Site Council

February 12, 2008 MINUTES

Attendees

Suzanne Doran, Terry Noeth, Madeleine Smeets, Cindy Phillips, Linda Frommer, Amanda Ballard, Susan Scheel, Sandra Pearson, Vito La Sala, Luke Prioleau, Uma Veerappan, Salma Kandil, Susan Bailey, Jan Prehn, Vivian Laurence, Walter Barry, Vivian Boudreaux

Welcome, Agenda, Minutes

Agenda approved

Minutes approved

No correspondence

Open Forum

Open campus issue was brought up. People walking their dogs through campus early in the morning especially on field create an issue for PE students. Sandra will look into it.

Review Site council time line draft (Linda and Sandra)

• There are four months left
• We need to update school improvement plan. What steps should be taken?
• Get updates on program grants funded by Site Council last year
• Updates could be oral presentations or in a written form
• Sandra will find out which format to use, form A or B, on page 22 in handbook of student achievement
• Election coordinator for parents on 08-09 site council
• Review budget (less money used towards effective instruction in the future)
• Safe and Caring school program evaluation (Sharon)
• Superintendent suggested to go with current goals on site school plan instead of waiting for new strategic plan.
• Look at time line and it will be discussed next time

Principal's Report

On the district level

• Budget is hurting due to state budget reductions
• $ 900,000 deficit in addition to deficit due to parcel tax
• Budget will be about 10 % tighter

Strategic Plan

• McKinsey & Company will do a plan pro bono for the district
• There is an opportunity for teachers and parents to provide input by taking an online survey
• Getting student feedback has not been decided
• The goal is to have the plan approved in June

Other

• Sandra is impressed by quality of instruction at Jordan after observing several classes

Principal Selection Update and Discussion

• Job is posted in newspaper and websites (EdJoin)
• Applications are coming in
• District will screen applications
• Six to eight candidates will be selected
• The selection committee will interview the candidates and select finalists
• Members on Committee are Robin Levy, Vito La Sala, Lorraine Delannoy, Linda Herreshoff, Betty Krumboltz, Ron Murray, Josh Spira, Don Cox, Burt Cohen, and Scott Bowers, Susan Bailey, Linda Frommer, Maria Lim, Sharon Poore, Marci Kirk-Stevens
• Superintendent will make the final decision
• Name will be presented to the board
• The process could go a second round of advertising, interviewing, and decision making

Working Groups Discussion and Action Plans Reports

1. Social Emotional Programming Sub Committee Notes

Members:

Vito LaSala – Lead member, Salma Kandil, Susan Scheel, Vivian Boudreaux, Walter Barry, Sharon Ofek, Jan Prehn

• Advisory is overloaded by activities and became more academic than its original purpose of creating a community and place to bond
• There is not enough time during 20 minutes
• Announcement, schedules, and surveys are few of the activities that take place during advisory.
• Find another place and time for these programs such as JTV, enews, school assemblies
• How to make it meaningful and finding solutions
• How to optimize advisory and social emotional programs
• Coordinate efforts between different groups and program working on same issues
• Conversation will continue

Other:

Q: How were the issues decided?

A: At the retreat, site council came up with 15 and chose the top two. Sixth grade wheel was mentioned as an issue for students as well.

Q: What do the groups see as the next steps?

2. Study Skills Sub Committee Notes

Members:

Madeleine Smeets, Linda Frommer, Suzanne Doran, Susan Bailey, Terry Noeth, Amanda Ballard, Juliana Moraes-Liu, Jared Filseth

• The group looked at the list of study skill strategies created by the Jordan staff last year. (It was typed up and placed in Starr Locker)
• The group produced a draft study skills curriculum map and wants staff input by grade level in order to produce a final version of this document
• Can we incorporate study skills in the guidance part of the sixth grade wheel?

Follow-up Bylaws Revision and Voting (Linda Frommer)

• A discussion took place in regards to having P.T.A. representative and principal as non-voting members of Site Council since they are appointed.
• We have been out of compliance
• Bylaws are approved
• Article 11 sec A

PTA Report (Susan Scheel)

• Committee is recruiting parents for next year
• International Night (started by Jose Ezcura last year) will occur on Wed Apr 23 in Café this year. It will be an all school activity. 36 parents will volunteer.

Student Council Report

• Environmental team selects a rep from each grade to gather students input
• Team met with advisories to inform students
• Info meeting was offered to interested students
• Eighth graders are considering a stereo system for the gym as their gift to Jordan this year
• Club sign up are held on Feb 21 and 22. More publicity is provided on JTV