St. Clare School Advisory Council

11/9/05 Minutes

 

Present: Renee Cline, Linda Fanning, Tom Fitzpatrick, Stephen Michels, Amy Leahy, Sr. Moe, John Oswald, Phil Ralston, Kim Wisniewski

Not Present: Cartie Beckett, Fr. Tom, John Ferraro, Vicky Werner

 

1. Call to Order and Opening Prayer –

 

2. Recommended Actions

      a. Routine Matters:

      i. The Agenda was accepted.

      ii. Minutes for the October 2005 meeting were approved.

      iii. Stephen and Linda briefly discussed the Relationship Building focus of the parish.  We will take 5 minutes at the beginning of each SAC meeting (as other committees and ministries are doing) to do “relational meetings”. Stephen and Linda will come up with a focus each meeting.

 

      b. New Business:

i. Outdoor School – The SAC recognizes that the Outdoor School for the 6th graders is valuable and will continue this program into the future.  The SAC approved a motion that the school would use the budgeted money ($1500 this year, $3000 next year) to apply to the overall cost for Outdoor School for the 6th graders.  The remaining fee would be split evenly by all 6th grade students.

ii. Paddle Bid – Ronnie Sequin and Nancy Bolton have secured matching funds for the school paddle bid through the Maybelle Clark McDonald Foundation.  Beautifying our buildings and landscaping will be the focus. Bids are being obtained. Ideas for beautification include:  privacy fence along the back of the yard, security fence at both ends of Freeman St., sidewalks under windows, sprinklers on Spring Garden Rd., possible playground upgrades.  The SAC approved the use of this paddle bid for this purpose.

 

      c. Old Business

i.  Full Day Kindergarten  - The Finance and Process/Policy committees recommend that we have a full day kindergarten beginning next year.  This will be built in to the budget process over the next month.

 

3.  Information/Communication Reports

a. Pastors Report – No report

 

b. Principal’s Report – Sister Moe distributed the following report:

Paddle Bid:  Larry Melzer has agreed to advise Fr. Tom and Sr. Moe on possible options for beautifying and sustaining our grounds, and from whom to get bids.  We will have to advertise this as a school item, but will most certainly join the parish in seeing that this goal is achieved.

Enrollment: We are down one student, and have the potential to lose another student by Christmas.  These are both special needs cases.

Joint PTC/SAC Meeting:  In light of our budgetary challenges, it might be appropriate for SAC to discuss what might be the best forum for this year’s Town Hall Mtg. to answer questions of concern to parents or questions that address our future.  January isn’t that far off, and we should be planning the topics for that evening now. We can begin discussion on cost-based tuition and the future of funding a Catholic education rather than continual focus on increased fund raising.

Finances: Much time has been spent drafting the budget for next year.  SAC will have final approval of the 06-07 budget at our December meeting.

Outdoor School: This was discussed under “New Business”.

Preparation for Accreditation: Sr Moe reviewed the areas for growth from the last accreditation process and progress in each area. The self-study will occur next year with the survey the following year.

Action Taken on Areas for Growth Since Last Accreditation in 2001

 

Recommendations

 

ORGANIZATION FOR STUDENT LEARNING

1

Improve relations with parish and school through Quad Council; show clearer understanding of mission and philosophy statements.

2

School Improvement Plan needs to be well defined, measurable, and student outcome based.

 

 

General Curriculum and Instruction

1

Clearly define technology plan

2

Expand resources for special needs students

3

Communication/collaboration between teachers

4

Provide common faculty planning time

5

Increase instructional aids across all grades

 

 

           SOCIAL STUDIES

1

Continue review and evaluation of Social Studies

2

Provide teacher training in technology

3

Increase field trip opportunities and guest speakers

 

 

           RELIGION

1

Increase pastoral presence in the school

2

Link religion assignments with home

3

Expand repertoire of liturgical music

 

 

 

Support For Student Personal, Spiritual, and Academic Growth

1

Improve relationship between parish and school

2

Improve teacher retention

3

Improve teacher salaries

4

Increase from parish financial support

 

 

 

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

1

Increase teacher salaries outside of Endowment contribution

2

Pastoral involvement in financial decisions

3

5 year plan reviewed annually and in concert with parish Master Plan

4

Financial support for technology and staff development

5

Security and safety at all entrances

 

 

 

School-wide areas for Follow Through

1

Technology Plan: goals; steps for implementation; resources to support plan

2

Increase teacher salaries

3

Teacher Retention: economics; teacher support; interpersonal relations

4

Faculty involvement in scope & sequence: be familiar with all subjects; dialogue about all subjects

5

Align SIP with mission and philosophy statements & SLE’s

 

c. PTC Report – There was no PTC report this month.  John Ferrero will invite the leadership of the PTC to our December meeting.

 

d. SAC Committee Reports: 

i. Finance Committee Report: 

       1. FY 2006-2007 Draft budget:

      Sr. Moe and the Finance committee have been working on assumptions that fed into the Draft Budget for next year.  On the expense side, key decisions will be made relative to salary schedules and insurance costs.  On the income side, key decisions will be made on the tuition schedule and percentage increase, parish subsidy and fund raising expectations. Key factors affecting the draft budget include: all day kindergarten, rising labor costs, rising insurance costs, stable but not significantly increasing parish subsidy and fund raising capacity.  A possible tuition increase and tuition cost for kindergarten were discussed. The draft budget will be refined and presented for approval on the Dec. SAC meeting and presented to the School community at the Town Hall meeting on 1/10.

      2. Finance Committee going forward:

      Phil is the only SAC member on the Finance Committee at the present time.  An additional SAC needs to be an active participant on this committee.  The broader Finance Task Force is available to assist. A current 1st or 2nd year SAC member should join the Finance Committee.  When we recruit new SAC members, we need to recruit members with this skill set.

ii. Marketing and Enrollment Committee Report:  This committee recommends that the Adopt-a-Student weekend at the masses be separate from the School Marketing Sunday.  Nancy Bolton will speak at the masses on the weekend of 1/7/06. 

iii. Process and Policy Committee Report: 

      -This committee continues to recommend a Full Day Kindergarten. 

      -The technology budget/plan was discussed. Cost for a Server Tech, hardware and licenses to Dell went up.  Video streaming is being developed and will have many applications.  We will start with the video on sex abuse.   The cost of software went down. A faculty committee is updating the computer curriculum.

      -Amy will review the Dennis Uniform agreement with Sr. Moe.

iv. Development Committee Report:  Tom further discussed this committee’s idea on beautification and landscaping of St. Clare.  Bricks with people’s names were an additional idea. He is also working with to update a grant proposal for science equipment. 

 

e. Chair Report: No Chair report.

 

Next School Advisory Council Meeting: 

•Thursday, December 8th from 6-8 p.m. (Tom Fitzpatrick has food, drinks and prayer).

 

Meeting adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted,

Linda Fanning