November 9, 2009

Staff: L.Moniuszko , M. MacGregor, E. Saar, K. Lamont, B. Flesher D. Claussen, M. Blenner, C. McArdle, T. Lough

Parents: J. Kim, M. Lindor, A. Salmon, R. Brock, A. Blaes, K. Tamai

 

Handouts distributed: Nov Meeting Agenda, Revised Advisory Council By-laws, School Improvement plan, Superintendents Advisory Council meeting minutes,

Review of October meeting minutes. Minutes reviewed, noted actions taken suggested at last meeting: PAC bulletin board outside office, posted meeting minutes, posted meeting schedule to allow others to attend, provided suggestion box, posted info on Principal’s webpage, Requested that line be added to email questions or concern for PAC to school. Suggested that all information be posted online. Create separate PAC webpage on Antietam Site. Minutes approved. Moniuszko requested that council members not field questions from parents but refer them to school for more detailed response.

 

Open Chair: no items at this time

PTA:. (Brock) at tonight PTA meeting focus is on internet safety presented by PWC Police. Fitness Night is tomorrow (Tues, Nov 10) at 630 pm; Spirit Night is on Tues Nov 17 at Applebee’s; Sally Foster is coming on Wed Nov 18; Spirit wear orders are due Tues Nov 17; thinking of general logo spirit wear for spring.

Superintendent’s Advisory Council Representative:. (Blaes) Minutes form Oct 8 meeting were distributed to all members. Noted student increase in county was double projections. 3000 new versus 1500 expected. There are 88 schools. Some plans for new build and some plans for retrofits. The board is working on 5 year strategic plan and they are asking for comments from the community on each area. Trend is using K to 2 as diagnostics then grades 3 to 5 as performance.

Review of By-laws:  - provided changes that were proposed at last meeting. Changes noted in red on provided handout. We read over the changes made.  Council voted. Changes approved and accepted

School Improvement Plan –.Thank you to all members for work and review of School improvement plan. Finalized 5 year plan distributed to all members.

 

Strategic Plan – The School Board is encouraging the community to review and comment on the proposed 2011-2015 Strategic Plan. Go to http://pwcs.edu/news2/announcement-strategic.html   Mrs MacGregor was impressed by all of the ideas, comments and suggestions of this Council for Antietam improvements. She encourages all parents to go online to review the plan. Comments can be made by area not just general over all. Comments should be in by December 15^th.

Budget: Currently 25% through year and have spent 44% of our funding. Mrs Moniuszko watches it carefully. She feels we are in sound financial shape. She is ok with our current spending since it is money incumbered. She will save as much as allowed for carry over to next year. Needs to watch how much is saved. Loudon County had saved money taken away by County. She anticipates more cut back and less funding available. She will purchase an spend as need when we make it to the end of the school year. We spent some money from last year on the 32 new Smart boards installed in all the classrooms plus music, ESOL, Library, Special Ed, Art and gifted program. Mrs Blaes asked if we expected to see any blips in funding? Enrollment changes? ESOL? Spec Ed?

 

Principal’s time: Enrollment: Enrollment is up 523 in 2006, 515 in 2007, 567 in 2008 and 590 in 2009; this week we added another 10 students. Hiring and Teacher reduction – using retired to work as subs. Hired new 1^st grade teacher. Class of 12 put in to guidance room. Mrs Saar moved to an office.  Hired two more ESOL teachers. Number went down so reduced one teacher to half time, shared with another school. Will revisit if numbers change. PEP – Parents as Education Partners: Happening on Tuesday an Thursday from October to December. Parent classes. Babysitting provided. Helps parents understand the school and the system. Learn about report cards, study habits, taking tests, any topics parents do not understand; After School Activities – Currently we have the following activities: Tae Kwon Do, Chorus, Spanish Club, Magic Club, Chess Club. Possibly more to come. K to 2 Tae Kwon Do in the spring; Discipline Plan – went home with students the first week of October. Parents and kids signed it. Explained levels of infractions and consequences; Track absentees – We are watching the absentee rates. One week was up to 20%.; School of Excellence – Antietam has been named a school of excellence for the 8^th year in a row now!!!

 

Other items:  Mrs Kim asked about spending for library books. She sees many shelves empty. Mrs Claussen explained we have a very full library. Some books are changed as they wear out or information changes. Overall we have a much bigger library and more books than other schools. Mrs MacGregor explained that the library has a separate budget to continue to purchase more books and materials. They also get lots of books from the book fair. Kevin also noted that we have the one dollar bronco Book store and the PTA purchased books for the library last year. Mr Lough commented that in addition to the library, classrooms have additional books and the advanced reading room is full of books. Next meeting is December 7 at 6pm in Library. Adjourn at 7:00 pm.