SAC Minutes

 

 

DATE:      May 15, 2008                TIME:  3:30 p.m.       PLACE:  Conference Room

 

SAC Members Present:  Bonnie Adams, Annie Avrutis, Jose Diaz, Susan Harris, Laura Kingsley, Cindy Newell, Maria Ortiz, DeeDee Rice, Herb Waters.

 

1)    Welcome – Annie Avrutis

 

2)    Adopt Minutes – The minutes were approved as written.

 

3)    Roster for 08-09 – Kyle Lundquist will be our new Assistant Principal.  Susan Harris, Annie Avrutis, Jose Diaz and Maria Ortiz will remain on SAC for next year.  Marty Hurwitz has agreed to be the business member of the SAC team. 

 

4)    Climate Survey

·         Reviewed the survey results and comments for Parents, Teachers and Classified on the ActivBoard. 

1.    Teachers communicating with parents was one of the lowest areas in the parent survey, as well as parents checking into the office.  It was suggested that we look into the possibility of a sheriff’s decoy car being left out front.  There were also a few negative comments regarding the office staff.  There was a concern about homework being the same among teachers at the same grade levels. 

2.    Teacher survey – Honest, open communication among staff members was a low score, and being involved in making important decisions that impact the quality of teaching and learning at our school.  Dr. Kingsley related that teachers elect team leaders who sometimes have to make decisions at SDMT meetings, and at other times they go back to their teams for input.  Planning time is saved for planning time.  A school-wide discipline plan is a concern also.

3.    Classified – There were lower scores regarding the administration being respectful and treating staff members in an equitable manner.  Opportunities for training and advancement are an issue, and have been in the past also. 

·         Recommendations – In the future, don’t distribute the Climate Survey at the same meeting where budget cuts and layoffs are discussed; consider how the administration can be perceived as more respectful, even in difficult situations which may involve the staff discipline process during which time the administration must remain confidential; continue working on customer service in the front office; a school-wide discipline plan needs to be spelled out and clarified in the handbook and reviewed with the staff at the beginning of the school year. 

 

 

5)    Lottery Dollars for 08-09 – The amount was cut in half for next year, to $5 per child.  This money has been used for test prep and teacher conferences in past years.  This year’s legislators ruled that there cannot be FCAT pep rallies or assemblies next year. There was a suggestion to use the lottery dollars for remediation tutors, as we are losing those positions next year.  April Tisdale would be willing to do remediation part-time. 

·         SAC agreed to use the funds for remediation tutors. 

 

6)    The FCAT writing scores went down a few percentage points overall.  There will be a meeting on what to do to help improve future scores.  Encouraging children to use their Imagination and expanding vocabulary are two suggestions.  The meeting is on Monday, May 19th after school. 

 

7)    Future Meeting Dates – There will be one more meeting on Friday, June 20th, at 9:00 at Dr. Kingsley’s home.   We will have the test scores to review at that time.