Riverview High
School
School Advisory Council Special Budget
Workshop Meeting
April 1, 2003
Present: Ned Ashton, Pat Bliss, Chuck Evans, Judi Ex,
Abby Gerrity, Christine Glass, Mary Gorman, Linda Hlohinec, Lisa Hlohinec, Judy
Lyon, Jason Mocherman, Becky Moyer, Linda Nook, Janice Piedra, Charmaine
Pontlitz, April Roberson, Sam Sharff, Dusty Twining, Katrina Ward, Russell
White, and Laticia Williams
Absent: Tracy Brady, Mary Byrd, Demetrus Dawkins
(excused), Paul Gallagher, Clay Kearney, Simon Kirby, Shannon Lyons, Fred
Spence, and Peggy Wiggins (excused)
Guests: John Gorman and John Hervig
Mr.
Chuck Evans called the meeting to order at 2:10 p.m.
Ms.
Linda Nook announced that the Parent Forum Flyers had been mailed to parents.
Ms.
Pat Bliss and Ms. Christine Glass suggested that a copy of the flyer be
attached to the report cards as a reminder, along with an excerpt on Billie
Donegan’s background.
Ms.
Nook reviewed the Ground Rules with everyone.
Ms.
Nook reviewed the following as “Givens”:
•Formula driven
•Class size amendment – Language
arts, math, science & social studies
(25 students grades 9-12 (25
students x 5 classes = 125 students/teacher)
•Current teacher loads indicate that language
arts (22.9 students/section) and math (23.6 students/section) meet the class
amendment goal while science (25.8 students/section) and social studies (26.6
students/section) are close to the goal of 25 students/class).
•2003 Teacher Climate Survey indicates that 62%
of the teachers do not feel that “The faculty’s instructional load is equitably
divided.”
Ms.
Nook continued that there would be retirements and other vacancies, and that
those positions would be filled as soon as our needs had been identified. She also pointed out that while we have
several certified gifted teachers on staff, there was not a Gifted Program at
RHS.
Mr.
Russell White asked why Booker High was allocated 60% more in funds. Ms. Nook replied that it was due to the VPA
program, which is very costly.
Ms.
Nook noted that the After-School Athletics money had increased this year, and
that included transportation for music program, ROTC, etc. at RHS.
Ms.
Abby Gerrity asked how long the referendum monies would be used. Ms. Nook replied 3 years and we would need
to explain how the monies were used.
Mr.
White wanted to know if the money could be used in other ways. Ms. Nook responded that we would need to
write a waiver with a rationale for the change.
Ms.
Nook announced that RHS would be returning to two lunch periods next year, due
to the “scheduling nightmare”.
Ms.
Nook stated that not all of the Budget Requests submitted could be afforded by
RHS.
The
course “Career Research and Decision Making was added to the “Critical Thinking
and Study Skills course (semester).
Ms.
Glass asked if the additional science teacher could be funded from the class
size reduction funds, and Ms. Nook replied it could be.
Mr.
White asked for the definition of Intensive Reading. Ms. Nook explained that students with low reading scores and an
academic improvement plan take this remedial course.
Ms.
Dusty Twining asked that a social studies teacher be added to the Budget
Request.
Ms.
Gerrity commented that a FCAT review course over the summer would help many
students be prepared for the actual test.
Mr.
Evans adjourned the meeting for a break at 3:00 p.m.
Mr.
Evans reconvened the meeting at 3:30 p.m.
Ms.
Charmaine Pontlitz and Ms. Bliss suggested the three positions for a fourth
ninth grade team be made top priority.
Several
SAC Members commented that the one additional science teacher could be combined
with the ninth grade request.
There
was discussion on the following:
Hiring Responsibilities
Music Secretary Support
Music Aide
Part-time IB Secretary
Suggested process for ranking and collecting
data from group to speed decision-making process
Rationale for two “Critical Thinking/Career
Research” positions
It
was suggested that IB fund the position of a part-time IB secretary, therefore,
removing it from the Budget Request list.
Ms.
Moyer agreed to bring course descriptions on Critical Thinking/Career Research
to the next meeting.
Ms.
Evans requested everyone to rank the top four Budget Requests and the results
were as follows:
4th ninth grade team
(Language Arts, Science & Math)
1 additional “Intensive Reading”
teacher – grade 10
1 additional Computer Technology Instructor
(Technology Education plus additional technology courses)
2 “Critical Thinking/Study Skills” teachers –
grade 9
The
request for the social studies teacher was eliminated due to class size
amendment and class loads.
Ms.
Nook will being budget calculations with top choices to next meeting, which is
Monday, April 7, 2003, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
The
meeting was adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
Respectfully
Submitted by Demetrus Dawkins