Saint Theresa Parish Board of Education Minutes

I         Prayer – 5:50

II       Open Forum/Visitors’ Comments – 5:52

None.

III      Acceptance of April Agenda –

Under New Business, move Flooring Committee – Brian Tingleff and Positive Behavior Supports – School PBS Team earlier on the agenda to after Approval of the March Minutes. Molly moved approval of the amended April agenda, which was seconded by Geri and approved by the Board.

IV     Approval of March Minutes – 5:54

Under Committee Reports – Year Round School, clarify that Kelly had spoken with Principal Marty Flaherty at Holy Family School, who had spoken with Dr. Luvern Gubbels, who was supportive of Holy Family School going to year-round school. Father Larry moved approval of the amended March minutes, which was seconded by Jeremy and approved by the Board.

 V      New Business Reports

A.    Flooring Committee – 5:57 – Brian Tingleff presented the findings of the flooring committee. Committee minutes are available to interested parties for review. The committee reviewed existing floor quotes and considered options of addressing wear patterns on the floor that appeared to have been caused by moisture below the ground. Ten floor materials and/or multi-layer floor systems had been investigated, ranging in cost from just under $10K to almost $70K. The committee recommended choosing between two floor materials, with, Tingleff said, the determination to be made by the St. Theresa Foundation, the PTC and the Building and Grounds Committee. A calcium chloride test and a concrete pH test had been conducted to detect moisture. The test results were contradictory of each other, and the committee concluded that a drainage system and sump pump should be installed to reduce future excess moisture. The quote for 220 feet of linear feet of drainage tile was $6,600. The drainage system would require the existing floor to be cut and concrete replaced, resulting in 30 days’ cure time. Flooring work would need to be scheduled by early June and would prohibit use of the gym during several weeks of June and July. The committee recommended replacement of 13 cafeteria tables, which were 18 or more years old and would likely continue to damage the floor. A mix of both bench and stool tables was recommended. The first flooring option of a sports floor could reduce orthopedic injuries and is seamless, whereas the second option of a sheet vinyl floor does not provide for reduced potential for sports-related injuries and has seams every six feet in width. Both options exceed the existing $45K raised by the PTC, the first by more than $16K and the second by more than $6K; and both would require a loan from the Parish Foundation to allow for work to start in summer 2009. Projects costing $50K or more required approval from the Diocesan Building Commission. The flooring committee recommended that volunteers remove the existing floor, saving $3K, and it was recommended that before installation of the new floor, the lower portion of the walls be repainted to better match the final floor color. Brian Tingleff said contracts for the floor work should be signed by the end of May for the project to be completed on time. He said he would come back to the May Board of Education meeting to report on the disposition of the other committees on the matter. The Board discussed the flooring options and the choice of tables.

Positive Behavior Supports-School PBS team – 6:15 – Margaret Doyle and Justin Dopheide presented the Positive Behavior Support plan to the Board, beginning with Margaret reading the St. Theresa vision statement. The five components of core PBS were: Define expectations, Teach expectations, Acknowledge expectations, Corrective Consequences and Data-driven decision making. Behavior expectations included students being respectful, responsible, safe and faithful. The expectations had specifics for the hallway, lunchroom, church, assemblies, the playground, the bathroom, field trips, and the bus and in class. Examples were given for why teaching expectations would be necessary. Varying ways for acknowledging expectations were presented, as were options for corrective consequences and data-driven decision making. It was clarified that PBS was a general approach to preventing problem behavior; it was for all students and was based on historical behavior practices and instructional design and strategies. An example of an office discipline referral form was included for Board review. It would be expected with PBS that everyone coming in contact with the students would be involved in its implementation, not just faculty and staff. Lesson plans were in the process of creation and older students would mentor younger ones. The guidance counselor would be a source of support for the program. It would take two to three years to be functional. The goal is not to reward, but to help students learn to practice good behavior on a regular basis. There are a percentage of students for whom PBS may not work, and those students would have an individual plan written for them. The Board discussed the plan. Ellen said the Discipline Board would still be functioning and would work with the PBS team. The Board discussed defining behavior rewards in varying situations.

 

VI       Administrators Reports – 6:40

Father Larry spoke about Confirmation the night before. He had hosted Bishop Pates for dinner prior to celebration of the sacrament. He informed the Board of the bishop’s impending evangelization project for the diocese. A gift of books was under consideration for the 8^th- grade gift.

      A. Director of Faith Formation – Kathy had emailed her report to the Board late in the day.

      B. Parish Manager – 6:47- Ellen reviewed the Tuition Billing Issue Resolution for the Board. Sixteen of 39 families who had not been previously billed for tuition had responded in March. Twenty-three in all of 39 families had responded to date. $25,380 in payments had been received. Commitments for another $7500 had been made, leaving $13K still in need of collection. John McMichael would be making calls that week to families with outstanding tuition due. The parish Finance Council had asked for and would receive monthly tuition updates, as would the Board. Families would get monthly statements. There was discussion of tuition billing.   

      C. School Administrator – 6:56 - The annual pro-life contest was about to take place. A representative of Heartland AEA was coming for a meeting on April 30. Ellen would like a Board member to sit on the Building and Grounds Committee. There were lock issues on campus causing difficulties for Childcare. These were being looked at, including a new lock system. A diocesan financial management study day was schedule for May 12. A pre-k student had been injured in a fall that day and was transported to the hospital. The student was doing fine and expected back in class the next day. The Easter egg hunt and intermediate music program had both been a success. Grandparents Day was also a success, with extra food needed for lunch. The Board discussed school events. Ellen distributed the school calendar for the following year. Pre-k would start later due to home visits. October 2 would be the date for a visit to Living History Farms by junior high students as part of the diocesan commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the visit by Pope John Paul II. Ellen mentioned the nature of the scheduled professional development days. Snow days were not included and would need to be made up. Hanawalt School would be under construction the following year, and could mean another 40 pre-k students at St. Theresa. The Board discussed implementation of this. Ellen gave current registration numbers, with 268 students registered for the coming year, and she would keep the Board updated with registration numbers ongoing. The Board discussed the idea of offering a scholarship to Wednesday Faith Formation families for school tuition. Ellen would contact Josh Faber for input on criteria that would be tied to the scholarship in addition to existing criteria. Steve moved that a one-year scholarship in the amount of $1100 be established for Wednesday Faith Formation families who draft a statement telling why they would desire for their child to attend St. Theresa School, and who also complete a FAIR/CTO application, with eligibility criteria to be finalized and communication with the families that special tuition arrangements are available ongoing for those who qualify. The motion was seconded by Jeremy and passed by the Board. Ellen distributed proposed new childcare rates for the coming year, and she would get new summer rates for the Board. Summer rates would increase by $25 weekly and include Walnut Creek Y summer camps. Other camps would be available for students not attending the YMCA camps.

VI     Committee Reports – None

VII    Unfinished (Old Business) Business – 7:46

A. Budget – Father Larry reported that tithes for recent months were down as compared to the same time last year. The budget would be discussed further in Executive Session.

B.  Billing and Rate Update – Covered in Administrators Reports.

VII    New Business – 8:16

Moved earlier and covered in Administrators’ Reports.

IX       Adjournment

Geri moved to adjourn to Executive Session, which was seconded by Jeremy and approved by the Board.

Date of Next Meeting-Not determined in open meeting.

Next Meeting – April 21