Family and Community Engagement
Meeting Minutes
November 16, 2009
Principal: Carolyn Cole
Chair: Georgia Woerner
Secretary: Amanda Barnes
Parent Representatives: Lori Paine, Robert Friedman, Sandy Fink
In Attendance: Carolyn Cole, Georgia Woerner, Amanda Barnes, Sandy Fink, Robert Friedman, Lori Paine, Denita Taylor, Debbie Claiborne, Kimberly Mooney, Scott Sommerer, Maudestine Godsey, Mia Clapp, Ann Kennedy, Matthew Croson, Nick D’Ambrosio, Kristen McGinness, Melina Turtle, Angie Venza, A.J. Alper, Kathy Rivetti, Susan English, Lionel Foster, Maxine Brooks, Catherine Gearhart, Sonia Thompson
Georgia Woerner brought the meeting to order at 4:07 p.m.
Introductions and Review of Minutes
· The minutes from the last meeting were reviewed and approved.
· Introductions were given by all in attendance.
· It was discussed who serves as the para-professional at each meeting, etc. People who signed the school improvement plan are serving members.
· All members are considered voting members if they are a parent or a faculty member at Roland Park.
Explanation of SFC/Lionel Foster, Office of Family and Community Engagement
· Lionel Foster from the Family and Community Engagement Office spoke to the group about procedures and understanding of the School Family Council.
· The primary function of the SFC is the development and implementation of the School Improvement Plan.
· It is in limbo at headquarters who currently “owns” the SFC.
· We are in the process of understanding “who” at headquarters is going to run point at and for the SFC.
· After the Family and Community Engagement policy was finalized in February it was decided that Baltimore City needed to involve parents more directly.
· The advisory team has input in the principal’s decision on budget and could interview candidates if there was an opening for a principal at a school.
· Parent and community members feel like they have a seat at the table in their school.
· Circular 27 from 2007 can answer basic questions about the SFC. It is still called SIT in Circular 27.
· What are the procedures for electing teacher representatives (minimum of 2)? In the past there were elections for core member teachers, but it was difficult to get teachers that can come every month.
· The SFC is still charged with the development, implementation, and monitoring of the School Improvement Plan. The chair should direct everything back to the School Improvement Plan. The main focus is if SFC is still to develop, implement, and monitor the School Improvement Plan.
· Meetings must be open and be a place where everyone in the school community can come to express their ideas or concerns.
· We are still waiting for the School Improvement Plan to come back with the official approval. There are four committees that make up the SIP and we can work on those committees in the meantime while waiting for the document to come back from North Avenue.
Functions of Parent Representatives on the SFC/Committee Responsibilities
· The three parent representatives are charged with implementing the section of the School Improvement Plan called “Community and Family Engagement”.
· The only committee that has met so far is the Attendance Committee.
· Other committees will be coming together soon to meet.
· There is an unofficial copy of the School Improvement Plan and we can make copies of the DRAFT and last year’s copy can go online. This year’s copy can not go line until it is official.
· Dan Hellerbach is the chair at this time for Community Relations and that is different than Engagement Team
· It is the charge of the SFC to implement the goals that are outlined in the School Improvement Plan.
· It was suggested that an orientation be held next year for new parent representatives.
· Some members of the committee want more clarification on what new procedures can be put in place going forward for the SFC.
Health Curriculum Report
· Kathy Rivetti gave a report on the health curriculum that is on TSS, but the folders still are empty at this time.
Meeting on “Grouping” at Roland Park
· Minutes from the “groupings meeting” will be posted ASAP.
Attendance Report
· Ms. Brooks gave out a copy of the Attendance Summary Report thus far.
Climate Report
· Nick D’Ambrosio gave a report for the Climate Committee.
· There were eight suspensions school wide last year at this time. This year there are ten suspensions school wide thus far.
· It was asked by a parent if committee meetings can be posted for the public so parents can attend.
· All meetings will be added to the Google calendar through Pablo Jusem.
· We will put a place on the agenda to announce upcoming meetings or important announcements going forward. It will give direction to a link on the web where the information will be posted.
Community Relations Report
· Dan Hellerbach was unable to attend the meeting, but is the chair for the Community Relations Committee. The Family and Community Engagement representatives can work with Community Relations seeing as now there is a section in the School Improvement Plan entitled “Family and Community Engagement”.
Curriculum and Instruction Report
· Georgia Woerner gave a report for the Curriculum and Instruction Committee.
· Benchmark testing is taking place now. When those scores come back we will report on them.
· Curriculum and Instruction has previously been broken down into sub-committees and can be done the same way this year. It is done that way because curriculum and instruction is such a large topic.
· Health may be a sub-committee under Curriculum and Instruction. Kathy Bacon and Kathy Rivetti will be consulted and a sub-committee will most likely be formed.
· Class size in first grade is still a concern in first grade. There is a moratorium right now on in-zone and out-of-zone students that would be first graders.
State of the School
· Ms. Cole gave a report on the State of the School.
· H1N1 vaccine consent forms have gone home and need to be signed and returned if students are receiving the vaccine. Kindergarten and first graders receiving the spray may need their parents to accompany them to the center. If an elementary school student has asthma they will receive the shot. All middle school students will receive the shot. We want to try and keep students calm and keep them from being frightened about the shot. Parents are welcome to accompany any student in kindergarten through eighth grades.
· It is American Education Week and the committee did a nice job getting things set up and ready for this important week.
· Each spring there are budget meetings and now there is an updated budget.
· If you receive a 5% increase or 5% decrease in the budget the Principal has to have a meeting with the Advisory Team. We are increasing by $320, 848.00. Of that, $30, 253.00 must be allotted for Special Education.
· The PTA and school budget together allowed for the purchase of new lockers for the 3rd and 4th graders. We are in need of more new lockers and we also need some painting done. The Advisory Team will be talking about those things.
· Our school is being used as a model for Arts Integration in Baltimore City.
· Student enrollment is what determines the increase or decrease of funds that a school receives.
· We have increased enrollment, but have made sure that we are not overcrowded.
· A parent asked if some of the new money received could be put toward helping the first grade teachers as far as classroom help and that will be discussed further.
· If a family moves into Roland Park that has a first grader they will be sent to Govans Elementary.
· Tomorrow, November 17, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. there is an Ingenuity Meeting that will discuss shadowing.
· We may need an extra staff member in Special Education.
· We did lose some time from one of our school psychologists this year due to budgetary problems last year. It is a possibility to add additional funding to that area.
PTA Report
· Susan English gave a report on the PTA.
· Evening with the Arts was a huge success!
· The PTA is funding the Blue Sky Puppet Theater which will talk to students about Character Development.
· December 3rd will be the next PTA meeting and someone may be coming to talk about Lice. Allsion Perkins-Cohen has given information from Planned Parenthood to possibly hold assemblies for students. The PTA is interested in funding those assemblies for student, parents, or both.
· The PTA is requesting donations for PTA funds. A survey has gone out to see what parents would like to spend PTA money on. The form will be posted online through Pablo Jusem.
Needs Assessment Report
· Nick D’Ambrosio gave a report on the Needs Assessment. A mock survey was passed around at the last SFC meeting and it is still in DRAFT form, but will be ready to go out soon. It was suggested that it be placed online to cut down on paper. It will be approved at the next meeting.
Enrichment Report
· Ms. Barnes gave an update on Enrichment.
· First graders just finished a unit entitled “The Fourth Little Pig” where they used science and math skills to form a hypothesis, test materials, and build a house for the Fourth Little Pig. They also used the writing process to write stories about the Fourth Little Pig. Fourth graders in Mrs. Hild’s class just finished working with Ms. Barnes on a Revolutionary War unit where each student made their own Revolutionary War Haversack. On January 8, 2010, a Volcanologist will be coming to Roland Park to talk to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders about Volcanoes. Related enrichment activities will follow the presentation.
· Math Challenger will be held again this year and students will be chosen based on test scores and teacher recommendations.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:31 p.m.