Picadome Elementary

SBDM Council Minutes

November 15, 2001

 The Picadome School Community is committed to all students attaining the highest levels of academic achievement and responsible citizenship through equitable opportunities in becoming lifelong learners.

    The meeting was called to order at 6:10 p.m. by chair, Darla Simms.  Members present:  Darla Simms, Juaacklyn Cunningham, Tammy Johnson, Betty Ann Scott, and Tammy Lynch.  Absent:  Tom Barnes.  Visitor:  Melody Bourne.   Tom Barnes, our newest council member (elected October 23 to replace resigning member Vincent Sanford) was unable to attend tonight due to a previous commitment before his election.  Miss Simms asked council permission to change the order of the meeting so that the presentation could be done first to allow Ms. Day to leave after her presentation.  Council agreed.

 II.  Presentation

         Cynthia Day presented the Summer Vacation program.  This is a program including a CD Rom and workbook to help reinforce academic skills over the summer. Parents may purchase the program for their children for $24.99 or individually: CD-$16.99 and workbook-$10.00.  The program includes Reader Rabbit for primary students and Clue Finder for intermediate students.  Parents may purchase the level their child will enter the next school year.  Teachers will receive a CD and another gift for passing out forms and packets to their students; our school receives a software license or equipment for participating in the program.  There is no expense to the school; company accepts liability for any lost materials or money.  The company delivers pre-packaged kits and picks up the money and returned kits from the school.  Council agreed by consensus to participate in the Summer Vacation program.  The dates for this program were set for spring 2002:  May 7-teacher meeting;  May 9-kits go home with the students; May 14- money and/or kits are returned to Picadome for pick up.

 I.  Regular agenda resumed:  Minutes from the October 11 meeting were read.   Council members discussed corrections to the minutes.  After the written resignation of our SBDM secretary, Brenda Smith, at the October 11 meeting, Miss Simms advertised the position to staff.  No one on staff is able to fill this position.  Miss Simms will type the minutes but expressed concern about needing the meetings to be recorded since it is difficult to take notes while leading the meeting.  Tammy Lynch will purchase a tape recorder through PTA funds and Tammy Johnson will take notes tonight.  Minutes were approved with all corrections discussed.

 III.  Budget

            The SCIF budget print out is not available for discussion because of problems in accessing MUNIS.  Due to the revised budget after our current ADA (average daily attendance) was calculated, we lost $247.00.  We will look at the SCIF budget printout next month and see how this decrease affects the budget.  Council decided not to make any budget transfers at this time.   Our attendance in the second month of school this year was lower than the second month of school last year.   Council reviewed the General Fund Budget (see attached). 

 IV. Information

            The Elementary Parents Information and Exchange Session information was given to Tammy Lynch.  It will be posted on the bulletin board in the front foyer.

            Council discussed the use of professional development and/or textbook money for the purchase of alpha-smarts needed for a professional development session for intermediate teachers.  Miss Simms will discuss this with Becky Boling to determine which funds are to be used.

            Key code for staff access to the building had been discussed at a previous SBDM meeting this fall.  Council wanted more information on the cost of such a system.  Miss Simms explained that the district will be purchasing one code lock for each school to support the district policy of all doors being locked at all times unless they are supervised by an adult.  The cost to the district is estimated at around $485.00.  The district is giving each school an option to purchase, with school funds, additional locks at their cost.  Council agreed by consensus to purchase one additional lock so we can have one on the front door and one on the back door closest to the playground depending on exact cost and available funds   Concern was expressed for lighting outside the building.  Miss Simms has already expressed concern to Wayne Young.

 V.  Discussion Items

            The science lab position was discussed.  There is no money presently to purchase another .05 position to allow Ms. Ocelli to teach science lab an additional half day a week.  Kindergarteners are not currently receiving instruction in science lab.  Council would like to pursue this option if funds become available.

            SBDM committee membership was discussed.  We need a policy on committee membership.  This will be assigned to a committee.  No decision will be made on council members serving on committees at this time.

            After discussion on who should write the policy/procedure on Primary Exit Criteria –extra year in primary, council recommends this discussion should involve all primary teachers.  Miss Simms suggested all primary teachers meet together at our December 4 grade level meetings to discuss ideas for the extra year in primary (when it could be done) and primary exit criteria.  Council agreed by consensus. 

VI.  Work Session

KCCT Disaggregated Data

Council discussed the 2001 disaggregated Kentucky Core Content Test data represented on the KCCT Disaggregation Tool (see attached).  This was completed using pages 16 and 17 of the Kentucky Department of Education Spring 2001 Kentucky Performance Report.  Miss Simms explained that in some sub groups tested, the number of students tested was less than ten students therefore the data for that sub group was not disaggregated.  Members noted:

·       Gender gap is not significant

·       Socio-economic gap is significant in all areas tested

·       Ethnicity gap is significant in Math (only area disaggregated)

 After much discussion, council defined the following goals for this school year:

·       We must decrease the number of students scoring novice in all areas

·       We must increase the number of proficient and distinguished

·       We must address the socio-economic gap

·       We will look at disaggregated data on district testing to identify gaps in sub-groups which were not disaggregated on the KCCT

Discussion continued with suggestions for closing the existing gaps including:

·       Culturally responsive teaching professional development

·       Send home FRC newsletter with the PTA newsletter so parents are aware of classes/workshops offered at school through the FRC

·       The proposal for ESS needs to be presented at the December council meeting to make sure it provides strategies to close these gaps

·       Piloting academic software programs that might be available through the district

·       Offer training opportunities for parents

·       Sponsoring curriculum nights for parents

·       Kindergarten meeting before school starts to clarify expectations of the full day kindergarten program

·       Requirement from FRC for parent involvement in school activities

 This will be addressed by council again after the January District Student Achievement Testing.   Council members will continue to think and talk about strategies and activities to close the achievement gaps between the sub groups of students at Picadome.

 Agenda items to be included in our December 13^th  SBDM meeting:

·       Budget-SCIF

·       Disaggregation of  Fall District Student Achievement Data

·       Interventions for closing the achievement gap-KCCT

·       ESS proposal

·       Science position

 The meeting was adjourned at 8:14 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted.

 Darla Simms