MCS Eyes Student Advisory Groups

MORRISTOWN - Students in grades seven through 12 at Morristown Central School will be taking on more responsibility starting next school year, as student-led advisory groups are being developed in accordance with the district's strategic plan.

A small committee of staff and community members has worked diligently for the past couple of years planning and organizing the implementation of the initiative, according to Karen Basham, who spoke on the committee's behalf at Wednesday's board of education meeting.

"Advisory groups are small groups of students with one adult educator who meet on a regular basis, focusing on helping all students meet the strategic objectives by connecting them to their school and community," Mrs. Basham said.

She was joined at the meeting by fellow committee members, Pete Ward, Andrea Bertrand, and Marlene Parcell. Also serving on the committee, but missing due to an injury, was Harriett Beggs. Mrs. Basham and Mr. Ward teach social studies, Mrs. Bertrand is a teacher's assistant, and Mrs. Parcell is the guidance counselor at MCS. Mrs. Beggs is a community member always actively involved at the school, and a former educator.

Mrs. Bertrand explained that the committee had met many times and consulted with other area school districts that have already implemented advisory groups, most notably Carthage Central School.

"We are ready to implement advisory groups here at MCS in the fall of 2010," she said.

Committee members outlined three purposes of the advisory groups:

* To allow adult educators spot problems

* To provide peer group and social development opportunities

* To prepare students for life outside of school

"The board, the staff, the Morristown community as a whole," Mrs. Basham said, "Have identified broadening peer groups and making community connections an objective."

Mrs. Basham said the committee has determined that students in grades seven through 12 will participate and that advisory group meetings will take place during the first 15 minutes of the school day. Superintendent David J. Glover said the current schedule has been adapted to allow for these 15 minutes without lengthening the school day and that the added period would not affect either the start or stop time of the school day.

"First period currently starts at 8:25 a.m. So will advisory groups," Mrs. Basham said, noting that time is already allotted before that for students to get breakfast, to their lockers, and settled in for the school day.

Students in each grade, according to Mrs. Basham, will be split into three groups of approximately 10 students per group, with a faculty member assigned to each group. That makes 18 groups total. Groups will be assigned randomly by the guidance office.

"The plan is to have every student and every teacher involved," she said.

Questions raised by the board included how best to measure the success of the advisory group initiative, and whether or not the entire student body and staff would show enthusiasm about it.

The committee will make another presentation - to the MCS staff - during the April staff development day.