December 1, 2020
Dear Shorewood Families,
Please see below for important Board updates from the past two weeks and upcoming meeting reminders.
November 24th Board Meeting Highlights
Meet the New Director For Equity
Name: Shari Tucker
Essential Duties: Building genuine relationships with students to allow them to feel connected with the school, the community, themselves, their peers, and the curriculum. I also want to work with educators and leaders to build our capacity around curriculum and practices that have a social justice and antiracist lens. It is also imperative that the work I do with families and community members ensures that Shorewood is the best place for all stakeholders.
Experience in the Field: My educational career started as a paraprofessional in MPS before I became a teacher. I worked there for 17 years teaching 4th-6th grade and later ended up moving to the Glendale-River Hills school district where I was a teacher for three years. I taught 4th-8th grade and for the last two years, I assumed the position of Associate Principal.
What You’re Most Excited for This Year: Working with the students, staff, parents, and the community to make Shorewood a model school district that others can follow.
District Safety Updates
At the last Board meeting, SHS Associate Principal, Joe Patek, shared an update on the District’s non-COVID and COVID-related safety practices that have occurred since the last update in February 2020.
Non-COVID Safety
Third Party Safety Assessment
Last March, a third party safety assessment of the District was conducted by WSSCA, which involved evaluating the District’s Emergency Management Plan and conducting lengthy in-person site visits at each building in the District.
Those safety reports were sent to the District in April, and work began to address vulnerabilities and areas in need of improvement. View WSSCA’s safety assessment report cover letter here.
Additional Non-COVID Safety Items Since February
- Emergency Management Plan updated to include feedback from WSSCA
- Safety Grant requirements completed:
-19 Staff trained in DOJ’s Adolescent Mental Health Training
-At least 1 person from each school safety team trained in DOJ’s Threat Assessment Process
- Visitor badges standardized across the district and are “one-time use.”
- Each school has a new mobile evacuation kit
- Exterior Doors at SHS have “visual screening” occurring regularly
- Deans have become ALICE Certified Trainers
- Principals given annual safety update
- SHS Principal/Associate Principal attended Wisconsin DOJ/US Secret Service Training: Analysis of Targeted School Violence
- Staff Safety Workgroup reestablished and normed
COVID Safety
This past summer, approximately 30 school staff, medical professionals, mental health professionals, parents, and community members created the COVID District Health and Safety Guidelines.
Throughout August, these guidelines were implemented and built upon at each school building. They were shared with every staff member, key pieces were reviewed as part of back to school activities, each staff member was provided a COVID Staff Kit, and a “COVID Staff Information” shared folder was created with training documents, resources, and information.
Throughout the fall, two groups have been regularly reviewing the Health and Safety guidelines to update them and include new best practices, new information and procedures, and clarify/update procedures:
- The District Staff Safety Workgroup - regularly reviews items and issues that need clarification or updating.
- The District Medical Advisory Group - reviews and provides feedback on the District Health and Safety Guidelines and shares information related to best practices.
For more detailed information on the District’s Safety Updates from the Board meeting, click here.
Spring Linkages
The School Board plans to reinstate linkages in Spring 2021. Linkages were created in 2015 as a way for the Board to be more present in the Shorewood community. They allow members of the School Board to meet with constituents and provide information on the work of the schools. In addition, they also allow constituents to provide feedback for the School Board on anything District-related. The Superintendent and at least one member of the School Board are present at each linkage.
More detailed information regarding dates and times for the spring linkages will be shared in the new year.
Upcoming Board Meeting & Town Hall
The next School Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8th at 7 p.m. All are welcome to participate virtually and you can find all Board packets, agenda items, and meeting links here.
There will also be a School Board Virtual Town Hall taking place prior to the Board meeting from 6-7 p.m. This is a great time for families to ask questions they have and voice any comments or concerns with the Board. Hope to see you there.
Be well,
Paru Shah, Shorewood School Board President