St. Francis Middle School SMC Meeting Minutes 8/18/15

Transcription

1 St. Francis Middle School SMC Meeting Minutes 8/18/15 In Attendance In Attendance Dr. Bobbi Anderson-Hume Ms. Tracy Burman Community Member Community Member Ms. Janet Hunt Ms. Jennifer Jones Ms. Kara Merrifield Ms. Dawn Nordin Ms. Nada Peterson Ms. Kari Rehrauer Ms. Janell Tibodeau Ms. Coral-Lyn Wyman Mr. Greg Zutz Mr. Ted Gehring Members Guests 1. Introduction of Guests Mr. Ted Gehring was introduced to the SMC members. 2. SMC Members Two community seats need to be filled. SMC members are not in favor of filling a community member position with a staff member. The Constitution lists it as a community member. Dr. Anderson-Hume will put out a message seeking new members and will have information about it at the upcoming Open Houses. Hope to fill the openings by 9/8; otherwise, by 10/6. Dave Roberts is not the MS School Board rep this year; Janet Hunt is our rep. 3. Elect Chairperson This year, the chair needs to be a staff member. It rotates each year between a community member and a staff member. Ms. Peterson nominated Mr. Zutz. He was agreeable to becoming the chairperson for this year. Ms. Jones second the nomination. All were in favor. 4. Washington D.C. Trip & Leo Club

2 Mr. Gehring provided a handout of information regarding the D.C. trip and the Leo Club. Enrollment for the D.C. trip closes on October 1 st. The capped number of attendees will be 47 due to busing expenses. This group has plans to do several fund raisers and is requesting the SMC to support that by purchasing a cotton candy machine and an ice shaving machine. This equipment would be available to any other school group that may be interested in using it. Questions from SMC members include Do we need a food vendor license? Mr. Gehring said he doesn t think we do but will check with City of St. Francis to be sure. Concerns for safety were expressed with regard to blades in the ice shaving machine. He indicated there would always be adult supervision. Are we covered by district insurance? Would need to check. Do we need to check with the Wellness Committee to find out if it fits their standards? Other schools in our district use similar machines for fund raisers. What about using a popcorn machine? Mr. Gehring said that is not as big of a seller. He has concerns about the safety of using the hot oil too. SMC members are concerned with the mess that cotton candy makes. Use that machine for outside events. Mr. Zutz stated he would like to see some kind of reimbursement paid back to the SMC when the machines are used. Fund raising dates for this group have been set already. If the SMC authorizes the request to buy the equipment, then Mr. Gehring will go ahead and get the machines. Otherwise, they will need to rent equipment which is less cost effective. Ms. Wyman asked if the SMC can vote to approve the purchase of the machines pending D.O. approval regarding insurance. SMC dollars should touch all children. Where will the equipment be stored? Could it be with Student Council items? SMC concerns are: potential injuries, need for food license, approval by Wellness Committee, storage of equipment, and effectiveness of machines. How many members are in favor now of purchasing machines? Zero. How many members would like to have more information? All. SMC indicated it is okay for that group to rent the machines now and then provide more information to the SMC. Also discussed 3 proposed options for how to handle funds that are raised. SMC prefers they use option #2 which is for the organizer to open a checking account at Village bank. Students/families will receive notification of money being directly applied to student s Giving Page. Leo Club is a partnership with local Lions Clubs. The goal is to build civic responsibility and do community service work. Mr. Gehring stated that Mr. Ferguson supports the Leo Club. They have monthly meetings and have an advisor. Seeking SMC approval for setting this up at the Middle School. Invite the group to the meeting and have them discuss their history and interest. Then vote. 5. Meeting Dates A handout of the planned SMC meeting dates was distributed. 6. Finance Report

3 The financial report was distributed. The check written for Anoka County Grant was in connection with the anti-drug video that was created last year. It was to pay for pizza for lunch. We will be reimbursed for that. Does the SMC want to bring the SMC checking balance to zero at the start of this school year? Discussion. Ms. Jones motioned to take funds from the savings account to bring the SMC checking account to a zero balance. Ms. Wyman second. All in favor. Ms. Merrifield motioned to accept the financial report; Ms. Burman second. All in favor. Also, discussed that when individuals or groups bring a funds request to the SMC that it is a 2 meeting process. The first meeting is to make the formal request and the second one is for the SMC to approve or deny the request. 7. SMC Goals Table to the September meeting. 8. Staffing Update Discussed staffing changes: Mr. Dunbar 7 th L.A., Ms. Hanson PE, Mr. Lilla Sped, Mr. Paulson Sped & Driver s Ed, Mr. Petersen now full-time at MS, Ms. Westerfield EA, Ms. Masso Sped, Mr. Melander ELL, Ms. Meld Reading Intervention, Ms. Redmann Counselor, Ms. Eskelson EA, Ms. Cooper EA, Ms. Loso EA. 9. Building Update $20,000 allotted for repairs. Updated SFMS camera equipment 16 new cameras; 14 rooms got new blinds; Media Center carpet replaced; painted several rooms; 8 th grade teacher lounge now a Special Ed. room; SFEN carpet replaced with tile. Custodians are 3 weeks ahead of schedule. Questioned if we could get something placed on the bottoms of student desks so that floors don t get all marked up. It is a money issue but Dr. Anderson-Hume will check into it. Copiers Mr. Nelson is proposing a centralized copying system. It will save thousands of dollars. Bids are out. The Toshiba contract would be bought out. Would have 3 copiers in our building and some offices will have printers (Guidance, Main). 10. Activities/Athletics Update To date, the SMC has approved the addition of wrestling and track to be added back as sports. Jazz Band and Show Choir will also be added in order to provide some structure and reimbursement for the staff supervising these popular programs rather than having them run by outside booster clubs. Mr. Zutz would like to see the A.D. create a protocol for adding back activities. The lines will be blurry because some activities will be via Oakland, some through Community Ed. and some will be ours. There will be many things that we will need to figure out as we go.

4 11. Supply Fee Package Deal = $ Keep that the same? Dr. Anderson-Hume will make a phone message to remind parents of fees. District calendars 1 per family has been the standard. 12. Open House September 1 st & 2 nd 4:00-8:00. Are there any SMC parent members who could volunteer those nights? Possibly they will contact us if they are available. Ms. Wyman would like to have an Activities Night table with information set up. Girl Scouts will have a food stand at the entrance of the building. 13. Fund Raiser Great American magazines & cookie dough; and Yankee Candle. Does the SMC want to continue with these this year? Yes. Will need to determine how the funds raised from Yankee Candle will be used. Also, notify the rep for Great American that students did not like the prizes last year; they seemed cheap. 14. Staff Shirts Staff should wear the same navy blue shirt they received last year for Open Houses this year. Additional shirts were purchased this year for new staff. Is this approved? These shirts may also be worn on Fridays for Spirit Days. Ms. Pederson motioned to approve; Ms. Jones second. All in favor. Approved payment of shirts. 15. Principal Update - 5 Year Plan Handout explaining the 5 year plan. Discussed the goals. - Staff/Student Incentives Ordered World Domination shirts for kids. Zero cost to us Anoka County paid for them. New World Domination shirt (red) for staff. Ms. Wyman motioned to approve paying for those; Ms. Peterson second. All in favor. Ms. Merrifield motioned to approve the purchase of additional shirts as needed; Ms. Burman second. All in favor. 16. Parent Share Ms. Tibodeau expressed her thanks for the excitement we are creating for students and said that it really matters. Ms. Peterson stated that the timing of schedules and supply lists being mailed when they are is an issue. Parents would like to get that information sooner. Dr. Anderson-Hume responded that setting up scheduling for the Middle School is the reason it takes longer

5 and provided a short explanation of that process. Ms. Tibodeau suggested we post a short explanation regarding supply lists online. Dr. Anderson-Hume will do that. Ms. Peterson motioned to adjourn; Ms. Jones second. Meeting adjourned at 4:54 p.m.