Date:

10/20/2003

Call to Order:

Lori Windels called the meeting to order.  Tom Degree as co-chair ran the meeting.

Parents in Attendance:

Lynn Blewett, Dawn Johnson, Sherri Knuth, Jean Schwabacher, Lori Windels, Michael Wulf, Jonathan Zats

Absent:

Roxanne Hart, Michelle Yang

Faculty/Staff in Attendance:

Tom Degree, Cleva Jobe, Louis Mariucci, John Mayock, Ann Oyen, John Porter

Absent:

Community Rep/ PTO/Hmong Liaisons in attendance:

Carolyn Fisk, PTO Liaison

Absent:

Approval of prior minutes

Lori Windels made the motion to approve the minutes from September, and John Porter seconded the motion and the motion passed. 

Announcements

All committees will set up a meeting schedule and come back to next meeting with a plan.  The SCIP plan and the bylaws does identify goals and objectives for the school and the committees should use this for planning purposes. 

Committee and  Liaison Reports

Admission and Membership Committee:

SCIP/Budget Committee:

No report.  Dawn Johnson reported that the  budget committee gets in gear later in  school year. 

Membership Committee:

Bulletin board pictures and new committee members were posted on the bulletin board.  Master membership roster is finally getting updated and complete.  There are two alternate faculty positions open.  John Mayock says that Mai Her  would serve in one of those capacity.  John Porter to serve as the Union Steward.  Michael Wulf and John Mayock asked for leads on churches and local areas to get community representation.  John Mayock and Michael Wulf are in the process for laying out the timeline for election cycle for  next year including pictures on the ballot.  Some discussion about getting the vote out.  Voting is done during parent conferences and did have a better turn out than previous years--almost double the response last year.  Sherri Knuth reviewed  the past minutes and addressed the need for diversity on the site council.  Michael Wulf commented that there is one appointment the site council can make to increase diversity.  The committee will report back with recommendations on an appointment to increase diversity for the November meeting and any suggestions for possible bylaws change.       

Communications/ Outreach Committee

John Porter reported that the committee had met and that they would use the SCIP plan to be the guiding principle on priorities/jobs for this committee. There is a need to get information into the newsletter ASAP.

Reform Committee:

Ann Oyen described the Gifted and Talented Task Force, which is made up of teachers to develop an identity and marketing tool through a Gifted and Talented models.  The group found that there weren't that many models out there--started as a higher order thinking skills based (Blooms Taxonomy) and now there are many new models and new teachers and a need to develop a model that Capitol Hill could adopt.   A group of teachers are reading books  (e.g. Parallel Curriculum) to figure out a model. This is an Ad-Hoc committee of the Site Council and will go away once a model is adopted.  Louis Maiucci sees the model more as a system so it's not dependent on individuals.  Two models currently being researched are Parallel Curriculum and Differentiation  - The IB model in use at some elementary schools may be too prescriptive.         

PTO Liaison:

Carolyn Fisk reported on  School Nurse issue, buses idling, and cafeteria noise level.  A large part of the meeting was on the noise level and what parents could be doing now.  Carolyn announced to the PTO that the Site Council meetings and locations would be announced along with the internal teacher meeting.  She also talked about the $5,000 surplus that will be spent this year and will be focused on building community - 7^th graders New Frontier program and early grader welcome dinners, family dance, computer lab maintenance, art adventure and artists in residence, and acoustic issues in the lunchroom.  Ann Oyen reported on discussion with history and art project about what the Rondo neighborhood used to look like and discussions with PTO about funding some of this activity.   

Old Business:

Principal's Report:  Louis reported on the Fall  Budget Revisions for 2003-2004 (see handout).  Total unallocated money to date is $53,289 but need to keep in mind adjustments in student counts when budget adjustments are made Jan 1, 2004 -- Goal is to maintain student count.  Funding allocation from District is based on student count of  962 -- current student count is 954.  John Porter raised issues of getting students in Dec/Jan and the difficulty for teachers.  We are trying to get the students in early.   Last year we had to cut a counselor, .5 home school liaison, cut some of the nurse.  Louis looking for input on what to do with these funds, possibly to make up for last year cuts.  Another goal is to keep a reserve to carryover for next year.  New parent made a comment on the need for a Spanish teacher for a foreign language instructor for the elementary grades and also a need for a good e-mail distribution list.  Another staff position up for discussion is for  School Nurse position.  Louis feels a need in the curriculum coordinator and possibly counselor.  Right now we have a .5 nurse, how much can we afford.  Jean Schwabacher suggested that we advocate for PH nursing to come to the schools to provide services. John Porter asked for data on when students go to the nurse - where is the greatest need.  Michael Wulf made a recommendation for a .25 increase in the nurse position (about $17,000) -- John recommended a friendly amendment that Louis Mariucci should talk with the District and fund the maximum amount possible up to and .50 increase for a Capitol Hill nurse.  Lori Windel seconded the  motion.  Discussion at the recent PTO meeting was a dire need for a nursing position.  John Mayock provided input that the role of the nurse is important and needed for many reasons, physical and mental health issues.  Need to target the nurse time for when there is the greatest need and look to other Rondo nurses.  Louis needs to talk to District head of nursing to see if we can just up the current nurse .25.    Spanish teacher request was dropped to focus on the need for nurse.      

Parent Comments:  (1) Mary Reis commented on her attendance at the District meetings and the need for Capitol Hill to reach out to the African American community. She announced the African American night on Thursday 10/23 5:30-8:00.  We need to build relationships and School District will pay more attention to Capitol Hill.  (2) New parent said she was interested in participating and would like to be on the outreach committee.

Need for a calendar to be posted on the Site Council bulletin board.  Other meetings should also be posted site council, teacher-parent groups, and all the site council committee meetings.  John Porter will list the  names for staff meetings.  Need to get on the website and then print out and stick on the bulletin board.  Each committee chair will be responsible for posting the meeting dates. This Friday all committees try to have their committee meeting dates posted on the website.      

New Business:

Problem with parents calling staff between 2-2:30 with directions to students regarding that day's pick up.  This should go in the principal's newsletter. 

Drop off and pick up at the green doors is congested and dangerous.  Need a reminder to parents about  the need for safety and courteous.  Could we pursue it with the city to get crossing walks, yield to pedestrian signs, etc.  John Porter made a motion to get an ade-hoc committee to work on the green door issue.  Lynn Blewett seconded the motion.    Lori Windels, Michael Wulf and John Zats to serve on the committee.

Need for greater notice on the Town Hall meeting.  One geared to the Reform Strategy and one geared to  SCIP budget .  Date set Thrusday Jan 29^th as tentative data for Reform Town Hall . 

Adjournment:

Lori Windels made a motion to adjourn ; Tom Degree seconded.