School Advisory Council
Meeting
April 19, 2006
In attendance: Vera McClaugherty, Daniel Kennedy, Madalyn Andrews, Bill Race, CSM Mike Collis, Jim Young, Robert Graham, Ken Cowles, Jann Vasiloff, Cadets John Miericke, Whitney Vosick, Katherine Valdesuso, Kaitlin Jefffrey, Kyle Seeger, Col. Stephen Cork, Prof. Robert Lechner, Ernie Forchetti
The meeting was called to order at 11:15 a.m.; the minutes of the March meeting were approved as written.
Headmaster’s Report: Enrollment is steady; we are full for next year with approximately 50 on the waiting list. Staffing for next year is underway with no reductions in numbers expected. There may be an increase in the number of staff depending on whether or not the legislature approves additional FTE dollars on a permanent basis. If it is awarded on a one time only basis, then in all likelihood the money will go towards the capital campaign. The ROTC awards night is scheduled for April 27th along with the PTCC general meeting and dinner/fund raiser. The work day on April 8th was well attended by both parents and cadets. The academy is currently undergoing the AFI inspection to maintain our “Honor Unit with Distinction” designation by Cadet Command. Ken Cowles asked for more information. Mr. Kennedy turned that over to Col. Cork.
Commandant’s Report: Col. Cork explained that the designation of “Honor Unit with Distinction” allows SMA to appoint cadets to the military academies; it takes the place of a legislative appointment which is necessary. In that respect it is of more benefit to the kids than the school. It is a very rigorous inspection of several areas of the operation and is getting tougher with more stringent requirements. SMA received this in its first year of operation which puts it in an elite 3% of all JROTC programs nationwide. It is a feather in our cap and an accolade to the cadets and the JROTC department, staff and faculty who participate.
Old Business: Ernie Forchetti, SMA technology supervisor, addressed several issues regarding our web page and improving methods of communication. He stated that it is possible to have an address book on the BBS for our entire school population. He would design a form for the information, post it on the web, and use the results to generate the address book. Then any written communication could be emailed to all families with one letter. Community service forms can be downloaded from the web page. Teacher web sites are already available for parents to visit. It is a matter of instructing teachers how to use them, and then instructing them to do so on a regular basis. Ernie stated that all that is required is for the teachers to write him in Word or forward their PowerPoint presentations to him and he puts them on the web. Grades are confidential and cannot be posted like that. Smart Web is being tested at some high schools; there are some issues about it. If the county adopts it for the schools, charter schools would have to pay for it. SMA teachers can use the Grade machine software we now have. It is a program on which teachers input grades in all areas. It has an email feature on it. Parents can be emailed from that regarding student grades. Dan suggested that an in-service at the beginning of next year be done instructing teachers on this feature. Ernie suggested a posting on the web such as SMA School Store with items available for purchase at the school, however, he was clear that there would be no sales over the internet on those items; this would be an information page only. Regarding an automatic phone calling system, it is possible to install one and the cost varies depending on how many lines are used and whether or not more lines need to be installed. It is costly. Regarding individual teacher voice mails the problem for SMA is that we have many teachers who share classrooms so not each teacher would have their own dedicated phone. The teachers would have to go into the system several times a day to check to see if they had messages which is what they can do now on emails and check their boxes for written phone messages. The cost is $7.50/box/month and $19.95 line. Mrs. Andrews asked about teacher cell phones. Mr. Kennedy explained that the school does not provide teachers with cell phones, but many have their own. It is up to them if they want to give parents/students their cell phone numbers. Mr. Race asked how the content on a mass emailing would be controlled. Mr. Kennedy concurred that there needed to be some controls and most likely that the emails would be generated from just one computer. Ernie stated that sub-groups can be created such as Lacrosse team parents.
New Business: Mr. Lechner made a presentation on the needs assessment and collaborative partnering between SAC, faculty and staff and the input for the School Improvement Plan for next year. He distributed the forms and requested feedback sometime prior to our next meeting, May 17th. We will discuss them at that time. The results will be meshed with the input from staff and faculty. All will be reviewed again at the August SAC meeting. Jann Vasiloff explained that we are working ahead on this training and input for next year’s SIP because of the county’s early due date for the SIP. Five Star training for SAC chairmen is not until September, but the SIP is due in September so it doesn’t leave time for the necessary input. She also mentioned that it allows people who have served on SAC and are familiar with the school year to give input before they rotate off of SAC. Training for new SAC members will be done in the fall. Madalyn Andrews inquired about SAC elections and who would be coming off. Mr. Cowles said he would refer to the bylaws and operational guidelines and report back at May’s meeting.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:55 a.m.; next meeting is May 17th at 11:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jann Vasiloff, Recording Secretary