LA CAÑADA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

School Site Council Meeting

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

3:15 p.m.

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

 

Bonnie Bair welcomed everyone back and called the meeting to order at 3:22 p.m.

Attendance was as follows:

 

Staff

Parents

Ex-Officio

Susan Bornhurst

Bonnie Bair

Ivette Ellis

Nancy DeBoer

Emilie Larcher

 

Barb Drange

Linda Reisz

 

Sue Fuelling

Joy Smith

 

Laura Johnson

Jacob Tujian

 

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

The May 23, 2006 minutes were brought forth for review.  Sue Fuelling moved for the approval of the May minutes, and Jacob Tujian seconded the motion.  The motion was unanimously passed.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL BUDGET

 

Mrs. Ivette Ellis, LCE Principal, distributed a copy of the School Site Council Budget 2006-2007. The main items that were highlighted and discussed included:

 

2006-2007 Budget: Mrs. Ellis mentioned that this year the Site Council is receiving $60,963 and with the 2005-06 carry-over of $81,504, the Site Council has $142,467.

 

Substitutes: Mrs. Ellis discussed the different type of substitutes used by the school. She also discussed the need for substitutes when each staff needs ½ a day for grade level for presentations.

 

Reading Intervention: According to recent test data, there is a need of some upper grade students needing to attend Reading Intervention and that is where the school’s priority will shift first. There was a discussion to consider advertising for the reading intervention vacancies in the LCE Lion Times. Reading Intervention teachers do not require credentials .

 

Technology Vertical Team: The Technology Vertical Team has been very beneficial to the school. Site Council budget pays for part of the Room & Board expenses at the conference for staff to attend. This year’s conference is sometime around March 2007 in Palm Springs.

 

Block Grant: Mrs. Ellis next discussed the one-time Block Grant LCE is receiving for 2006-2007 in the amount of $37,000.

 

STAR Program: Mrs. Ellis stated that Mr. Jim Stratton, Superintendent of the School District, would like to have the Site Council support the STAR program for Grades 4, 5 & 6 in the amount of $5,845. This program introduces children to the dangers of drugs, prepares them to have quick answers for difficult situations, and teaches them techniques to walk away from challenging situations.

 

Technology Upgrade: LCE is in need of more computer lab facilities, but the idea of “Taking the Lab to the Classroom vs. bringing the students to the lab” was introduced. The Middle School has recently got the portable computer labs and they have been a big success. The same concept was discussed at length for LCE.  Creating a “mobile lab” would need a technology upgrade to support the new equipment followed with a purchase order for the portable cart and laptops needed.

Mrs. Ellis will see if the Site Council will need an emergency meeting to look into this item. Part of the funds would come from the Block Grant money and an additional amount of $10,000 is available from the PTA.

 

Lastly, Mrs. Ellis mentioned she would like to give her staff a last chance for their feedback on the Budget items.

 

A motion was introduced by Barb Drange and seconded by Susan Bornhurst to provisionally approve the proposed Budget with more feedback needed on the Technology upgrade/portable lab item (feasibility, schedule, cost, etc) in order to finalize it. The motion included the approval of the STAR program. The motion was unanimously passed.

 

 

III.       REPORTS

 

 

The following Monthly Reports were provided:

 

Principal’s Report

 

Teacher/Teacher Staff Development: Mrs. Ellis discussed this beneficial program between teachers.

 

Mentor Program for Students: Mrs. Ellis advised that this is comprised of staff volunteers for students who need the extra support or adult presence.

 

Developmental Assets: Mrs. Ellis advised that there are 40 identified assets that students need in their lives to succeed in school and as adults. During the past summer, staff received training in some of these areas. In November staff will receive training in the developmental part of the program. In the future a parent component may be included. Mrs. Ellis mentioned that more than a program, Developmental Assets is a philosophy.

 

Reading Intervention: Mrs. Ellis advised that a better program had been identified and will be implemented.

 

Spanish Program: Mrs. Ellis advised that this year’s program is quite different than before. With new staff and tighter guidelines, it will be more effective and will enable students to go to Spanish 2 when they reach that stage.

 

Science Center: Mrs. Ellis advised that the Science center is being used more often with larger parent involvement.

 

Math Program:  Mrs. Ellis advised that a new pilot program will be tried with two staff members and the results analyzed.

 

English Language Art: Mrs. Ellis advised that the English Language Art Program has been very successful.

 

California Standards Tests (CST): Mrs. Ellis distributed copies of the CST results for Grades 2 and up. There is an overall improvement in the results. The tests were changed recently, with a bigger focus on looking at the results as a whole system/school.

API results were also up, which is great news but also puts pressure on everyone to maintain the results.

 

LCE Art at the District Office: Mrs. Ellis advised all to visit and see the LCE displayed art.

 

 

B.         Chair’s Report

                        None

 

C.        PTA Report

 

Spanish:  Emilie Larcher reported that although the PTA approved at the end of last year an expenditure of $20,000 for the Curriculum Spanish Program, the La Cañada Educational Foundation has stepped forward to pay that amount and relieved the PTA from the responsibility. However, $10,000 of the originally approved $20,000 will be given for technology needs at LCE.

 

Fundraising: Emilie Larcher reported that fundraising efforts are going great with the Halloween Haunt, the biggest LCE fundraising effort. It is scheduled for October 28, 2006.

 

GATE Report

 

Linda Reisz, GATE Parent Representative distributed the GATE Advisory Board Meeting Report dated September 19, 2006, discussing staff, schedules, parent letters, etc.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

 

 

Submitted by:

Jacob Tujian

Site Council Secretary, 2006-07