School Board Minutes - November 1, 2004
Present: Jeff Thompson – Chair, Sherry Sloger, Dale Kobayashi, Msgr. Mank – Canonical Administrator, Jack Holmes – Principal, Kit Morrissey, Jim Grover, Brad Sparkman, Debbie Shah, Elizabeth Hellrung – Teacher Rep., Dave Gebhardt, Theresa Rendleman, Lynn Kerkemeyer, John Ross.
Absent: Marsha Maller
Guests: Charlie Hellrung, Nancy Klaus, Kathy Parker, Charles Stowers, Denise Nanney, Denise Farnworth, Bonnie Gasawski, Sheri Hodapp.
Call to Order: Jeff Thompson called the meeting to order.
Opening Prayer: Lynn Kerkemeyer
Approval of October minutes with no changes; motion made by Jim Grover; seconded by Theresa Rendleman; motion carries.
Assignment of Prayer for December 6, 2004 meeting – Debbie Shah.
No Correspondence
Board Inservice – As a board, we need to be able to articulate our Mission statement; Rose was adamant as to how we function as a unit and to be able to articulate a majority decision.
Old Business
Pre-Registration Deadline – Perhaps we need a cutoff of February 15; fee and parish agreement will be due also on February 15; motion made to change pre-registration date to February 15 from March 1; motion made by Lynn Kerkemeyer; seconded by John Ross; motion carries.
Diocesan Financial Review – We had 3 people from the diocese that did the review; diocese would like SJN to go to QuickBooks; diocese will have a long list of recommendations; we’re hoping to have the recommendations by the end of November or beginning of December.
Policy Review – Handout given.
Police Questioning – Motion made to move forward to enact police questioning and approve policy; motion made by Debbie Shah; seconded by Jim Grover; motion carries.
Communications of Concern – Previous principal asked for this policy; there were 2 parents that had some concern about the language of the policy; it was enacted based on a situation, not on need; teachers have concerns about any written documentation going to court (litigation); diocese would like wording of policies to be more general and to allow for flexibility; teachers would like parents to follow the policy that’s already in place; maybe a general reminder needs to be put in the weekly newsletter about our policy; point #3 of the policy…expulsion of the child; do we need to have this stated; much discussion about point #3; Msgr. Mank and Mr. Holmes would be the ones to make the final decision about any given situation; perhaps we need to backburner this policy; motion made to table Communication of Concerns policy; motion made by Lynn Kerkemeyer; seconded by Kit Morrissey; motion carries.
Athletic Policy – Discussion of eligibility guidelines; changes that had to do with illness; much discussion of this topic; maybe this needs to be more of a discipline issue; perhaps an attendance list could be posted in the gym; discussion of children that have an IEP.
Classroom Capacity – The question is: do we not ever allow over 25 children in a class; diocesan policy is 28 – 30 per class; maybe we need to assist the teachers in other ways; much discussion about allowing for flexibility in classroom size.
Committee Reports
Principal – The children wrote thank you notes to each family from St. Ubaldus; Bishop Lucas will say Mass at SJN on December 16; the school calendar is on the SJN website; John Shimkus will be at the school on Thursday, November 5.
Finance – Handout given; discussion of finance committee reports.
Development – 154 families donated to the Annual Fund for a total of $6,631; cost of registration banners for 3 parishes is $300; banner is vinyl with vinyl lettering.
Faith Development – Update on handout.
Grant Writing – Handout given; discussion of handout and title money allocations.
Closing Prayer – Lynn Kerkemeyer
Next Meeting – December 6