Cardinal Valley School
School Based Decision Making Council

March 1, 2001

Board Members Present:
Melissa Hagans, Principal Jerome Higgenbotham, Parent Chiquita Prewitt
Claire Hanssen, Teacher Chris Smith, Teacher
   
Guest Present:
Freida Collins, PSA Barbara Abshire, Teacher  Becky Epperson, Social Worker
Kathleen Linder, Teacher Julie Gaskins, Teacher

Meeting was called to order at 4:10 p.m.

I.

 SUBJECT:  Minutes
HIGHLIGHTS: The council read the minutes from the February 15th meeting. . Spelling errors were pointed out and corrected. They were approved as read. 
ACTION TAKEN:  Claire Hanssen  made a motion to accept the minutes .  Chris Smith second the motion.   

   

II.

 SUBJECT:  SAC's Visit
HIGHLIGHTS: On March 15th, the Southern Association will be  here to observe our school and talk to the staff. All committee chairman will meet with the team.
ACTION TAKEN: A schedule will be given to all  committee members.
   

III.

 SUBJECT: Grant
HIGHLIGHTS:  Our school has been invited to apply for the 21st Century Learning Center Grant. This grant will help fund extra curricular activities for our students in the areas of academics, service and social skills.
ACTION TAKEN: None
   

IV

 SUBJECT: Staffing Update
HIGHLIGHTS: We have hired  a long term sub for the Special Education position. Ms. Croteau will be with us until May.  We still do not have another custodian. Karen Crowe , bookkeeper, will be out for six weeks due to a medical leave. Interviews for the FRC director will begin next week.
ACTION TAKEN:  Ms. Hagans will post interview times for the FRC interviews on the teacher's E-Mail .
     

V

 SUBJECT: Title 1 Spring Evaluation
HIGHLIGHTS:  The evaluation will be placed in the March 16th report card. 
ACTION TAKEN:  None
   

VI

 SUBJECT: Other
HIGHLIGHTS:   The March 1 minutes did not reflect that Abshire, Teeter and Banks would move to the old speech room. Ms. Baily is now in room 111. Ms. Davidson is in room 138 and  the two special education teachers, Ware and Croteau are in  room 103.

 VII

 SUBJECT:  Staffing
HIGHLIGHTS:  We have gained a .5 discretionary teacher. We have not lost any teachers.  The staff assistants will only be funded as a .5.  We picked up a .5 primary assistant. We want to maintain two classrooms at  15:1 .   We will not know until June  if we can continue these classrooms due to funding. The staff recommends that we have the primary consist of  straight 1-2-3- with flexible grouping for different subject areas.
ACTION TAKEN : C. Smith made a motion that we make primary straight 1-2-3. C. Hanssen second the motion. The motion carried.
   
VIII SUBJECT: Summer School/ ESS
HIGHLIGHTS : Barbara Abshire reported that the summer school would be from June 11 - July 19. The time is 8-11. The students will come Monday -Thursday.  Lunch will be provided at 11:30 by the Micro City Government. Breakfast will also be provided.  We will work with K-4 students. Each classroom will have 10-12 students per room. Two classes will be formed for each levels , K-4.  We are targeting the lowest students. Letters will be sent home with a cut off date for admission. The criteria for dismissal is 3 unexcused absences and 3 discipline referrals . The curriculum will follow the 4 Block method . Ms. Abshire recommended Voyager as a good 3rd-4th  grade intervention program.  This program cost $2,300 per kit . The kit is all inclusive. The Accelerated Reader and Wiggleworks program will also be used.  Becky Epperson and Regina Oliver want to form a group of children who have trouble with social skills. They feel they can work with these children over the summer to help them develop appropriate social skills. The target population would be children who are on the borderline of constant misbehavior. Teachers will be given 1/2 day for summer school set up and 1/2 day for take down. The teachers day will begin at 7:30 and end at 12:15. A principal will be announced. There will be no aides or classified.
ACTION TAKEN: C. Smith wants more information about the Voyager program before we spend the money. Becky Epperson and Regina Oliver must write a proposal for the council describing the curriculum they plan to use with the children in their group. Pre and post test for summer school will be the May SRI -STAR tests  for  grades 1-4 and the Brigance for the rising K's. The STAR and SRI and Brigance will be given again in July to monitor progress.
   

IX

 SUBJECT : Classified
HIGHLIGHTS: We honored Bill, our custodian, at the Board Meeting.
 

X

 SUBJECT: SOCIAL STUDIES 
HIGHLIGHTS: Parents need to see the social studies textbooks up for adoption.  They will be in the library March 8-9.

XI     

 SUBJECT: BUDGET
HIGHLIGHTS: No report.

XII

 SUBJECT: BUILDING CAPACITY
HIGHLIGHTS: A committee will be formed to look at how to redistrict the county in the 2003 school year.  We will be above capacity for another year.

XII  

 SUBJECT: SPRING CONCERT
              HIGHLIGHTS: The concert will be on May 7. Band and orchestra will be performing.

XIII

 SUBJECT: OTHER
 HIGHLIGHTS: Jerome wants safe data information for the next meeting.  The Mexico trip is still offered by the school . Applications should be into the council by March 15. Chris Smith said she has a form we could use to give to the staff.

XIV

 SUBJECT: Title I Budget
               HIGHLIGHTS: Our school will be cut by $100,000 this year.  We need to look at staffing and the types of programs we have that are currently being funded by Title 1 monies. 
ACTION TAKEN: None. We will talk to the staff and take a poll about how they feet the  money should be spent.
   

XV

 SUBJECT: QUEST
HIGHLIGHTS: The Quest classroom has been moved to the stage.  We need to identify more children for the program next year. 

Next Meeting - March 15,2001

Meeting Adjourned -6:45 P.M.