Garden Elementary SAC Minutes
3:30
PM - Front Conference Room
Present: John McQueen - Principal
Gabrielle O’Berry – SAC Chairperson
Anne Feely - Data Coach
Robbie Thomas, Aggie
Harrison, Diana Mitchell, Jeanne
Troiano - Teachers
Lisa Saul – Classified
Archa
Slavenburg, Victoria Stultz - Parents
Dot
Moore - Community Members
Absent: Gary Gray, Rachel Hallman, Denise
Mattmuller, Terri Ramey, Shannon Via
1) Welcome –
Gabrielle O’Berry welcomed SAC members and began the meeting at 3:32.
2) Budget –
Gabrielle O’Berry reported that$166.65 was spent for FCAT incentives and
snacks. The budgeted stipend amount, attained from bookkeeper, Denise Freeman,
should be $1174.24. The total amount spent should be $587.29. The new February
balance is $5,188.73. There were no questions or concerns, so the balance
stands as reported.
3) Budget Request
– The Kindergarten team submitted a request for monies to provide them with
substitute teachers for their fall and spring conference days. There was no
specific amount requested. While SAC members support the conference program
fully, they felt that PTO might be better able to
handle the funds for this request. A discussion concerning this request pointed
out that other grade levels would also like to have conference days. With this
being the case, the SAC budget is not large enough to pay for subs for all
classroom teachers.
4) 2007 – 2008
Budget Update – John McQueen reported that the new budget should be arriving
after spring break. The county is working on whether to create budgets with a
dollar allocation or a unit allocation for the positions needed at each school.
Our school population projection has increased by 18 students, but Mr. McQueen
does not foresee a need to add additional staff at this time. The class size
amendment will take effect during the 2008 – 2009 school year
(18:1 for K – 3rd and 22:1 for 4th/5th).
5) SME Update –
Jeanne Troiano and Diana Mitchell were thanked for volunteering their time and
energy to make the “Wake Up and Read, Gator Gladiator SME Lab Morning Program”
a wonderful success. Mrs. Troiano and Mrs. Mitchell presented Garden’s SAC with
impressive data and pictures from October 2006 through February 2007. The third
through fifth grade students who participated were chosen because they were in
the lower quartile on standardized tests. There was an average increase of
almost one year for reading course growth from October to February. An increase
in Fluency Rate (WPM) was also recorded. October data started at 50 WPM and increased
to 85 WPM by February. An increase in Lexile Levels from 340 to over 640 was
also presented. Mrs. Troiano stated that they had recently used the monies
requested previously from SAC to provide the students with certificates and
treats for a job well done. Mrs. Troiano and Mrs. Mitchell stated that they
were contemplating starting another remedial program after FCAT. They will let
us know of their plans at the next SAC meeting. Mrs. Mitchell and Mrs. Troiano
were thanked again for taking the time to help Garden’s children. We are very
proud of their contributions and dedication as their actions help all of us.
6) YMCA Remedial
Reading Partnership Update – Anne Feely reported that she had just met with the
state coordinator, Madeline Hennings. The program has been targeting first and
second grade students in need of remedial reading services. Some third graders
have been participating. The children work with volunteers two times a week for
about one hour each time. Volunteers have been more difficult to recruit this
year. Transportation is not provided for students and this is also problematic.
Overall, the program has provided another opportunity for the lower quartile of
students in the primary grades to improve reading skills. If the grant monies are
renewed, the program will continue during the next school year.
7) FCAT/Stanford
Incentives/Snacks – John McQueen reported that fourth grade teachers received
special pencils to give to students for the Florida Writes test. (Thank you,
Mrs. Saul, for sharpening all those pencils!) Mr. McQueen has also challenged
the students by rewarding all 5’s with a pizza party and all 6’s with a limo
ride. Third through fifth grade teachers also requested pencils and snacks for
students. SAC had already budgeted monies for these incentives. First and
Second grades will also receive snacks for their Stanford testing days in
March.
•2007 – 2008
Calendar – John McQueen reported that the School Board is leaning toward an
August 20 start date for the 2007 – 2008 school year.
Discussion occurred as to the problems/reasons for changing or not changing the
start date: semester exams, family vacations, tourist industry, hurricane
season, and more kindergartners starting at the age of four. More information
will be provided as soon as Mr. McQueen receives it.
•STAR Update –
John McQueen reported about the Special Teachers Are Rewarded (STAR)
performance-pay plan. Sarasota County staff will be voting to accept or reject
the county’s proposed plan. If it is rejected, the county could lose more than
2 million dollars. The state’s plan has sparked lawsuits and heated debates
from all 67 counties in the state. If it is passed, teachers could earn merit
pay if they have excellent/outstanding scores from their administrator on the newly
revised annual evaluation system as well as outstanding test scores from their
children. Whether it is passed or not, a new appraisal system will replace the
current one for both Level I and Level II teachers.
The dollars for this program are only available for this school year, 2006 –
2007. More information will follow as it becomes available.
•One Book/One
Community – John McQueen would like to see this program continue as promised
for third through fifth grade students. Mrs. O’Berry stated that she would talk
to Mrs. Ionescu to find out what is being planned.
•Other – Bring
ideas/suggestions to help identify Garden’s needs in the
2007 – 2008 school
year.
•The meeting
adjourned at 4:32 PM.
Next Meeting:
Tuesday, March 20, 2007 @ 3:30 PM
Garden Elementary Conference Room