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Saint Theresa Parish Board of Education Minutes Tuesday, April 29, 2008 5:30PM
I Executive Session – 5:30 II Prayer – 5:52-Geri led the Board in prayer. III Open Forum/Visitors’ comments – 5:54 – None. IV Acceptance of March Minutes – 5:58- Remove bulk of text, leaving the first, second to last and last sentences. Father Larry moved approval of the amended March minutes, which was seconded by Molly and approved by the Board. V Acceptance of April agenda – 5:56 – Move Student Council presentations to next on the agenda. Add Board of Education elections to Other Business. Rachael moved approval of the amended April agenda, which was seconded by Jen and approved by the Board. IX New Business A. Student Council presentation for PE uniform change – 5:58- Eighth-grade students Sean Duff, Nick Staver and Harrison Farrell addressed the Board with a proposal to allow eighth -graders to bring their own dominantly black gym shorts from home for use in PE class through the end of the year on a trial basis. Substantial dissatisfaction existed with the material, fit style and color of the current shorts for both boys and girls. This was not limited to students. Modesty and comfort were at issue. Other diocesan schools were allowing similar latitude. There was discussion of the issue and possible redesign of the shorts. The Board would discuss the matter further and report back to Ellen. The consensus was that some sort of immediate change was necessary. B. Student Council presentation for dress code change – 6:10-Seventh-grade students Luke Bishop, Ben Baker and Matthew Broderick presented a proposal to change the current dress code rule requirement that socks must be above the ankle, to requiring only that socks reach above the shoe. Other diocesan schools have similar policies. The students said it would benefit both teachers and students because it would be easier to enforce. The Board asked the students questions and there was discussion. Stephanie Wilson said she supported the students’ proposal. The Board would discuss the proposal further for potential implementation next year and render a decision with general review of the student handbook. There was further discussion of the dress code and behavior policy. VI Administrators’ Reports A. Director of Faith Formation – 6:23-Kathy’s report was distributed and reviewed by the Board. Ellen expressed thanks for Kathy’s work on sacramental preparation and with the teachers on faith formation. B. Parish Manager – 6:25-Bob’s report had been sent to the Board prior to the meeting. A proposed rental for the Community Center was included, and was reviewed by the Board. There was discussion of Community Center use, and discussion of fostering collaboration between varying parish committees and boards at the start of each specific process. Steve asked about a variance showing between the school’s YTD expenses and the budget. Ellen would ask Bob about it and email the Board. Rachael pointed out a positive variance in the childcare before and after-care program. The Board discussed the apparent income increase. C. School Administrator- 6:44- Ellen had sent a packet to the Board before the meeting. There was a student survey, parent survey and alumni survey. Heartland AEA would be scoring the surveys. There was discussion of this by the Board. An online survey from the diocese was coming. Ellen reviewed recent school events. There was a 10-year technology plan, which included wireless technology and a Smartboard. Ellen said the school would move to integrate technology into the Classroom, as opposed to limiting it to a separate class. Ellen said the students need to have the technology, that a cycle of continual purchasing of technology would be necessary, and that funding for it would need to be located. Edline would continue to be used next year. The school was looking at software packages for tuition billing. There was discussion of streamlining processes for handling special tuition circumstances. The PTC would purchase a lockbox for funds moving through the school office. Ellen previewed upcoming events. The Board discussed the CTO, and discussed a technology wish-list. VII– Unfinished (Old Business) Business A. Budget – 7:15-The budget was still in process. A calculation error in teacher salaries had meant there would not be funds for the Guidance Counselor to go from half to full-time. 283 students were fully registered. The Board discussed marketing for the school. There was discussion of the internal review of finance policies and procedures that had been proposed two months prior. The parish Finance Council was supportive of the request, but would need to know the scope of what the Board would be requesting to have reviewed. The Board would meet outside of regular meeting time to determine the extent and nature of the review. B. Registration – 7:45-There were 41 students from 32 families not registered. Veronica would send the names of those not registered to Board members to contact. Minutes from the latest PTC meeting had stated that school registration had gone from $25 to $125 in error. C. Teacher Contracts – 7:50-Ellen read a letter of resignation for Mr. Thein for the Board. Father signed teacher contracts approved by Ellen before forwarding them to Geri for her signature. VIII Committee Reports – 7:50- Geri attended the PTC meeting. Funds had been approved for six tables, a Smartboard. Proposed purchases and activities brought up by the PTC were a mobile lab, mulch and a daddy-daughter night. IX New Business– 7:55- C. ITBS results – ITBS scores were in the packet given to the Board by Ellen. Some areas were better than the previous year, some were not. The Board discussed the scores. Ellen would send additional previous results to the Board. Respective results for grades 4-8 would be reviewed with those grades by Ellen. D. Student handbook revisions – 8:03-A copy of the handbook was in the packet as well, and the Board would look at it in the next two weeks before issuing any Recommendations to Ellen. The Board discussed the dress code proposals. The proposal pertaining to PE shorts proposal would be given the requested trial. Review of the policy proposal for socks would be included in the general handbook review and a decision rendered at that time. X Other Business – 8:20 A. Board of Education elections The process and timeline for elections were discussed. The election was planned for the first weekend in June. B. Next meeting dates May 20 and June 17. Teacher Appreciation Week was coming in May. The Board would write personal thank-you notes for the teachers. XI Adjournment-8:43-Jen moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Kelly and approved by the Board.
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