LA CAÑADA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

School Site Council Meeting

January 22, 2008

3:15 p.m.

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Jacob Tujian called the meeting to order at 3:15 p.m.

Attendance was as follows:

 

Staff:                                       Officers:                     Parent Representatives:

Nancy DeBoer                                   Jacob Tujian               Su Potts

Wendi Damico                        Ann Christensen       

Mary Linda Vandevelde       Pam Knapp, PTA      

Barbara Drange                     Gita Singh                                          

Donna Stassel                       

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

 

The November 2007 minutes were brought forth for review.  Ann Christensen moved for the approval of the November minutes, and Barb Drange seconded the motion.  The motion was unanimously passed.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

 

SITE COUNCIL BUDGET FOR 2007-2008:

 

At the last meeting it was agreed that any surplus of the budget would be set aside until further recommendation could be made on the expenditure of those funds. Jacob requested that Barb Drange arrange for Mike to attend the 2/26/08 meeting to educate the council on the viability of a hand washing station. Barb said she would make those arrangements.

 

Barb also reported that she contacted the Scantron Company regarding a machine. The company informed her that a machine is given to the school with an order of 500 sheets. 500 sheets is approximately $60. Barb estimated that the 4th thru 6th grades would easily consume 5000 sheets each year. A purchase of 5000 sheets would allow for the teachers to determine if this was worth while without too costly of expenditure. Jacob recommended that we wait until the next meeting to get a better estimate of the hand washing station and to see if we would have sufficient funds in the budget. 

 

II.        REPORTS

 

The following Monthly Reports were provided:

 

Principal’s Report

                               

Mrs. Ellis was unable to attend the meeting and requested Barb Drange give the Principal’s report.

 

            Barb Drange read a letter from Mrs. Ellis regarding her departure and thanking the council for their service.

 

            Barb then reported that the district had interviewed one man and two women to act as the interim principal after Mrs. Ellis’ departure. The district has narrowed their search to two candidates and was making their decision by tomorrow.

 

            The laptops and projectors that had been budgeted in November have been ordered.

 

B.        PTA Report

Pam Knapp gave the following report:

 

            George Belikoff, the school physical education instructor, has requested a shade structure be installed over the existing play structure on the physical education field. Mr. Belikoff had researched a grant application for up to $8000 for such a structure. The likelihood of receiving the grant is considered high. A bid has been secured for $16,000 which is well over the grant amount. As such, Mr. Belikoff is requesting assistance from the PTA to fund the balance. The PTA has placed this item on their agenda for the next meeting.

 

            Pam Knapp met with Lisa Goldstein from the La Canada Educational Foundation to discuss the Foundation’s plans with regard to technology. At this time, plans are not concrete; however, the Foundation is planning to first focus on the 7/8 grades, with the elementary schools as a secondary focus. The Foundation has discovered that the San Marino District Foundation was providing technology grants for the school and our local Foundation is moving towards duplicating the grants in La Canada.

 

            The members of the council discussed their concerns that we had paid for a significant portion of the school ’s technology. The council agreed that we would request and encourage the Foundation to still make equal allotments to LCE even though we were leading the elementary schools in technology, It is vital that we continue to expand and maintain the school’s technology.

 

            Pam then reported that plans for the talent show were moving forward. The PTA is working on a new approach that would only include individual acts for grades 4-6th. One group act for each K-3rd grade would be allowed with a parent volunteer to lead the group.

 

            The PTA is also considering revising the art museum for future years to make it less tedious for the teachers.

 

            Lastly, the PTA is will be spotlighting the new teachers on campus through the Lion Times.

 

C.        GATE Report

 

Linda Reisz, GATE Parent Representative, was not in attendance. No report. 

 

            III. ADDITIONAL

 

            Jacob asked the council to come to the next meeting with recommendations for next years site council.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

The next meeting will be on February 26, 2008 .

 

Submitted by:

Ann Christensen

Site Council Secretary, 2007-08