Saint Theresa Parish Board of Education Minutes

I     Prayer – 5:51 – Rob led the Board in prayer.

II    Open Forum/Visitors’ Comments – 5:53 – None.

III  Acceptance of October agenda – 5:53

Move Sarah Mohrfeld earlier to Unfinished / Old Business. Add Michele’s financial report under New Business. Geri moved approval of the amended October agenda which was seconded by Jeremy and approved by the Board

IV  Approval of September – 5:54

Condense Open Forum/Visitors’ comments. Combine two sentences in the Parish Manager section to state that Steve and Rachael had each questioned budget variances. Lisa would forward amended Sept minutes for Board review.

V    Unfinished(Old Business) Business – 6:00

A. Pre-K teacher Sarah Mohrfeld distributed parent packets and detailed the classroom schedule and routine. Students were working on learning letters in class. Something new this year are play plans, which encourage students to think before they do something, and are going really well. The Handwriting Without Tears program is also new, for which each child has a workbook. A balance beam, tricycles and accompanying helmets are new as well. The creative curriculum involves extensive observation and documentation, with 50 goals and objectives. Observation is the main method of assessment, and it is difficult to observe and document everything. Sarah said the creative curriculum doesn’t come with the best reporting system, so the plan was to use what the Des Moines public schools use and try to align with the Iowa Early Learning Standards. The Iowa Quality Preschool Program Standards (QPPS) has 172 criteria and 10 standards, for which St. Theresa has made a passing grade. Efforts were being made for attendance at professional development programs with the Des Moines public schools. Sarah thought St. Theresa was further along than the Des Moines schools in assessments. Diocesan pre-k teachers meet monthly and were working on report cards and aligning curriculum with Iowa Early Learning Standards. Classroom aides would be starting professional development, with the Des Moines aides to work toward the Certified Developmental Associate. Classroom aide Jan Henter wrote a letter in support of the creative curriculum, which Sarah read for the Board. Portfolios from the previous year were passed out for review. This year additional portfolios were also kept and were helping documentation with the 50 goals. Previous curriculum material from the diocese was not as extensive or specific. Sarah thinks the kids are doing well and have more of a handle on things than in the past. The pre-k room had gotten a makeover. Students go to Mass one time a month. Sarah thought it was a better use of time, given the students’ developmental stage. She may take them to Mass more frequently later in the year. The Des Moines pre-k grant required at least 10 hours of religion-free curriculum. The pre-k students have a weekly religion lesson focusing on that week’s gospel, and they pray before snack and the end of the day. Sarah felt they were doing more with religion this year than in the past despite not attending weekly Mass. Steve suggested weekly attendance but having pre-k students leave for their own children’s liturgy of the word. Sarah would consider this.

B. Board of Education goals – 6:33 – Still being worked on. There was desire for a plan to allow Ellen time to be in the classroom to make use of her expertise. Rachael would meet with Ellen to work on documenting her time and provide a report for the Board in advance of the next meeting. Board Members would forward any proposed goals to Rachael by two weeks before the next meeting.

C. Ellen said the Discipline Board had determined that a full-time counselor was needed in the building. This would be reviewed further.

D. Policy review and revision was discussed, and would be further addressed.

 

 VI  Administrators’ Reports – 6:43

A.    Director of Faith Formation – 6:39 –The first four sessions of WFF have passed. There are about 20 more students this year than last year. Two students are meeting with Deb Tell on Wednesday evenings to work on preparation for First Reconciliation in November. Forty-two students are preparing for First Reconciliation, and there are 53 candidates for Confirmation. WFF catechists would gather the following evening for an in-service meeting to work on catechist certification. WFF was $89 away from the $2,500 Stampede goal, which would allow the purchase of three portable whiteboards. The Red Wheel fundraiser was next, with proceeds going to the January Service Week. Generations of Faith was scheduled for Oct. 29 and Nov. 2. Morality was the theme for this year, and the festival would focus on conscience formation. The next festival would be Dec. 10 and 15, with eighth-graders helping present on stewardship and care for the poor. The parish Faith Formation Council would meet Thursday of that week. Kathy was looking forward to WFF’s participation in the January Justice Week, focused on water.

B. Parish Manager – 6:51– A water main had broken, resulting in a substantial mud mess on parish grounds. Furniture had been donated through the down-sizing of Citi Mortgage. Thirty tables and conference chairs were received for middle school. Sixty computers and several filing cabinets were also donated. An RFP would be put out for the gym floor. Bob detailed September financials, and told the Board to contact him with questions, as Board Members may need time to review the financial statement and he may need time to get specific answers.

C. School Administrator – 7:01– PTC met the previous night. Stampede did well despite the economy. The Finance Council met the previous week. Ellen would be attending Finance Council meetings and a Board Member was needed to attend as well. State of Iowa ID numbers for students were coming. Cindy mentioned the Franciscan water project, which may involve the students. A $4130 grant for PE equipment had been received via the State of Iowa. PE uniforms had been ordered. August 17, 2009 would be next year’s Meet the Teacher Night, also when students’ supplies could be dropped at school and school committees would be represented. The official calendar for the following year had not been established, but the earlier Meet the Teacher date had been set for the first time. Discipline Board issues would be discussed in Executive Session.

VIII  New Business – 7:23

A. Michele – Review of Financial process – Michele had met with John McMichael and Bob to review the financial process for the parish and school, and distributed a draft report. The school budget was a subset of the parish budget. Michele detailed a timeline of the process as she had come to understand it. The process was divided into the four areas of the Finance Council, parish office, Board of Education, and the school administration and staff. The subject of enrollment was identified as driving income and expense estimates, and was an issue because the enrollment numbers were not established at the time they were needed for the budget process. It was recommended to create a budget committee in March. There was discussion of timing for registration. There was discussion of Hunter Systems as it related to tuition billing. The board discussed under-estimating enrollment projections for the budget process. The Board discussed ways of streamlining the registration process with regard to class size, profitability and adding students into established classes before class size determined another section was needed. The Board asked Annette Munoz about her experience with registration. She talked about having to seek out information she needed to register a child. There was discussion of identifying special needs children may have and communication to parents about what St. Theresa may have to offer students in this area. The Board discussed Individual Education Plans, the Building Assistance Team and 504 classification. It was recommended that screening questions for special needs be included in the registration packet for new families. Rob would contact Dowling Catholic regarding its process and report back to the Board at the next meeting. Veronica Degen would work with Bob and John McMichael about importing financial information into the computer system.

  IX  Other business – 8:13

Father Larry said the Finance Council had recommended establishment of a committee to improve recruitment. The feeling was that it was important enough to expand upon efforts, as it impacts the parish. It may or may not be encompassed in the duties of the Marketing Committee. Father said St. Theresa could learn from other parish schools nearby with similar demographics that had experienced an enrollment increase. Rachael would communicate with the Board via email regarding ongoing developments pertaining to financials, marketing and the idea of the Board working together with the Parish and Finance Councils on the budget and enrollment. Michele would meet with Paul Galloway, and plan to be included in ongoing meetings with Bob, Veronica Degen and John McMichael on financials.

X   Adjournment –

A. Date of next meeting – 8:20 – November 11, 2008.

B. Prayer – Molly led the Board in prayer.

C. Executive Session – 8:21 – Geri moved to adjourn to Executive Session, which was seconded by Kelly and approved by the Board

Next Meeting - November 11, 2008  5:45