Facilitators:  Judith Nilan and Claudia Mason

This session was focused on creating effective communication within the Bryant Montessori community. We started by describing effective communication and comments included:

* Transparency - sharing accurate, truthful information. Good messaging is important.
* Avoiding generalities and euphemisms.
* Engaging in a two-way dialogue.
* Listening “deeply”.
* Having good channels/mechanisms for communication.
* Engaging in healthy conflict management.

 

Participants were then asked to share their perspectives on what is and is not working related to communication within the Bryant community – and what solutions might be possible for better communication.

 

What is working?
In addition to giving accolades to the Bryant teachers, mixed grade classrooms, and programs, participants offered the following comments specific to communication that is working:
* Thursday folders
* Availability and “open door” policy of principal
* The availability of office administration and teachers
* ConnectEd-Automated phone calls and emails
* More arts and enrichment opportunities (SOTA programs after school)

 

What is not working?
* Avenues/channels for communicating, addressing and resolving complaints voiced at meetings
* Thursday folders sometimes do not give enough notice of an event, deadline, or meeting
* Rumors
* Confusion about where to take a complaint and how to bring it forward properly; have it addressed in a more expedient and timely manner

 

What would you like to see in place or what are possible communication solutions?
When invited to suggest solutions for effective communication the participants offered the following possibilities:
* Updates to the website
* Having a description of how the school runs  ( a 1 page roadmap), communication plan, an org chart
* A Communication Committee: limited office staff time for the enormity of effort focused on district/school plans
* Use ConnectEd more for other updates
* A student handbook which would include the grievance process; how to handle grievances through proper channels
* Provide explanation to why decisions are made and what decisions parents can choose. Educate parents on what they can choose and what they are not able to choose as Bryant is a public, not private school
* PTO and parent volunteers: more engaging, welcoming, greater communication to marginalized families
* Communicate any new updates re: the school moving to another location
* Support and build the principal’s vision for the school. The last revision to vision-mission was 6 years ago.
Mrs. Mason states: “our vision=our united dream of our school.”
* Always strive for peaceful communication and resolution of differences
* Community meetings should be based on building our special school, rather than negativity.

 

In addition to the communications group, there were breakout groups on other subjects. Notes from these sessions are summarized below.

Instruction & Montessori Math – Patrick Johnson, Director facilitated
* The middle school may lose part of Montessori
* Bryant 6th to 8th grades may move to Geiger
* It will be important to focus on maintaining the Montessori culture during the transition
* There will be a focus on Montessori materials, teachers, teacher training and parent education

Jason Lee – Dr. Rosanne Fulton facilitated – Principal Jon Kellett attended
* Jason Lee is an open door school with a student capacity of 750
* Class sizes are 17-18 students
* Reading in the 5th grade has experienced a 35% increase
* This is a Title I school
* Special programs include Hilltop Artists, a Summer academy, community garden and new track and field facilities.
* For those interested in Jason Lee, Claudia will have more information in her office

 

The Move to Franklin – School Board President Kurt Miller
While there was no specific breakout session for this topic, Kurt Miller fielded questions and offered the following comments, insights and information:
* A final decision to move to Franklin has not been voted on by the School Board. The Board has given direction to the Superintendent to study may aspects of this possibility.
* Mr. Miller was in attendance for the community meeting because the Board is currently listening to parents and have in this process met with over 2,000 parents.
* In considering school moves and consolidations Board members are looking at
o The age of school buildings
o The best use of each building
o How to keep students and teachers together
o Allowing more children access to Montessori programs

 

Closing Comments
At the end of the evening Claudia and Judith closed with the following comments:
* There are options to be explored for our children
* Claudia is willing to meet with each family to explore those options
* We will work for transparent communication – in light of the fact that final decisions have not been made
* We will post information on the school website
* We all want the best possible future for our children and for that we will need every bright mind to join us in exploring possibilities as we build a dream for our school and our students.
* We will continue to explore how we can move forward together