August 16, 2011, 6:00 PM
Present: Lori Mordini, Geri McMahon, Rachael Seymour, Ellen Stemler, Mary Gisler, Kathy Wipf, Kerry Harrington, Tammy Pingle, Jennifer Donaghy
Absent: Father Mark Neal, Jim Wainwright
Visitors: Veronica Degen
Secretary: Lisa Bourne
- Prayer 6:04
- Open Forum/Visitors’ comments 6:05
Veronica expressed concern over an apparent duplicate request for certain school supply items, stating as well that parents had been told there would be one fundraiser only this year that would take care of everything. The Board held discussion on this.
- Board protocol – Geri 6:10
Geri outlined the Board’s function, purpose and duties for new members.
- Acceptance of August Agenda 6:11
Add oversight of Director of Faith Formation to Director of Faith Formation report. Rachael moved approval of the amended agenda, which was seconded by Lori and approved by the Board.
- Approval of Minutes from June meeting – 6:12
Lori moved approval of the June Board of Education Minutes, which was seconded by Rachael and approved by the Board.
The Board discussed the June meeting.
- Administrators’ Reports
- Director of Faith Formation – 6:20
Kathy distributed her report along with a series of emails pertaining to her proposal for consideration for the change that oversight of the Director of Faith Formation would fall under the Faith Formation Council, versus the Board of Education. The Board discussed this. Kathy indicated her thought that the timing for making the change was right with her impending departure and subsequent replacement. It was clarified that the Board of Education by-laws hold that the STS Board is a Board of Education and not a school board, the definition and scope of which is oversight by the Board encompassing all education in the parish, including the Director of Faith Formation. The Board by-laws would require amending to allow for oversight of the Director of Faith Formation to move from the Board to the Faith Formation Council. The Board was not opposed to consideration of the idea, and the email communication indicated a similar disposition on the part of Father Mark. Geri would set up a meeting with the Faith Formation Council to discuss the possibility of the change in oversight.
WFF would move to 6:30, classes begin Sept 14. There was a continued need for catechists, grades 6-7 would use Edge, the middle school component of Life Teen. Kathy gave sacrament dates for the coming year. Generations of Faith would be reduced from four to two this year. Father Mark accepted Kathy’s letter of resignation from July 25, 2011, and Kathy would stay until a replacement is found and transition concluded.
- Parish Manager – 6:42
The new phone system was almost finished, technology would be accessible throughout the parish campus, and the back-up server would be moved as well. The retaining wall, driveway and a new French drain for mulch areas were completed.
The budget was doing okay through the end of the school year. Tuition had been collected as expected, with any bad debt having been previously written into the budget. Some tuition write-offs dated back into the 2009-10 school year. The Board held discussion of bad tuition debt. Ellen and Mary Baker would revise the school budget with enrollment updates. The parish was right on budget and had done well.
- School Administrator – 6:58
Welcome back night was the following Monday. A second round of CTO processing had recently taken place with one family receiving funds. Fourteen Project HOPE applications had been submitted. Each diocesan school will have a middle school assembly at which diocesan attorney Frank Harty and Diocesan Superintendent of Schools Luvern Gubbels would present on moral and legal ramifications of physical and sexual harassment and abuse. An optional meeting presenting the same content was scheduled for parents at the diocesan pastoral center for Sept. 1.There was discussion of additional dress code regulations and chaperone expectations for middle school dances. Technology funding was being sought from Polk County, and a grant request was made to Prairie Meadows for laptops. Staff had met that day for the first time. Ellen ran down the class location changes :Middle School Math to the former Social Studies room, Middle School Social Studies to Mrs. Itis’ former room, Eighth-grade Language Arts to the former Math room, Middle School Faith Formation to the former Intermediate Spanish room, Art to the former Middle School Faith Formation room and Independent Learner to be conducted in the same room with Art on Monday and Tuesday. The Board discussed staff changes and implications for the school’s class section structure.
- Other None
- Committee Reports 7:30 None
Opportunities for Board members to sign up for attendance at parish board meetings to represent the Board of Ed would be available at the next meeting.
- Old Business
- A. Policy vote 7:33
Public review of amended policies was not complete and necessary before a vote. Jen Jorgensen would post policies on Edline.
- New Business
- 2011-12 Board goals 7:35
The Board would review and decide upon policies and visioning goals before reporting back to the parish.
- Staffing for 2010-11 7:38
Discussed earlier in the meeting.
- Strategic Planning 7:45
The Board discussed how the four parish boards could better communicate ongoing. Rachael recommended that the Board consider how it could show leadership in the community and also build a positive image for the school, which the Board discussed. Also mentioned and discussed was the goal of raising the level of compensation for STS teachers.
- Journey to Excellence 8:00
Ellen distributed information on the professional development program and the Board opted to go forward with it.
- Other Business 8:03
Action items: Approve 2011-12 Student Handbook: Amendments has been previously distributed to the Board for review, and the changes would be put on Edline for parent review. Rachael moved approval of the handbook as amended, which was seconded by Lori and approved by the Board.
- Adjournment 8:10
There was discussion of possible options for filling Board vacancies.
- Date of next meeting Sept 20
Lori moved to adjourn to Executive Session at 8:14, which was seconded by Jen and approved by the Board.
Prayer
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