WASC Meeting Notes for August
Bay Area Education Specialists


We reviewed the Response document.

The following were concerns and suggestions that came up during the meeting. There were questions we were to address specifically, but as the responses which brought up these concerns and suggestions tended to overlap areas, we have included all of them in one grouping:

1. We hope that the families and ESs will find Edusoft to be a useful assessment tool and the Benchmark exams will be easily accessible and user friendly to all. The ESs agreed that it will be easier to provide the Benchmark Assessment to some families, instead of requesting that they retrieve it themselves.

2. We were unable to access the Benchmark Assessment Addendum, and so were unable to discuss it.

3. It was suggested that Connecting Waters should consider becoming a member of the Resource Area For Teachers (RAFT). This is an organization that makes donations from companies and private individuals available to teachers and school communities. Donations include various educational materials, computers, office equipment, furniture and other resources. Members receive a corporate tax number and are then free to explore what is available at the organization's holding area and purchase it at prices far below what you would pay normally. It was felt that this would be an excellent materials resource for our familie and teachers.

4. We liked the format of the list of classes by subject area for the Manteca Learning Center and would like to see a similar one for the Modesto Learning Center in the addendum.

5. It was suggested that we need to encourage the formation of co-ops, tutoring services, and small group classes or instruction using parent and ES ideas and resources. To this end, it was further suggested that ES's should use the School Survey Addendum to ask families what classes they need or would like to have available in their local areas. It was recommended that the outlying areas need more tutors as approved vendors to help families who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable teaching certain areas of the curriculum. We feel this would help overall achievement for our students. The school survey could identify the specific needs and would encourage ESs to begin the process of getting more vendors approved for these services.

6. It was suggested that an online library/inventory of materials would help outlying families and ESs know what was available at Learning Centers, before they travel to the centers.

7. It was suggested that WASC concerns might be addressed in future by holding some smaller meetings by teleconference to use time more effectively and save time lost in commuting to central locations.