School Board Minutes - May 4, 2004

Diane Richter – Chair, Sherry Sloger, Karen Wassick, Jeff Thompson, Debbie Shah, Jim Grover, Bill Maurer, Marsha Maller, Lynn Kerkemeyer, John Davis, Dave Gebhardt, Erin Delaney-Teacher Rep., John Ross.

Absent: Jennifer Maier – Principal, Father Jeff Holtman – Canonical Administrator.

Approval of April Minutes with changes – Correspondence – does policy need refinement?; Proposed Budget for Next School Year – currently direct deposit costing school $80.00 per month; motion to approve minutes with changes – Karen Wassick; seconded by Jeff Thompson.

Correspondence – School Board Chair received two letters of resignation from Erin Delaney and Jan Friederich.

Athletic Report – Comment letter from Joe Gonet read aloud to school board; Joe received comments from athletic portion of survey; discussion of athletics and athletic association; discussion of entertainment books and a golf tournament as possible athletic fundraisers; more discussion of miscellaneous income and athletic expenses.

Policy – Discussion of athletic policy concerning children’s grades; we need to have consistency with the high schools; discussion of communication of concern policy; some discussion of different steps of policy; discussion of classroom capacity and different classroom sizes; discussion of exit survey; surveys and survey committee are headed by the planning committee; committee moving forward on exit survey.

Grants – Received $1000 grant for playground equipment and $500 grant for the scholar bowl last year; discussion as to whether or not monies have been spent; grant committee would track the grant monies till completion and finance will add line items for accounts payable and accounts receivable to budget; committee not sure of how much of the $1000 has been spent on playground equipment.

Budget – Subsidy issue letter was sent out and issue will be discussed with Rose Mersinger.

Resource Program – Carol Bishop read information to school board concerning resource program; Mrs. Bishop works with students that need extra help; teachers decide on which children that need help; class usually consists of 6 or less students; Mrs. Bishop determines their reading skills; there are currently 45 students utilizing the resource program; in the area of reading development, Mrs. Bishop encourages and rewards the children; the children play games on Thursdays to reinforce their skills; Mrs. Bishop holds a BA in science and is certified to teach in Illinois; this is not a special education program; Mrs. Bishop continues to help the children based on grade level; Mrs. Bishop will approach the material in a different direction; parents are not told when their children are attending the reading room for extra help.

Next Year’s School Calendar – Collinsville has switched their school times, therefore ours will change because of the bus situation.

Finance – Finalizing the budget; request that the subsidy shortfall be taken care of by Jan 30, 2004; a request was made that the finance committee review the cost per classroom.

Development – School board needs to give thought to the lottery calendar; do we want to continue calendar; discussion of stopping the Scrip rebate to parents; some discussion about continuing the Scrip program; there are perhaps two people that may consider running the auction for the next school year; much more discussion about the Scrip program; motion made for eliminating the Scrip rebate to parents – 9 yeas, 2 nays, 1 abstention.

Pastor Report – Handout given; John Davis is being removed from the school board, not stepping down; John wants it stated in the minutes that his removal was not due to any improprieties; Father Jeff’s e-mail to John was stern and clear cut; John Read e-mail from Father Jeff. Note from recording secretary – I was under the impression that John wanted the complete e-mail from Father Jeff to be recorded in the minutes. I contacted John as to the wording of the e-mail, but I received no response.