Saint Theresa Parish Board of Education Minutes

I     Executive Session – 5:30

 II    Prayer – 5:45 - Veronica led the Board in prayer.

 III  Open Forum/Visitors’ comments –

       A. Gloria Moore – topic of comments – consistency of discipline in Middle 

       School/lack of cleanliness of building

       B. Happy Peris – topic of comments – rumor mill/standard discipline policy/

        communication

 IV  Acceptance of January Agenda:- Add Consideration of a school mission statement.

 V    Approval of October Minutes: Barb moved to approve the minutes with Rachael

       seconding.  The Board approved the minutes.

 VI  Administrators’ Reports –   

A.     Director of Faith Formation: WFF and STS 8^th graders will participate in GOF Festivals in December.  15 WFF catechists, STS teachers and staff attended an in-service by Mike Patin at Sacred Heart.  The Red Wheel fundraiser raised $795 profit.  All but one family attended First Reconciliation Learning Centers on November 7.  First Reconciliation will be celebrated with 35 students on November 27 and 25 students on November 29.  Faith Formation Council met November 15 and submitted grant proposals for funds from the Diocesan Education Excellence Endowment Fund.  Six catechists have joined three veteran catechists for Children’s Liturgy of the Word.  RCIC retreat is January 5.  Fr. Larry added that sacramental prep has been going very well in the parish.

Parish Manager:

 Drainpipe north of second grade room is broken and full of mud jack cement.  Options are being considered.  October financials were strong.  We are still awaiting payment for PreK from Des Moines Public Schools.  Some tuition statistics were shared – 29 families paid in full; 128 families currently on ACH; 14 families haven’t paid any tuition.  Consideration was given to  a new financial policy for the use of revenues that exceed $5,000 or 5% of the annual budget for a particular account which must then be approved by the Board and submitted to the Finance Council

B.    School Administrator:

Plans for the Social Justice Hunger week are being developed through collaboration between the school and the parish Social Concerns’ Committee.  Mr. Gaffney and Mrs. Risbeck will take the 6^th graders to visit St. Joseph’s Shelter in conjunction with their charity tournament.  Students raised $8,000 for St. Joseph’s Shelter.  Eighth graders raised $2400 toward their gift to the school with their basketball tournament.  Work continues on the school mission statement. Conferences were well attended with only five families not in attendance.  The pilot reporting system is well underway PreK – 5^th grade with positive comments from teachers and parents.  Mock Trial students competed today at the Holiday Inn on Merle Hay.  We are awaiting the results of both of our teams.  Over 50 children are registered for Biddy Ball.

 VII–  Unfinished (Old Business) Business – 

A.     State site visit report:

We received an excellent report from the state Department of Education Site Visit

         Team.  The board received a copy of the PowerPoint that was shared with the site

         team.  We did learn that we need to develop a retention policy and forward that to the

         state. 

B.     Board Bios: board bios went out in Friday folders for K-2 and the 3^rd -8^th graders will receive theirs next week.  Breakfast with the Board is scheduled for Friday, December 7 at 7:30 in the Community Center.

C.    PreK update: waiting on state grant money

VIII  Committee Reports

       Barb met with Pat Stuekerjuergen and she will meet with the Technology Team.  Web

       site is up to date as of now.  Amazon link has been removed for now.  PTC

       Information is also on the website.  PTC accounts have been switched to West Bank. 

       Cleanliness of school was a discussion at PTC.  Steve was unable to attend the

       Finance Council meeting.

IX  New Business –

       A. Board goals for 2007-08:  Financial policy was accepted by the board, stay within budget.  Website revision.  January is the target date.

       B. Policy Review: No comments were received on policy revisions sent to families.  Kelly motioned to accept policies 110, 200, 210, 220, and 230 that were reviewed/revised.  Barb seconded the motion which passed unanimously.  Discussions on policy 240 and 250.  Policies were tabled until January meeting.  Policies 260 – 280 were also tabled until January.

C.  Draft teacher retention policy: tabled for further research

D.  Early registration ideas:  Discussion of tying registration with conferences.  Board committee of Rachael and Veronica will work with Ellen to prepare for and host registration.

 X   Other business: Biddy ball and chess club are big successes

 XI  Next meeting date – February 26, 5:30 - Executive Session, 5:45 regular meeting.

 XII Adjournment – Barb moved to adjourn into Executive Session.  Kelly seconded the motion, which was approved by the board.