Saint Theresa Parish Board of Education Minutes

I     Prayer – 5:50 - Molly led the Board in prayer.
II    Open Forum/Visitors’ Comments – None.

III  Acceptance of November agenda – 5:51 -add “year round school” under new business,        add executive session to end of meeting, motion to accept Geri – Kelly 2nd

Executive Session 5:55

IV  Approval of September and October Minutes – 6:33

Sept Minutes – Correction:
Jane Kouri not Jeanne Kouri, spelling error 2^nd page under section B “being”, Changes: 1^st line fine, “discussion centered around having an additional kindergarten aid, The Kouris said volunteers are a great asset, but that would be nice to have an aid for the consistency”.  Delete rest of paragraph.  Fr move to accept Sept minutes, Rob 2^nd

 

Oct Minutes – Fr move to accept Oct Minutes, Molly 2nd

V Administrators’ Reports  

A.    Director of Faith Formation – 6:39 – Kathy sent report via email to board members

B.    Parish Manager – 6:24 – Email Bob with questions on financials, no money credited for Pre-K program yet, figures minus anything for Pre-K, no heat at church unless fill boilers; gym floor samples (2 possibilities) Lego (modular floor, plastic), floating floors because of water issue, has underlayment, maple is best for sports, Rob and Rachel have one kind at home and do not recommend it.  Presentations will be done with 2 reps with stakeholders.

C.    School Administrator – 6:41– policies on tuition and fee rates handed out,  Fr attended Mock Trial competition, team is going to state competition. Attendance at Parent Teacher conferences by break down of grade?  Jen will find out percentage of parents who attended.  Money from Target $583.  PE grant presentation at PTC meeting.  Mr. Grandon had 4 families visit him during conferences.  Specials need to have a more visible place to gather for parents to visit with them.  Board wants to invite Dr. Ed Thomas to present to the Board about the PE grant, Geri will invite for next meeting and also Mr. Grandon.  Grant money, need grant writing committee to write up grants.  Blue Ribbon school takes another group to get STS this designation.  (possible board goal).  Renaissance Committee – is this feasible for us to pay for?  Josh Faber is part of this committee.  Cindy contact Josh Faber to present to Board for 10-15 min (action item).  Rachel will put Josh on agenda for next meeting.  Special meeting in December with just presentations – Dec 3, 2008 @ 6:30 pm, place to be determined by Rachel.  If dates don’t work for Josh or Ed, Rachel will reschedule.

Other -
A.  PTC – 7:04 – Molly to ask PTC – why BINGO night for floor?  Is enough money not raised by Stampede?  Molly will attend Monday’s meeting
B.  Finance – 7:08 – no issues that Father can remember
C.  Health and Wellness – 7:10 Jeremy reported new medicine balls, multicultural day, open gym to get families more involved, ribbon cutting for new gym floor, get STS band and DCHS band to play, teacher/staff fitness, teachers have PE class after school, healthy eating – cooking demonstrations and economical.  Look at school lunches in regards to following healthy guidelines.   No candy as rewards - violation of diocese policy.  Rachel will contact Wellness Committee and ask them to come to January’s board meeting for an update. 
D.   Marketing committee – 7:15 – Gather reps from 3 major leadership groups with marketing committee to get things started.  Parish council has reps. Board reps are Rachel and Rob.  Father will convene the group.

  VI  Committee Reports

A.  Policy review – 7:20 – Rachel, Kelly, Geri met on policies 240-280 – table special tuition agreements.  Added are underlined, struck out is to be deleted.  Policy 240, since we want to be a stewardship school, change to “active” family, give time, talent, treasure.  Registration in church says they are “members”.  Discussion on families that are not active parishioners or are not tithing in regards to who gets parishioner rates for tuition.  Recording of activities of parishioners very difficult according to Father.   Rachel reminded Board that we should not have policies that we are not going to enforce.  Jen reminded Board that we are not in the position to turn people away, our school is not full.  At registration add a time and talent list.  Lindsay Amadeo has list of volunteers from this year.  Change policy to “registered, active members”.  Only Catholic school to not offer discounts for multiples.  Motion notice for public comment – Father, 2^nd Kelly – Policy 240 notice to families.

Policy 250 – ACH form and voided check required for all registering students.  Monthly payments starting in July through automated withdrawal system.  Registration fee may be paid at time of registration or be rolled into total payment.  When payments are 2 months delinquent families will be contacted by appointee for immediate resolution.  Failure to address delinquent payments may be grounds for dismissal of a student at end of semester. Motion notice for public comment – Cindy,  2^nd – Jeremy, Policy 250 notice to families.

Policy 255 – rescinded.  Motion notice for public comment - Father, 2^nd – Molly, Policy 255 notice to families.

Policy 265 – Bus transportation reimbursement, no changes   Motion notice for public comment - Father, 2^nd - Molly, Policy 265 notice to families

Policy 270 – Fundraisers, tabled until next meeting.

Policy 280 – Childcare payments, Motion notice forpublic comment - Molly, 2^nd – Jeremy, Policy 280 notice to families.

VII  Unfinished (Old Buisness) Business –

A.  Update on Michelle Lickteig’s process work – 8:03 – Enrollment process with Bob and Veronica, will finish up process, also met with Paul Galloway, Michele will go to Finance committee meeting
B. Update on Rob Jackson’s work with Dowling – 8:08 – talked to Katie Petersen and Brenda Wheeler, what should Board do with information?  Brenda is very proactive, can pre-qualify.  Has response by May to families.  Meets with President Deegan if further money can come from endowment.  Cost to pre-qualify ($25-40).  Some money from Project Hope for STS but not much.  Can we set up scenarios for families using last year’s qualifying income at different levels and family size?  Issue is who do families talk to and who communicates with families at St. Theresa.  Michele will write out procedure for applying for funds at St. Theresa.  Michele will ask Bob why it takes so long to get out awards to families.  At registration time have steps for assistance: CTO, Fair application.  Need consultant for CTO application, figure with last year’s numbers.  Rob ask Brenda for list of items to remember on CTO registration process.  Fair applications due first part of April.

C.  Membership for Finance Council/BOE Budget Committee – 8:30 – Rachel, Michele, Jeremy, Ellen will be on budget subcommittee

D.  Board goals – 8:38 – tabled until next meeting

VIII    New Business

A. Year Round Schooling – 8:40 – Kelly would like to see St Theresa be a year round school. Catholic school in Hawaii has year round school, enrollment was declining prior to implementation of year round school. Ten weeks off during summer needs too much review at the beginning of school. Our students are not part of farming families. Is this something that St. Theresa could do? Retention is better, better test scores, better for teacher burnout. Breaks are spread out throughout the year. Time off is comparable but is spread out. Exploratories and field trips during breaks. 45 days on, 10 days off, 6 wks off in summer. Daycare impact – improve program? Sports? Teachers paid extra for working during break. Impact on families with parents who both work outside the home? Break away from school for children too. Ask “Y” to put on a special program. Need info from Des Moines and Rolling Green (Urbandale) as to how it is going. Check offset of cost for daycare during summer.

IX    Book Study Dreams and Visions – 8:55 – Cindy motion to table, 2nd - Jeremy

X    Other Business –

A. Date of next meeting – 8:56 – Jan. 20, 2009.

Motion 8:57 – Father to adjourn.  2^nd Michele

Next Meeting - January 20, 2009  5:45