Minutes
Stonewall Elementary School
School-Based Decision Making Council
Meeting of Tuesday, September 21, 2004

Members present:  David Ewen, Janie Griggs, Andrea Guise, Leslie LeBlanc and Ty Sturdivant.  Also in attendance were Mr. Ed McCaw, Teresa Prewitt and Bill Gatliff.

 The meeting was called to order at 5:35 PM in the Stonewall Library.

  1. Agenda Item 1 – Review of Agenda

The Council was in agreement with the agenda.

  1. Agenda Item 2 – Review of Minutes

Meeting of Tuesday, August 10, 2004

Omit the second “David Ewen” listed in the minutes.

                Action:  Andrea Guise moved to approve the minutes as corrected.  David Ewen seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.

Meeting of Tuesday, August 24, 2004

                Add Ty Sturdivant as present at this meeting; Bill Gatliff should be listed as present but not as a member.

                Action:  Ty Sturdivant moved to approve the minutes as corrected.  Leslie LeBlanc seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.

Meeting of Tuesday, September 7, 2004

                Action:  Ty Sturdivant moved to approve the minutes as corrected.  Andrea Guise seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.

  1. Agenda Item 3  - Financial Report

The workbook line item shows a negative balance, but Mr. McCaw indicated PTA would pay for this amount.

        Since the report reflected the date August 1, Mr. McCaw will run a new report so that it will begin on September 1.

        Action:  David Ewen moved to approve the minutes as corrected.  Andrea Guise seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.

  1. Agenda Item 4 – Committee Reports

Ty Sturdivant suggested each committee minutes include their “charge” with their report.

    1. Climate, Equity, and Guidance – It was suggested that parents be included in the survey concerning the committees intent and purpose.
    2. Curriculum – Mr. Gatliff presented the ESS budget.  The coordinator fee was reported to be “mandated.”  Mr. Gatliff will investigate the set amount for the coordinator fee and its origin.  He will also check amount for number of sessions offered.

Action:  Janie Griggs moved to accept the curriculum committee budget for ESS upon investigation of the number of sessions for Math and Reading (24) and whether it is mandated to allot $1000 for the coordinator.  Andrea Guise seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.

It was suggested that field trip approval go before the curriculum committee for their review.

Action:  Andrea Guise moved to charge the Curriculum and Instruction Committee with approval or denial of field trips, with a copy of electronic forms included in the minutes.  Janie Griggs seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.

    1. Professional Development

Action:  Janie Griggs moved to allow the Professional Development Committee to be responsible for reviewing the requests for PD with the decision of approval or denial reflected in the minutes, which will be reviewed by SBDM.  Andrea Guise seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.  The committee is to include dates, costs, and who has applied and their decision in the form.

    1. Public Relations
    2. Social
    3. Technology

The Council expressed reservations regarding allowing 4th and 5th grade students e-mail accounts.  The minutes listed an amount of $20,000 to be raised to purchase computers.  This information will be investigated.

    1. Writing
  1. Agenda Item 5 – Personnel

Mr. Gatliff and the committee regarding hiring an IEP, intermediate and kindergarten assistant presented a recommendation to the Council.

Action:  Janie Griggs moved to accept the proposal as recommended.  Leslie LeBlanc seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.  Mr. McCaw will submit a personnel action form.

  1. Agenda Item 6 – Review of CSIP

Mr. McCaw marked through what has been completed on the form.  Ty suggested addition benchmarks in the CSIP and progress made as related to the benchmarks, since many of the items appear to be very general.  Mr. McCaw will add columns to assess utilization and have it reviewed and reported by grade levels.

7.  Agenda Item 7 – Request for Approval of Professional Leave

                        Since Teresa Moore has requested a leave for October 18, her request will be routed to the PD committee.

        Agenda:  Andrea Guise moved to approve the PD requests as presented.  Leslie LeBlanc seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.

  1. Agenda Item 8 - Request for Approval of Field Trips

Mr. Sturdivant questioned the field trip request to the Newport Aquarium and pointed out the excessive cost per student.  Mr. Sturdivant would like to have the field trip request made by the first grade revisited. 

Action:  David Ewen moved to approve all requests except the extended trip to the Newport Aquarium, which will be forwarded to the Curriculum Committee for their review, noting the cost of the trip at a special meeting.  Janie Griggs seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.

  1. Agenda Item 9 – Review of Review of Standards and Indicators for School Improvement

This document was reviewed and the Council felt it was necessary to have time to assess the CISI.  Mr. McCaw will assign to a committee as it pertains to their area.  A self-audit will take place following the creation of the policies.

  1. Agenda Item 10- Review of Monthly Schedule of SBDM Topics

Add to November topics:  PR committee write-up for the newsletter relaying the “perks” of Stonewall

Add to January – Committee structure

Add to summer meetings – Parent Forum

Mr. McCaw will use as a template for the meeting topics

Action:  Mr. McCaw will send a notice announcing the community forum with the agenda times to the Stonewall community and the parents by way of the newsletter.

  1. Agenda Item 11 - Scheduling of SBDM Public Forum
    1. SBDM’s purpose
    2. Testing Data
    3. Achievement Gaps
    4. Question and Answers
    5. Seeking parental input

It was discussed whether or not childcare should be provided, and it was determined this issue should be deferred to the PTA.

  1. Agenda Item 12 – Request from PTA for waiver of dress code

Action:  Andrea Guise moved to waive the dress code so students could wear hats on Kentucky Kids Day on Tuesday, September 28.  Ty Sturdivant seconded the motion, which was approved by consensus.

  1. Agenda Item 13 – Request from Special Education Teachers to form an SBDM Committee

Mr. McCaw shared with the Council the changes that have occurred over the last several years, with the student needs becoming more complex.  Forming a committee would allow the Special Education department to meet monthly.  A concern was address regarding keeping the information confidential as SBDM committees require a parent representative.  Rather than creating the committee separately from the SBDM committees, Mr. McCaw requested approval from the Council to release the Special Education teachers from SBDM committees so they can meet as a department, which would be equivalent to grade level meetings.  Ty Sturdivant suggested that SBDM review the committee structure annually.  This will be added to the January agenda.

  1. Agenda Item 14 – Request from PD Committee to approve budget

Mr. McCaw explained that the budget is adaptable, and that the committee had prepared the budget with broad guidelines.  With the Council’s approval for the gross amount, the committee may return to the Council for approval on changing line item amounts. 

Action:  Janie Griggs moved to approve the Professional Development budget with the instruction from the Council not to exceed 20% of the budget until the committee reevaluates the percentages and presents this to the Council at the October meeting.  Leslie LeBlanc seconded the motion, which was approved by the consensus.

It was noted that the Climate, Equity, and Guidance Committee and the Professional Development Committee should be informed of the concern as it relates to funding for classified. 

  1. Agenda Item 15 – Future Agenda Items

The Council has been invited to present to the Board.  Mr. McCaw will contact the Board.  The Council was in agreement.

The meeting was adjourned at  8:35 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Beth Roseland

SBDM Secretary