Mtg: Nov 16 - PBMS/MBHS merger?

I was not present at the meeting.  The meeting was led by Jennifer Tandy (Chair-Elect) to the following agenda:

• 6:00  Welcome - agenda review and goals for the evening
• 6:05  Update - BoED recent decisions, MB Cluster status, Scott Barnett recent emails and requests, Board presentation Nov. 29, YMCA, Civic groups' consensus
• 6:15  Brief presentation by Jenny Sims, IB Coordinator for PBMS -IB MYP (International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program)
• 6:30  Brief presentation by Fred Hilgers, MBHS principal - MBHS IB information
• 6:45  Words from Mitzi Moreno, MB Cluster Area Superintendent
• 6:55 Julie Martel and Fred Hilgers present viable PBMS and MBHS scenarios based on parent, staff and community input thus far
• 7:15  Open Discussion and Q&A
• 7:50  Next Steps

Below is a letter from Ms. Tandy to the community sent after the meeting:

Dear MB Cluster Members,

I felt Wednesday night's cluster meeting was very informative and productive. Mitzi Moreno, our Area Superintendent, and the cluster officers will be presenting Scott Barnett with the information and opinions gathered at the meeting. I feel confident we will be able to articulate a positive direction and clearer vision for the future of Pacific Beach Middle School and Mission Bay High. Thank you all for your impassioned input. I have attached a more formal draft of the ideas that were presented last night.

As I said at the meeting, the reason our schools have grown stronger in enrollment, in test scores and in excitement, over the last few years is not because of the District. We have grown because of your commitment to our schools. Your time, your energy, your money...your ideas put into action. Grass fields, murals, enrichment programs, tutoring, music, art, science, computers...the families and teachers fill in where the District leaves off. If we keep up this extraordinary work with the entire MB Cluster in mind, we will continue to attract students, raise test scores and prosper as a community. We must control the conversation, the direction and the destiny of our schools. This proposal is the first step in taking that control. Thank you for all your hard work.

Have a safe and restful Thanksgiving.

Jennifer Tandy

Below is a draft document articulating the vision discussed during the meeting. It was not ratified, but was intended to capture the conversation.

Cluster Proposal Draft 11-17-11