MASON COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION
MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting
November 8, 2004
1] CALL TO ORDER
President Al Deering called the meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
2]
ROLL CALLMembers Present:
Jim Dittmer, Al Deering, Randy Saxton, Gena Nelson, Nancy Knizacky, Sherry Wyman, Roland Struve (8:03 p.m.)Members Absent
Others Present: Jeff Mount, Deb Thomas, Randy Fountain, Joe Sturgess, Kris Courtland-Willick, Carla Mayer, Chuck Sandro, Trent Naumcheff (8:07 p.m.)
Others Absent: Christy Christmas, Bob D'Agostino, Jack Murchie, Sherryl Martin
Also Present: Bob Ferney, Jessica Danielson, Nancy Jurkowski, Angie Hood, Mark Steigenga of Ludington Daily News
3]
CONSENT APPROVAL OF AGENDAMr. Deering asked that an informational report on the MASB Fall Conference be added. Mr. Sandro requested that an executive session be added to discuss superintendent evaluation. The agenda with additions was approved.
4]
*CALENDAR APPROVALA motion was made by Mr. Dittmer, supported by Mr. Saxton, to approve the minutes of the October 25 regular meeting. The motion carried 6 – 0.
5] DELEGATIONS, COMMUNICATIONS AND EXPRESSIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, 30 Minutes maximum
None.
6]
INFORMATIONAL REPORTSA. Victory Early Childhood Center – Angie Hood
Staff members Jessica Danielson and Nancy Jurkowski were introduced by Ms. Hood.
Ms. Hood distributed a handout on the Goals and supporting Activities of the center, which she reviewed with the board. She reported that 99 children pass through the Center daily.
B. November 15 In-service – Mr. Sandro
Plans for the all day in-service will be firmed up in Administrative Council Tuesday morning. Each building will have programming for their staffs, in addition to M-LISD offerings, Homelessness information, and time for Mr. Sandro to meet with each staff to address a number of important topics.
C. Michigan Education Trust (MET) – Carla Mayer
Ms. Mayer gave a brief review of the MET program. The enrollment period for parents, grandparents, etc, to establish a trust to assist with a child’s college tuition runs through June 15, 2005. There are certain tax benefits to the various plan options. There is a link to the MET website through the parent information portion of the district website
D. District School Improvement Update – Gena Nelson
Ms. Nelson, Ms. Wyman, and Mr. Sandro have met to begin the planning for the DSI team. They have targeted the first week of December to meet with staff, students, parents, and community members who wish to be a part of the team. This first meeting will be for the purpose of identifying the role of the team.
E. Goals Review – Mr. Sandro
Governance: Mr. Sandro announced that MASB will be sending the first section of the policy re-write early next week for the board’s review.
Facilities: We will continue efforts to evaluate and upgrade our facilities through community input and an established plan.
Accountability: The DSI team has expressed a strong interest in establishing a plan for accountability.
F. MASB Fall Conference Report – Mr. Saxton, Mr. Dittmer
Mr. Saxton reported that the finance clinics were popular among attendees of the conference. Indications are that the state funding outlook remains bleak.
Mr. Dittmer gave an overview of the general sessions. He also reported that the Delegate Assembly was disappointingly unproductive.
Mr. Dittmer also recommended the MASB Education Excellence Awards for consideration by administrators and staffs. MASB awards $1000 to each of ten winners annually.
7] ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS
High School Principal
Mr. Sturgess presented the following in the High School Report:
MEAP retake was administered last week to seniors. Sophomores and juniors wishing to dual enroll at WSCC will be traveling to WSCC to take the ASSET. This is possible through special arrangements made with WSCC.
Report cards were distributed last Thursday.
Fall sports are coming to a close.
The band students who traveled to Gladstone for the football playoff game last week received many compliments on their excellent behavior and manners.
Middle School Principal
Jeff Mount
The marking period ended last Friday and report cards will go home this Friday.
MS students had collected $375 during a spare change drive and donated the money to the Red Cross Hurricane Disaster Relief effort. The Red Cross recently presented a slide show for the students that documented the devastation created by the recent hurricanes.
The annual Veterans’ Day Assembly will be Wednesday, November 10. Students will view a slide show and the choir will perform.
A "Manners and Magic" assembly is scheduled for November 24. This will be for all K-8 students.
Mr. Mount shared an email from a staff member that reiterated the success of the recently established Homework Lab.
Elementary Principal
Randy Fountain
Parent Teacher conferences are scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday of this week.
RIF (Reading is Fundamental) book distribution will be November 11 at Riverton and November 17 at Scottville.
The Friends of the Scottville Elementary Library will hold their annual Craft Show on November 13 at Scottville Elementary.
November 15 the staffs will be involved in in-service activities, including First Aid certification and ELA work.
Riverton Elementary will hold a Career Day for students on November 18.
Thanksgiving dinners will be served on November 16 and 17. Students are welcome to invite a family member or other friend to join them.
Business Manager
Ms. Courtland-Willick reported that finance information has been successfully submitted to the state.
Community Ed Director
No Report.
Curriculum, Marketing, Projects
No Report.
Superintendent
Mr. Sandro addressed the recently released High School Report Card. The AYP status will be reviewed and likely appealed.
He congratulated the Victory Early Childhood Center on their success.
The Journey High School /Middle School cooperative is also a successful venture, with approximately 146 students enrolled.
The board goals for long range planning are challenging and worthy.
Mr. Sandro credited our great kids and parents for a successful start to the school year.
8] *ACTION ITEMS
A. HOUSSE Portfolio Approval – Mr. Sandro
Mr. Sandro outlined the steps for a teacher to be considered highly qualified. He then reviewed the HOUSSE guidelines with the board before asking them to adopt it as a tool for veteran teachers to achieve highly qualified status. A motion was made by Mr. Dittmer, supported by Mr. Saxton, to approve the HOUSSE Portfolio process.
The motion carried 7 – 0.B. Michigan School Readiness Program Resolution – Ms. Hood
The board was asked to pass a resolution accepting funding for 51 students in the MSRP housed at Victory Early Childhood Center. A motion was made by Mr. Saxton, supported by Ms. Wyman, to accept the funding for 51 MSRP students in the amount of $168,300.
The motion carried 7 – 0.9] ADDITIONAL EXPRESSIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, 20 Minutes maximum
None
Mr. Saxton made a motion, seconded by Ms. Wyman, to enter into an executive session following a five minute recess. The motion carried 7 – 0.
10] EXECUTIVE SESSION
An executive session was convened at 8:37 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the superintendent’s evaluation.
The board reentered regular session at 9:15 p.m.
11] OTHER
12] *ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Mr. Saxton, seconded by Ms Nelson, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 7 – 0.The meeting adjourned at 9:16 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
___________________________
Gena Nelson, Secretary