Category — Minutes

School Community Council Meeting

November 12, 2008

Minutes:

1. Welcome

• § Meeting was called to order at 7:05pm.

2. 10-1-08 Meeting Minutes Review

• § Update on computer lab - insurance is paying $11,000 for equipment replacement. Butler Elementary is considering best approach for this with anticipated computer lab upgrade next year. School is ‘limping’ along with current computer inventory. There are also some archaic computers in the classrooms. Edy recommends we wait until January and then assess situation.
• § Edy McGee reviewed the minutes. Minutes approved by committee.

3. Possible Introduction of Dr. Doty

• o Dr. Doty unable to be here today. Edy will invite Dr. Doty and East side school board members to the January meeting
• o Dr. Doty invited to speak about where we are in terms of district transition.
• o Negotiations to have shared services with east and west side districts were not successful.

4. Instructional Aids

• § Kindergarten - 1 ~ Edy given permission to hire 17 hour/week aid (T, W and ½ Th) hired and started yesterday
• § Math - School Land Trust money covers hiring three 17 hour/week aids to help in classrooms in for two grades at a time (1^st and 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grouped together) to allow the primary teacher to work with students who are struggling with math and the aid will work with the rest of the class. Have one of the three aids positions filled. Edy to put advertisement in Cat Tracks newsletter.
• § A few teachers are also going to start after school tutoring (teachers will be paid in service rates - this will be paid out of CSIP money) - children will be approved for this based on results of core measure testing.

5. Account Balances (FILL IN DETAILS FROM AGENDA)

• § Foundation
• o $15,325.74
• o ($1406.00 ) Fit Kids
• o Balance: $13919.74
• § School
• o $12729.61
• o $26.55 Albertsons
• o ($100.27) Flowers/plants for front of the school
• o $2169.58 Smith’s Earn and Learn
• o ($95.61) Vigos
• o ($100.00) French
• o ($100.00) Welch
• o ($50.00) Reed
• o $19.79 Albertsons
• o $204.57 Target
• o ($100.00) Johnson
• o Balance: $14595.22

6. Fund Raising

• § Idea ~ Learning Points - kids can earn points for ‘shopping’, participating vendors donate money back to “school of choice” (Learning Points may be a for profit organization that likely keeps some of the money)
• § Grant - Walmart update - Edy resubmitting
• § Other Grants - www.grantsalert.com or fastweb.com
• i. Edy investigating options for using an outside grant writer
• ii. Ed looking into possibility of shared efforts for grant writing across Canyons School District
• iii. Grants are typically for very specific areas (grants come with many restrictions)
• iv. The district has a grant writer - and all grant submissions going out are to go through her first
• v. Idea discussed to conduct a survey of the teachers to find out what areas they are interested in and/or where they need help
• vi. We need to be sensible about programs being brought in and balance that with core curriculum time.
• § 501 (c) (3) - if grant is a 501c, then it must go through foundation
• § Plastic Jars for ‘Support Your Local School Kids’ - idea from ‘My Blue Heaven’ movie ~ need to understand the process of how the donations will be picked up - Rob to contact PTA to see if they can help - ask all Community Council Members to take a jar or two to local businesses Thanks go to Ed Schwartz for making an ‘in-kind’ donation of the plastic donation jars that will be placed in the local businesses.
• § Butler Elementary SCC Brochure printing at gotprint.com 11cents a piece for 2500 - color/double sided = $275 - Wendy Pearson made motion to pay up to $300 for brochure printing, Ann Marie Sulzen seconded motion, motion passed. Anne Jacob will assist Ed Schwartz and Rob Aubrey in finalizing brochure prior to printing.

7. Website for SCC

• § Rob Aubrey is webmaster
• § Website = www.BESCC.com (there is link to this from school web page)
• § Cat Tracks Monthly newsletter (Robin Nielson is editor) - Rob/Ed to write an article about School Community Council and the web site for Dec edition
• § Ideas discussed to promote interest/usability of web site (e.g. wants/needs section, suggestion section, post cat tracks, etc… ) Anne Jacob will help with ideas for web site.
• 8. Update on Programs -
• § Meet the Masters - Next assembly in Dec 1st (assemblies are for the parents who are teaching and consider only having the older students go to the assemblies)
• § Fit Kids - ends next week, starts again in March
• § Dance Program - supposed to start in Dec, preparing for Butler Dances Around the World
• § Discussed ideas for programs -
• i. funding after school programs -
• ii. on site PE specialist
• iii. arts specialist (whether it be visual arts or musical/vocal)
• iv. Carol Whittaker to draft teacher survey questions and Anne Jacob will help to create the electronic survey on survey monkey
• v. Need to discuss at Jan SCC meeting where to focus energy/funding in the future on a few items to ensure we don’t get spread to thin (need to survey teachers before Jan meeting) - plan to have survey done by Dec 15

9. Update on After School Enrichment Programs

• § Spanish - will have 2 classes for Session II ~ a beginner session and intermediate, will also look into having 3 classes for Session III (very popular)

10. Other Items - None

11. Next Meeting ~ January 7, 2009 at 7pm (typically meetings will be first Wednesday)

12. Adjournment - Motion approved to adjourn meeting and meeting adjourned at 20:55

School Community Council Meeting

October 1, 2008

Minutes:                      

1. Welcome

• § Meeting was called to order at 7:00pm. Meeting was very well attended including 4 teachers members.

2. 9-3-08 Meeting Minutes Review

• § Edy McGee reviewed the minutes. Minutes approved by committee.

3. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

• § Last year: Chair=Ed Schwartz, Vice-Chair=Diana McKay
• § Anne Jacob nominated Ed Schwartz for Chair, Rob Aubrey seconded - all in favor. Ed accepted nomination.
• § Ed Schwartz nominated Carol Whittaker for vice-chair, Lisa Devasharyee seconded - all in favor. Carol accepted nomination.

A win was celebrated:

Edy McGee shared the good news about Butler Elementary passed both state and Federal requirements for year-end testing

4. Finances

• a. Foundation = Jordan Education Foundation (JEF)
• § Balance=$15423.74 (3 expenditures so far)
• o $874.09 - Mountain States (Kindergarten letter books ~ approved by SCC last year)
• o $947.21 and $31.69 - Warehouse Order (Meet the Masters supplies ~ approved by SCC last year)
• § Edy to contact Foundation to verify what happens to these funds with the upcoming district changes and check if we can transfer that money into the Community Council account.
• b. School = Community Council
• § Balance= $12960.76 (1 deposit so far)
• o $204.57 - Target
• c. $100 per teacher
• § Total would equate to approx $2800 (21 k-6 + resource + 2 cluster + literacy specialist + ½ time SLP; this would not include any allocation for preschool teachers)
• § This has been funded in the past by the SCC.
• § Note: This allocation is in addition to the $100 per teacher that PTA provides and dollars (unknown amount) from legislature (Edy also communicated that new teachers do get a larger allocation for the first few years from the legislature dollars.)
• § Discussion:
• o teachers consistently spend money out of own pocket,
• o teachers have to submit receipts for purchases,
• o idea to provide support/funding for workshops ~ there are other resources for teachers to get financial assistance with workshops and it would be too challenging to try to provide dollars for workshops/continuing education and make this equitable
• o idea to allocate dollars for bringing in some type of education for teachers ~ hard to also incur costs for substitutes at $90 / day
• § Julie Aubrey made motion to approve $100 per teacher as noted above, seconded by Edy McGee - all in favor - motion passed

Other Information:

• o Butler Elementary was provided 21 Apple Computers that are being used by upper grades and those teachers are also conducting in services for other teachers
• o Bad News about our Computer Lab ~ 11 computers got fried from loose ground connection, along with connectors and printers. Cost is estimated at approximately $12,000. Insurance claim is still pending; anticipated that district will take care of this, just unsure of timing.

• o ******INVITATION: Tuesday 10/7/08 at 3pm the new superintendent is coming to meet with Butler Elementary Faculty - all SCC Members are welcome to attend.

5. Fund Raising

• a. Grants
• § Edy stated that there are grants available, however, the school needs assistance looking for grants and possibly writing grants. The district has a grant writer that Edy is working with as well - need to target what programs we want to fund and then look for grants that help with that (ie. PE, music, art, etc..) - Wendy Pierson and Jamie Anderson volunteered to assist. Council members also expressed interest in looking into grants for musical instruments and foreign language education.
• b. Contact previous donors
• § Per Brian, last years sponsors provided substantial amount of money, can go ask same businesses again, however, also need to ask/identify other businesses. We also should target volume of smaller donations (SCC is grass roots organization).
• § Brian proposed that we put up banners/signs for last years sponsors again ~ either on fence or on wall - approved by committee.
• c. Other
• § New sponsors - min $1000 to get company logo banner on fence / building
• § Selling ad space in school directory - half page $50, full page $100, back page $? — Ed Schwartz and Jamie Peterson and others will work to sell ad space to community businesses and parents …. Andrea Wilkinson is in charge of directory, however, SCC members can contact Kelly Chase (PTA President) to facilitate purchasing ad space. Time is short for the directory.
• § Committee discussed sending letter home to parents letting them know about fund raising efforts and what options are available to help (e.g. ad space for sale). The letter should celebrate wins / special programs we have brought in …. …. Edy to draft… and Brian create rate sheet for banners / Kelly and Wendy create rate sheet for program ads and then Edy will get draft sent out for review - hopefully to get out to parents by early next week.
• § Idea proposed to collect change from parents quarterly at student pick up (SCC decided to not pursue this at this time and to focus parent fund raising on the big fund raisers like the Dances Around the World show.
• § Idea proposed to also sell ad space for Butler Dances Around the World program (scheduled for March 20, dress rehearsal March 19) as well as sell parent messages to children (e.g. Good Luck in the show Bob, We Love You Ellie)

6. Website for SCC

• § Rob Aubrey is helping to start the website framework.
• § Website = www.BESCC.com (will also add link from school web page to this)
• o Check into putting the logos for the sponsors on the web sites
• o Coupons for sponsors~ Edy to verify legality of putting coupons on web site
• o In future can look into putting link to donate through the web site
• o Need editor for the web site - Anne Jacob volunteered to help with that
• o Plan to have something ready for Parent-Teacher conference in early November and distribute letter to advertise web site at that time
• § Idea proposed to visit each store in this community - possibly put jar at each register and add link for that business on the SCC web site…. Promotes community involvement and gets BUZZ going… larger sponsors can get larger links
• o Propose Eagle Scout project to help with this (Would need to focus on businesses within Butler Elementary School boundary and need to get emptied frequently) ~ Brian will mentor Eagle Scouts.

7. Update on Meet the Masters and Fit Kids

• a. Meet the Masters started last Monday - going great!
• b. Fit Kids running very well this year - smoother than last year - kids are getting a lot of exercise!!

Encourage every one to bring ideas to the SCC for additional programs

8. Update on After School Enrichment Programs

• a. Spanish - will start on Thursday (filled up very fast - several parents upset that their child did not get to participate)
• i. Edy to look into other options for additional beginner Spanish language class
• b. Mad Scientist - started tonight, first one went well
• c. Chess - starts this Friday
• d. Studio Kids - started in September - Monday

9. Other Items

• a. Training for School Community Council principals and chairs - Ed and Edy have already attended.
• b. Copy/collate/staple A-Z reading books for first graders — books are from on-line program and school gets copyright license - school should pay for the copying costs (very labor intensive) - are there any other options for this?

10. Adjournment - Motion approved to adjourn meeting and meeting adjourned at 20:30

• 11. Next Meeting ~ Nov 12, 2008 at 7pm (typically meetings will be first Wednesday, please note: November meeting will be second Wed)

Agenda:                       

   1.  Welcome

        Ed Schwartz convened meeting at 7:03

   2.  5-7 Minutes          

        Motion and acceptance of minutes

3.  Meet the Masters

     Last year we raised money to do Meet the Masters

     Julie Schwartz discussed the program

     Need volunteers for Hansen and Shearer - can call room moms about this

     PTA is working on room moms

     Young - a.m. or p.m.?

     Tiffany will do bulletin board for Meet the Masters - front bulletin board - don’t need board until December

     Program is underway - need  $1500 for supplies

     Motion on the table, seconded and approved

4.  Election Process

     Edy explained election process.  Have parents return the ballot in a sealed envelope. Ed will compose a letter to send home.

   5.  2008-2009 Enrichment programs

        Studio Kids

        Spanish

        Chess

        Mad Scientist Workshops

        Discussed costs

   6.  FitKids and Dance Program

        KitKids - using CORE curriculum

        Butler Dances Around the World - Kellee explained the U’s program

   7.  Finances - with today’s expenditure we have about $11000

        Library would like money for new books-hold until next meeting when new council is in place.

   8.  Meeting Schedule: First Wednesday of every month except November & March when it will be held the second Wednesday. Minus December

   9.  Ed Schwartz

        Only time success proceeds work is in the dictionary - through hard work and great effort that we raised so much money; funded Jr. Engineering, Meet the Masters

        SCC grass roots level - want people from all of Butler’s areas - more conversation is created in community the better we can deal with district.

        Got to get out and raise money - speak to business about business partnerships

        Need to bring programs in, fund them, and keep them going.

        Need to have parents from every part of the community present

        Need to raise awareness of what SCC does.  Takes a lot of work, a lot of time. Get exposure at the district as SCC that is active. Can talk and look at our success, but it’s going to take hard work, ideas, etc. so we can make an impact on the BES community.

        –Julie Aubrey willing to call room parents. Teachers can bring that up with parents. Ask for money-become a business partner - $1000.

10.  Adjournment at 8:03.