SBDM Minutes

December 12, 2002

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.

 Darla Simms, chair, called the meeting to order at 3:15.   Members present: Tammy Johnson, Juaacklyn Cunningham, and Bill McMakin (teachers); Jeff Mefford (parent).  Member absent: Tammy Lynch  (parent)

I.   Minutes

The minutes of the November 14, 2002 meeting were read and approved with corrections.

II. Budget

Miss Simms addressed concerns expressed at our November 14 meeting about District Wide Expenditures appearing on our school level copy of the SCIF (School Council Instructional Funds) year-to-date budget report.  These items included water/sewage, sanitation service, natural gas, and electricity.  Mrs. McDowell called about this after our last meeting and was told that this section appears on our print out to show that it is a school level expenditure from the district;  the amount is not deducted from our local funds-it is paid at the district level.  Remaining SCIF items were reviewed and discussed. (see attached)

 III. Information Items

Senate Bill 168

Miss Simms reviewed Senate Bill 168 timeline.  In December, the first reading of the Gap Reduction Target is to be completed; council members reviewed data to determine this target as we have discussed at previous SBDM meetings this year.  According to the data from the Kentucky Core Content Test, Picadome’s target should be to close the achievement gap between low socio-economic and non-low socio-economic students in the area of math. Council members discussed having an additional target to close the SES gap in reading.  The need for targeting these areas is supported by our district mandated assessment data (Scholastic Reading Inventory, STAR Math, and Math Standards Test).   

As required by Senate Bill 168, Miss Simms will set up a public meeting sometime in January or February (as information is received by the district) for public input in addressing Picadome’s Gap Reduction Target.

 Senate Bill 168 requires revisions to be made to the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (formerly called the Consolidated Plan) to address closing our targeted achievement gaps.  Council agreed by consensus to have Brenda Smith make revisions to our plan based on tonight’s discussion and staff input (see handout) from our Professional Development sessions on November 5 and with continued work through our SBDM Committees.

 Senate Bill 168 requires SBDM councils to assign SBDM Committees charges to address the targeted gaps.  (This fall our committees have been continuing work on council charges from the 2001-2002 school year.)   At our January meeting, council will charge committees with identifying strategies to close our targeted achievement gaps.  Having committees work on revisions to our CSIP will ensure parent involvement as well.

 Data analysis

Council reviewed data analysis from previous council meetings during the Senate Bill 168 discussions.

 Science Expenditures-2002-2003

Ms. Simms reported to council that the Science expenditures for living organisms discussed at our November meeting will be budgeted at $1.25 per student. 

 Implementation and Impact check

Brenda Smith showed council a checklist which has been given to teachers for use in documenting intervention strategies used with students performing below grade level.  Mrs. Smith is currently meeting with teachers (those not being evaluated this year) to discuss interventions used for students below grade level in reading and math; Miss Simms is having this discussion with teachers being evaluated this year at their post observation conference.  

Mrs. Smith gave council members a copy of the 2002 Fall Implementation and Impact Check (see attached) to review for discussion at January’s SBDM meeting as we look at revisions for our Comprehensive School Improvement Plan.

 ESS Report

Council will get a copy of the Extended School Services report for our six week fall session from Brenda Smith at our January meeting.  Mrs. Smith presented the ESS budget for the fall session.  Because we did not provide transportation or purchase any new materials, the only expense was staff salaries. Council asked that she include in her January report the percent attendance and the percent of low socio-economic students enrolled. Miss Simms shared with council that the legislature has approved allowing ESS money to be spent during the school day to close the achievement gaps.  After discussion on this plan, council decided our ESS budget does not provide enough funds to do purchase a part time teacher to instruct students during the school day and continue to maintain after school and/or summer programs.

 IV.  Action Items

Science Fair

Miss Simms presented a letter of request (see attached) from Debra Bodkin and Charlene Ocelli, Science Representatives. Their request included the following proposal for science fair:  the date of Thursday, February 13, 2003 for the Picadome Science Fair; workshops provided by Mrs. Bodkin and Mrs. Ocelli after school each Wednesday during January to help students and their parents prepare for the projects; Grades 4 and 5 required to submit projects, optional for other levels.  The proposal stated that a required science fair project for all 4^th and 5^th graders was council policy.  Questions were raised about this being policy.  Council members are unaware of this requirement in any council policy; Miss Simms will check existing council policies for this requirement   After much discussion, council members made the following revisions to the proposal: science fair projects are optional (council does not mandate science fair projects at any level); assignment of projects will be up to individual teachers; if a classroom teacher requires a science fair project from all their students, he/she must send home a letter stating how the science fair project will be graded and what part of the student’s final science grade will be determined by the science fair project.  Council agreed by consensus on the above revisions and on the date of February 13 for the Science Fair.   

Science Fun Day was discussed as another component of the request.  Mrs. Bodkin and Mrs. Ocelli would like to bring in specialist (science careers) to provide stations, activities, and speakers for students throughout the day.  A date for this day needs to be decided as soon as possible in order to begin inviting the participants.  Council agreed by consensus that we should provide this day to support our science curriculum but would like health added so that it is a Science/Health Fun Day.  Miss Simms will look at the school calendar to set a date.

 Hiring Policy

The Budget and Personnel Committee is still working on the revisions and will present at the January SBDM meeting.

 V.  Work Session

 Fayette County School Board has asked for input from all stakeholders in prioritizing all non-mandated budget items. Miss Simms explained that this process was carried out through separate meetings with classified staff and certified staff on December 10.  At each meeting, staff members received a list of items not mandated by state law or Southern Association of Colleges which are provided by FCPS Board; the list included a total of 40 items.  Staff discussed items and then prioritized them based on impact on student achievement at Picadome.  Miss Simms reviewed the list generated at each meeting with council members.  (see attached)  Council members checked both list to see which items were included on both.  The last step in this process is for council to decide on the list of priorities to be turned in to FCPS Board.  Council agreed by consensus to submit the list of items generated at the certified meeting with the addition of five items that were generated by classified staff but not on the certified list.   

Items to be considered for the January 9, 2003 SBDM Agenda:

 Budget

Senate Bill 168 including second reading of target and committee charges

Extended School Services Report

Implementation and Impact Check

Hiring Policy

 The meeting was adjourned at 5:10.

 Respectfully submitted as recorded by Becky Boling and edited by Darla Simms.