletes and all of our kids, and the support they’ve shown our athletic program over the years.”
An informational presentation originally was slated to be provided by Andrea Andera. In her absence, Amy Romanowski stepped in to describe the Ten16 “Too Good for Drugs” program. Ten16 comes into the school to present this 10-session program which focuses on fourth- and fifth-graders at Larson, but this year it would just be fifth-graders. She stressed that this program contains information that Harrison students need to know, and that it will be provided in April and May. She also emphasized that the program is free of charge.
“We know that prevention is key,” Romanowski said. “So, we want to offer this to our students.”
Walton said this will be a good piece for students, and that parents would have the option to opt out if they prefer their child not participate. “But we feel it’s going to be a really good message, especially when these fifth-graders are getting ready to go to middle school in the fall,” Walton added.
The Instructional Highlight was an update provided by Instructional Coaches Coughlin and Linton regarding Teacher Learning Labs. It was stated in a video that job-invented learning labs foster collaboration among educators and offer structured time for professionals to reflect and experiment. That approach was said to allow for personalized learning that meets specific rules and requirements. It was noted the setting includes three distinct phases. 1)Pre-Observational sets shared expectations and learning around the essential practices; 2)Shared Observation involves anchoring the experience, linking learning to relevant instructional examples through data collection; and 3)Post-Observation involves analyzing data collected and individually make connections to observed practices and their own classroom practices. The host teacher will reflect, sharing insights about lesson delivery and student engagement. The team analyzes data together, discussing trends, choices made and supporting efforts toward actionable takeaways and growth in instructional practices.
It was further stated that learning labs promote consistency across subjects, grade levels and framework, thereby improving instructional decision-making.
The presentation included teacher follow-up quotes regarding the value of learning labs.
The program did a learning lab at each grade level, which was done by having one person in each grade level hosts, and all other teachers in the grade level come in and do their observations in that classroom. Some was done around sentence stems, some around mathematical practices and how they connect to the district’s pivot gold and gold standard in the building.
Coughlin said eight teachers had volunteered to do eight learning labs in grades 6-12 which focused on reading strategies, vocabulary development and student engagement. Their work has also extended to fifth-grade teachers at Larson.
Their enthusiasm for the potential benefits of learning labs was palpable, as was the response from school board members and other teachers.
“I think for them to see how fifth-graders are able to talk math and do math in different ways has really inspired them to think about their own practices,” Walton said. “And now that we’re in the second year of Bridges, sixth-graders had it last year, and when they get the sixth-graders next year they will have had two years of Bridges, and so on. They can continue to build on that math talk through middle school and into high school to make sure our kids are being able to explain … because there are lot of different ways to find that answer, and it really builds critical thinking skills.”
“Kudos to both of you, because I know staff feel very much supported by you and you’re doing some really cool things” said Board member Betsy Ulicki.
Under the Consent Agenda, the Board moved to approve:
Under the Non-Consent Agenda, the Board moved to approve:
Under Informational Items, the Board learned of the resignations/retirements of Tracey Merillat, Larson art teacher; Dave Tacey, high school history/English teacher; Terra Hawkins, middle school paraprofessional; and Michelle Parker, Larson paraprofessional.
Under Public Comment, Kari Lynch expressed her gratitude for the leaning labs. “It was a great way to look at our new program and how we can collaboratively work together and how to best teach this curriculum,” she said. “And how to get more bang for your buck … I’m very thankful for it.”
Under Communication, the Board heard Walton’s Superintendent Report which began with a comment about how lucky the district is to be in partnership with the neighbor across the street: the sheriff’s office.
“That commitment we have with law enforcement here, that just doesn’t happen everywhere,” she said. “So, just grateful for our neighbors across the street, and our school resource officer Nick Oster – those pieces we build with our kids to see law enforcement as an ally and as someone you go to if you have a problem.”
Walton said the district is in the throes of Reading Month and that it is going well, and how good it is to see students continue to grow as lifelong readers.
“Reading really is the gateway to so many other things,” Walton said. She noted March also is Women’s Month and that the current week was Civics Week. In that vein, she noted she would be speaking at the Michigan Civics Summit about how HCS partners with kids in its schools to help build them as good citizens and listen to their voices.
“And school, even though we teach democracy, sometimes we are not the best examples of democracy the way that we’ve been structured for over a hundred years,” she said. “So, to continue to partner without students around their ideas and their dreams for the future.”
She also noted discussing with Principals Joe Ashcroft, Jennifer thrush and Andrea Andera setting aside a half-day to transition eighth-graders up to the high school. Also to take sixth-grade teachers down to Larson to get into the fifth-grade classrooms and getting to know those students better, including discussing every child’s strengths and what sixth-grade teachers can count on them for in terms of academics and leadership. All this is aimed at smoother formal transitions to the middle and high schools.
Also reporting was Jasper Caster, student representative who updated on school activities, including that week’s Robotics competition in Mount Pleasant, planning for the prom, among other things. Walton informed the Board that the Robotics team had endured a four-to five-hour power outage in Mount Pleasant which led competition to last until 10 p.m.
“I want to tell you, not just our kids, but hundreds of kids who were at that competition, were just so good about going with the flow,” Walton said. “The adults were not as good, but the kids were great – but it was a long weekend for the Robotics team.”
The Harrison Community Schools Board of Education meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Monday of the month at 224 W. Main St.
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