SBDM Council Minutes

December 17, 2003

 

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 3:18 by Darla Simms, council chair. Members present were: teachers- Kathy Cleary, Tammy Johnson and Bill McMakin; parent- Jeff Mefford.

 

I.       Minutes

  The minutes of the November 19 meeting were read and discussed. They were approved with changes. The minutes of

  the December 3 meeting were read and approved. Both were approved by consensus.

Miss Simms asked council if the order of the agenda could be changed to allow Susan McQueary,

representing the Technology Committee, to present revisions to the Technology Access Policy. In addition, the “School Report Card” was added to the agenda. Council agreed. Council read the proposed changes to the Technology Access Policy. After discussion, the council suggested some minor changes and accepted this as the first reading. The second reading will be at the January 21, 2004 meeting.

   

       II.      Budget

      Council reviewed the budget printout (see attached). Miss Simms pointed out that the printout still includes unnecessary

      information. She will meet with Mrs. Miller, Picadome's bookkeeper, to correct this.

 

      Council discussed the Average Daily Attendance adjustment. This is money schools receive based on the second month's

     average daily attendance. This money is added to the SCIF (School Council Instructional Funds) budget for

      the 2003-2004 school year. The amount of the adjustment is $11,444.26.This money has been placed in a contingency

      fund and a budget transfer is required to put the money under the code in which the council would like it to

      be placed.  Council agreed by consensus to put this amount into regular instruction, instructional supplies.

 

      Kathy Cleary addressed the copier situation. Other schools the size of Picadome have two copiers for the teachers and

      one for the office. She questioned why our school only has one copier for the teachers and one for the office. Miss

      Simms said she would check with Mrs. Boggs about the reason for this.

     

        III.     Information Items

                  A. Minority Parent Election

                   On December 11, 2003, Bob Kinley was elected as the new minority parent member of Picadome's SBDM Council.

                  B. Minority Teacher Member

                   Miss Simms explained the procedure for maintaining the balance of the council. Elementary Councils are required to

                   have a ratio of three teacher members, two parent members, and the school administrator. However, when a school has

                   8% or higher minority enrollment, minority representation requires a minority parent member.  Once this parent is

                   elected, a minority teacher should be asked to serve to maintain the balance of the council. If no minority teacher is

                   able to serve, the seat shall remain vacant. Miss Simms reported that she has talked to the minority teachers and

                   neither can commit to this. The question was raised about another possible teacher. Miss Simms said she ask would

                   this individual. Ms. Cleary asked about having a classified, non-voting member. Miss Simms also will look into this.

               C. ESS Day Waiver- Brenda Smith

                    Mrs. Smith reported that we have 55 students in attendance. Of those, 20 are free and reduced lunch students. The

                    schedule has been changed due to a conflict with other teachers who are teaching reading. Bonnie Savage teaches

                    Monday and Wednesday mornings and Barbara Evans is teaching Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. There is funding

                    for a spring ESS program. It will begin on February 2 and run for 6 weeks. This will probably be for 4^th and

                    5^th grades. Mrs. Smith will discuss this with the teachers involved. She also reported that schools are beginning to

                    apply for summer ESS funds.

                D. Committee Reports

                     Miss Simms reported for the Budget and Personnel Committee.  Vince Mattox has worked with this committee on the

                     Budget Policy.   The Committee has reviewed another school’s policy and adapted it as a draft. The committee

                     recommended that the Professional Development Policy be combined with the Budget Policy. Miss Simms requested

                     members review the draft policy before the next meeting.

    E. Data Analysis

         Council reviewed the Student Achievement Data noting the gap in scores of low socio-economic, minority, and special

         education students. She reminded council members that at the February meeting, there would be new data from the

         January testing.

 

IV.       Action Items

                A. Professional Leave Requests

                     There were none.

                B. Hiring and Consultation

                     Miss Simms recommended Audrey Arnold for the .5 clerical position. Since council had already consulted, this does

                     not have to be done again. Since it took so long to fill this position, there was enough money to make it a .6

                     position. There is still $4364 remaining in the staffing budget. Council asked  Miss Simms to check and see if this

                     money could be used for purchases other than staff.

 

                 C. Policies

                      Professional Development- Becky Boling presented the draft of the professional  development policy. Council

                      members read and suggested changes. The policy was returned to the Student, Faculty and Parent

                      Support Committee for revision.  Council asked that it be brought back in January.

                

                      Schedule of the School Day Policy – This was the second reading for this policy. Council read and approved by

                      consensus.

 

At 5:30 Miss Simms asked council members if they could extend the meeting time in order to have the second reading of the by-laws. Council agreed by consensus.

 

                  D. By-Laws

                       Council reviewed the draft of the by-laws. This was considered the second reading and after some discussion, the

                       by-laws were approved by consensus.

         

         V. Public Comment

              There was none.

 

Meeting adjourned @ 5:41 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Becky Boling