August
30, 2006
Present: John McQueen - Principal
Gabrielle O’Berry – SAC Chairperson
Anne Feely - Data Coach
Rachel Hallman, Aggie
Harrison - Teachers
Karen Blackburn - Classified
Gary Gray,
Denise
Mattmuller, Dot Moore, Terri Ramey – Community Members
JaneAnn
Jennings – Volunteer/Five Star School Coordinator
1) Welcome/Introduction of New Members: Mrs. O’Berry welcomed everyone to the meeting
and asked each member to introduce him/herself. New parent representative,
Victoria Stultz, and new community representative, Denise Mattmuller, will have
the opportunity to either attend the PALS Annual SAC Training at
2) Election of SAC Officers: The following members were nominated and
elected: Chairperson - Gabrielle O’Berry, Vice-Chairperson – Rachel Hallman,
Secretary – Terri Ramey.
3) Operational Guidelines/Bylaws: The SAC
guidelines for the 2006-07 school year were reviewed
and approved as presented with the option of revisiting them as the year
progresses and making suggestions for changes as needed. The minutes will be
sent out to all SAC members and posted on the district website within 48 hours
of the meeting. The meeting dates and times were distributed and agreed upon.
Attendance was discussed. 80% at all meetings is needed, especially in meeting
the criteria for Five Star Schools.
4) Thank You: Gabrielle O’Berry thanked SAC
for approving funds to send four teachers to the Marie Carbo convention in
5) Budget: Gabrielle O’Berry reported on
possible budget items. Garden was allocated $6,376 for the 2006-07 school year. A carry forward balance from the 2005-06 school year was $2,144.83. The total balance for the August 30,
2006 meeting was $8,520.83. Monies would be used to fund staff development, a
SAC project, instructional materials, consumable supplies (ie…FCAT,
Renaissance), and a supplement (SAC Coordinator stipend).
6) Student Incentive Proposals: Monies were
approved for the following incentives: $1,000 for Renaissance, up to $1,500 for
3rd – 5th FCAT rewards, and $1,000 for Character
Education consumable materials. These were approved because a majority of the
student population will be positively affected.
7) Teacher Web Pages: SAC has agreed to fund
this item once again. TeacherWeb will be used. Mr. McQueen would like to see
all teachers’ web sites up and running within the month of September. The cost
for this was $1,152. Board members discussed that TeacherWeb was fun and easy
to use, for parents and children.
8) State Equity Laws Update: All Garden
Elementary families and SAC members received the brochure concerning state
equity laws (policy against discrimination for students/due process and student
complaint procedures). Staff received copies at the August faculty meeting. Mr.
McQueen gave an overview of the laws and procedures associated with issues of
discrimination.
9) SAC Project: This will be discussed next
month.
10) EQuiP Data: Anne Feely and John McQueen
went over the EQuiP data with members. Garden Elementary earned a “B” grade for
the 2005/2006 school year. The data is being closely reviewed and strategies
chosen to determine how our school community can help our students improve,
especially the lower quartile. A teacher’s yearly TPAS goal relates directly to
the SIP strategies. Anne Feely will assist teachers in the collection,
compilation, and interpretation of the data to help their students make gains
in all subject areas. She will also directly aid staff members by modeling
reading strategies. Mr. McQueen reported that available personnel are being
pulled to work with our struggling students.
11) Writing of the SIP or School Improvement
Plan: The 2005-06 No Child Left Behind School Public Accountability Report will be
distributed to all SAC members and staff. Gabrielle O’Berry reminded SAC
members that the data contained in this report dictates which strategies must
be included in the writing of the SIP. The vision and mission statements will
state that all students should be “afforded every opportunity to reach his or
her highest potential.” An AdHoc committee
will be appointed to meet and review all subgroups included in the EQuiP data
and suggest strategies for improving academic performance. This committee will
meet in early September. Input from this committee will be shared during the
September meeting. All of Garden’s staff, SAC members, and PTO Board will be
asked to report any suggested changes to our SIP. Discussion and approval of
new strategies will also take place in September.
12)
13) PALS Training: Garden Elementary will be sending
representatives to attend the following workshops – Volunteer Coordinator,
Business Partner Coordinator, Five Star School Coordinator, new SAC members
orientation, Grant Writing, and PTA/PTO/PTSO brainstorming session. These
work-shops will take place at
5:00 – 7:00 PM. Attendees will report back to
SAC during the September 19 meeting.
14) Venice Foundation (now called the Gulf
Coast Community Foundation of Venice): Mr. McQueen reported that this is the
last year of the five year grant. The final $30,000 will be used to fund
professional development activities (Carbo, Kagan, writing,
math, and technology workshops), substitutes for K and first grade teachers for
conferences and subs for teachers to observe best practices classrooms, and
funds for technology upgrades and diagnostic assessment training. Garden will
not be able to reapply for this particular grant, but will apply for other
available grants.
15) Other: Mr. McQueen and SAC would like to
thank Mollee McFarlane and Diane Kern, Garden PTO, and all the teachers and
staff members who made the Back to School Bash on August 25 a huge success.
The meeting adjourned at 4:45 PM.
Next
Meeting: Tuesday, September 19, 2006, 3:30 PM
Front
Conference Room