School Board Minutes - May 2, 2005

Present: Jeff Thompson – Chair, Sherry Sloger, Marsha Maller, Brad Sparkman, Jim Grover, Kit Morrissey, Lynn Kerkemeyer, Theresa Rendleman, John Ross, Debbie Shah, Jack Holmes – Principal.

Absent: Dale Kobayashi, Msgr. Mank, Elizabeth Hellrung.

Guests: Bonnie Gasawski, Denise Nanney, Robin Rheinecker, Kristin Kribs, Meg Grimaud.

Call or Order: Jeff Thompson called the meeting to order.

Opening Prayer: Kit Morrissey

Approval of April minutes with changes; Finance – delete phrase handout given; motion made to approve minutes with deletion by Jim Grover; seconded by Theresa Rendleman; motion carries.

Election of S/B Officers for 2005/2006 School Year – Chair – Jeff Thompson, Vice Chair – Debbie Shah, Recording Secretary – Theresa Rendleman.

Policy Review – Subsidy Calculation; Msgr. Mank and Father Joe are ok with the policy; Father Jeff doesn’t feel as though he should comment; traditionally recalculating the subsidy goes till the last minute; maybe we need to have a cut off date; motion made by Jim Grover to put the subsidy policy out for school wide consultation; seconded by Marsha Maller; motion carries.

New Business

April Forum – One of the points brought forward from the survey was whether or not the answers given were from students or parents; Building & Grounds – should we set up for volleyball courts, etc. ahead of laying the asphalt for the new parking lot and driveway; Policy – questions posed as to whether or not the policies are on the website; Finance – some question as to whether our capital improvement funds should be sent to the diocesan accounts.

Updates to Handbook – Computer network/internet form needs both student and parent signature; there is a new form for the faculty to sign; state review was ok with the handbooks; diocese had more changes for handbook; policy on corporal punishment needs to be in both handbooks; perhaps a student grievance procedure needs to be implemented; do we need a tuition refund policy.

Diocesan Review – Some discussion as to how to address the recommendations; discussion of security measures; maybe the recommendations except for finance could be divided among school board members.

Emergency Review – During the month of April we had troubling statements in some of the children’s blogs; over the years schools have lost 180 children in school related killings; do we need a policy for an external threat; every parent has the right to know if children are at heightened risk; do we need a policy for an internal threat; if a child makes a threat we need to have a licensed person to make decision regarding child; perhaps we need to look at different issues regarding school security; do we need deterrents in and around school; we should have a personalized crisis plan; much discussion regarding security. Action Plan: John Ross will work with Mr. Holmes to develop an emergency plan.

Committee Reports

Principal – Diocese came in for a visit; discussion of Cathy Hill scholarship for 8^th grader continuing high school education at Althoff.

Finance – Scheduled meeting on Thursday, May 5.

Building & Grounds – The bid for the parking will proceed on to Mr. Holmes for review.

Planning – Report needs to go to diocese concerning implementing our long range plan.

Faith Development – Final clean up on some projects; pictures from chapel need to be sent to families from St. Ubaldus.

Development – Jim is looking for comments on the SJN brochures; some discussion about Midland fundraising.

Grant Writing – Mrs. Farnworth and Ms. Hurley both received $250 from Ameren; we received $568 from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for Camp Ondessonk; we received $18,880 from the Illinois Clean Energy foundation for the lighting in the school.

Next Meeting – June 6, 2005

Closing Prayer – Kit Morrissey

At this time, the board retired in Executive Session.