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Saint Theresa Parish Board of Education Minutes Tuesday, February 26, 2008 5:30PM
I Executive Session – 5:30 II Prayer – 6:02 - Jeremy led the Board in prayer. III Open Forum/Visitors’ comments – 6:03 - None. IV Acceptance of February Agenda – 6:03 - Add Policy Committee formation. V Approval of November and January Minutes – 6:04 – In section 7 of the January minutes under State Site Report, amend wording to state, “add some diversity” in regard to the specific recommendation by the State. VI Administrators’ Reports A. Director of Faith Formation – 6:06 - Father Larry distributed Kathy’s report in her absence which was due to weather. Father Larry read through the report. The Feb 13 First Holy Communion meeting was well-attended. The IGNITE session for 7th and 8th-graders had about 1/3 of the potential students in attendance. It was held on Wed, Feb 20, when the school was beginning a long weekend break and a back-up option had been offered. Generations of Faith was coming up in that week with the theme of Baptism and Reconciliation. Wednesday Faith Formation would have Reconciliation the following week. Father Chris Fontanini would participate in a WFF session on Vocations for grades 5-8 in early April. Sixth-grade catechist Natalle Halaczkwicz is in the final weeks of pregnancy. Elizabeth Johnson and Debbie McCartney would temporarily assume her duties. Patrick Linthicum would finish out the year for Jeni Carney. B. Parish Manager – 6:11-Bob was home ill. Ellen would request a report from Bob and email it to the Board. C. School Administrator – 6:11 - Ellen thanked the Board for its work on the Catholic Schools week open house and school registration at conferences. Parents appreciated the Board’s presence at registration, it was expressed that this showed that the Board valued the parents’ time. The core curriculum Bill currently in the State legislature would be watched closely. St. Theresa had applied to have a table at Nonpublic Schools Day at the capitol, which would take place April 2. The science assembly was amazing, presenting a combination of faith and science from Josh Denhart, who is nationally certified in science. The assembly received great feedback form students and teachers. John Gaffney had taken the 7th-graders to various locations to take photos for a Stations of the Cross project. Molly had chaperoned and said the group behaved very well. Sixth-grade Vocations Day was coming up. The Trial of Pontius Pilate would be presented by students. Things were busy, a lot was going on at the school. The teachers had a very productive in-service day, which had included discussion of differentiation and assessments. The school’s committees were now curriculum-based, not event-based. Stephanie Wilson had just completed Balanced Leadership, which Ellen had done the year before. Ellen would do an e-walk that Friday. At present there were no show days to be made up. Classroom time was tabulated in hours, not days. There was discussion of a meat recall. There was discussion of the academic calendar and how it’s set. Trimesters are being looked at. VII Unfinished (Old Business) Business A. Registration process – 623 Two-hundred-sixteen current students were registered for next year, 93 were not. Registration at conferences went very well. A few aspects would be reviewed for the future. Veronica will provide a list of how families pay broken down into those via ACH, annual and semi-annual. Father Larry said the Board had a presence at the conference registration, which presented an identity and showed concern. B. Budget – 6:39 - Ellen said Tom Hueholt had given an excellent talk on stewardship and parish support for the school at the Finance Council meeting. The budget includes $1,000 for each of the first four salary steps and $500 for the fifth step, and the counselor being full-time as well. $10,000 needs to be cut from expenses or added to income. There was discussion of possible cost-cutting ideas. Office supplies and cleaning supplies were discussed. There was discussion of the need for the Board to know expense figures. The Board discussed tuition billing and collection. Steve will talk to Sue Tingleff and Ellen will talk to Father Larry regarding bringing billing back to the school. The school would be working to get more funds from the Des Moines Public Schools than the current amount for pre-k. The Finance Council would want any additional funds to be banked. Ellen would email the budget that had been presented to the Finance Council the following day. Ellen would talk to Bob and/or John McMichael regarding expense figures for the purpose of facilitating cost-cutting. There was discussion of various potential fundraising efforts and sources. The Board discussed a possible grandparent newsletter. There was discussion of a possible internal review for the purpose of locating cost-saving opportunities, exercising fiscal responsibility and being compliant for diocesan expectations. Ellen said the school was really careful with funds to the point of not getting some things that were needed. Jeremy moved to formally request and internal review of all school billing, school receipts and controllable expenses. Rachael seconded the motion, which was approved by the Board. The Board would meet March 11 at 5:30 p.m. to finalize the budget, and March 25 at 5:45 for the regular March Board meeting. The date for the April meeting would be set at the March 11 Budget meeting. VIII Committee Reports – 8:00 - None IX New Business – 8:00 A. Geri suggested a game night community event. X Other business – 8:02 A. Geri suggested formation of a policy committee. Geri, Rachael, Jeremy and Molly would comprise the committee and meet in April. B. Jeremy read a proposed mission statement left by Father Larry before leaving the meeting earlier. Ellen would schedule a meeting of the Mission Statement Committee. XI Adjournment – 8:08 - Molly moved to adjourn, which was seconded by Barb and approved by the Board. Next Meeting – Budget meeting 5:30 March 11 Regular meeting 5:45 p.m., March 25, 2008 |
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