Garden Elementary School Advisory Council Minutes

March 22, 2005

 

Present – Emile Quinn

Teachers – Anne Feely, Barb Henschell, Susan Ionescu, Gabrielle O’Berry, Robbie Thomas

Classified – Kim Tubbesing

Community – Jack Shultz, Dot Moore

Parents – Karen Blackburn, Gary Gray, Sandra Ryan, Anita Weber

Absent – Terri Ramey, Mollee McFarlane

 

1) Welcome – Gabrielle O’Berry welcomed SAC members and started the meeting at 3:05 PM.

 

2) Budget – The budget was presented. There was one new budget item. Kathy Rule was paid for four hours during the February Garden Family Night ($92.85). The SAC balance is now $7,671.12.

 

3) School Staffing Budget – Mr. Quinn explained that our projected enrollment for the 2005 – 2006 school year is for 650 students. All schools are now being staffed with a Data/Literacy Coach. The faculty has already reached consensus about the grade level staffing numbers and for funding the following positions: an Academic Improvement Program teaching position and an ESE aide for the SLD/EH resource classroom. This would leave $23,000 in reserve. After some discussion concerning the AIP program, the SAC members were asked to approve the staffing budget as described by Mr. Quinn. All SAC members reached consensus about the 2005 – 2006 staffing budget and it was approved.

 

4) Marie Carbo Workshop – Mr. Quinn shared a ten-minute video with SAC members detailing the Marie Carbo reading program. Mr. Quinn then explained that 6 staff members have now made a request to attend this conference in New Orleans, LA this summer. Mr. Quinn would like to send all six of these teachers to the conference, but he would need SAC to fund the additional teachers. Mrs. O’Berry told the SAC that 1 Kindergarten, 1 first grade, 2-second grade, and 2 AIP teachers would like to attend. Mr. Quinn asked SAC to raise the amount approved at the February SAC meeting from $2,400 to $5,000. SAC would be paying for four attendees (conference fees, airfare, hotel) rather than for two. After discussion concerning how important everyone thought it was for students to learn according to their strengths and in a stress-free environment, the SAC reached consensus and approved the use of $5,000 to send four rather than two teachers to the Marie Carbo conference in LA this summer. (A total of six teachers will attend.) Mr. Quinn also stated that the six teachers would need to commit to work with one particular grade level and teach them the strategies and skills that were learned at the conference. Mr. Quinn also stated that he is in the process of securing a two-day Marie Carbo inservice workshop for all teachers. Ms. Feely told SAC members that there was much enthusiasm from the faculty for learning more about Marie Carbo’s reading strategies.

 

5) SAC Project Update –

Garden Family Night – March 10, 2005 – There were approximately 60 families in attendance. Mr. Quinn’s two Giant Jam Sandwich story sessions were very successful. Both sessions filled up quickly. The children, as well as the parents, had a wonderful time.

 

For the next Family Night on April 21, 2005, from 3:30 – 7:30 PM:

Mr. Quinn will read How to Eat Fried Worms. Two groups of students (25 children in each group) from third and fourth grades will get to listen to the first four chapters of the story and make a “cup of dirt” with Mr. Quinn. A flyer will go out at the beginning of April. Students must sign up. Students who are first to respond will be placed on the list until 50 children have signed up. Mr. Quinn will do a session at 4:30 and 5:30 PM.

Homeroom parents will be asked to call families to invite them to the event. Kathy Rule will be paid to run the Media Center from 3:30 – 7:30 PM. We will ask staff to volunteer to help students take AR tests and work the sign-in table.

 Emile Quinn will get the popcorn supplies ready. Robbie Thomas will make popcorn. Gabrielle O’Berry will get soda/water from Kash-N-Karry, thanks to Jack Shultz.

The Young Americans, Garden’s chorus, will sing from 6:00 until approximately 6:30 PM. Mrs. Tausan, Garden’s music teacher, will have the Young Americans perform in the cafeteria.

The parent workshop will be held in the Science Lab from

6:30 – 7:30 PM.

6) “Welcome New Families!” Report – Mrs. O’Berry told the SAC members that Mr. Quinn had discussed the idea of having a “Welcome to Garden” meeting for new families at the last faculty meeting. The staff seemed receptive to the idea of holding a welcome meeting before the “Meet Your Teacher” time. We will discuss this more in depth at the April meeting.

 

7) Other – Sandy Ryan asked Mr. Quinn what the district was doing in response to all of the recent abductions/attempted abductions of children. Mr. Quinn stated that he had recently gone over our current policies with Eve Bendix, Faculty Leadership Chairperson. She will lead the discussion concerning our children’s safety at the next Faculty Leadership Council meeting. Mr. Quinn also asked Detective Bosze to go into each class to remind students about “Stranger Danger.”

 

Mrs. O’Berry thanked Pastor Gary Gray and his congregation for hosting Garden’s Kindergarten and First Grade conferences on March 21 and 22.

We appreciate their support and kindness.

 

The meeting adjourned at 4:05 PM.

 

Next Meeting:

Tuesday, April 26, 2005 @ 3:00 PM

Front Conference Room