St. Christopher School

St. Christopher School

School Board Meeting Minutes

June 9, 2010

Members Present:  Mary Carr (chair), Fred Daniels (Vice Chair), Jack Daniels (Principal), Nick Dahl, Mary Jane King, Carol Laplante,  Paula MacLellan, Mark Sheehy, Marta Nissen (Director of Development)

Members Absent:  Roland Savoie, Fr. Richard Kelley

1. 1) We began the meeting with the Opening Prayer.
2. We reiterated the policy that the meetings are open and welcome visitors to the board meetings.
3. May minutes had previously been distributed to board members.  May minutes were accepted.
4. 4) Finance Committee. The school continues financially strong.  Prior to the end of the year, we will purchase:
   1. Computers—one for the auction and a new computer for the computer lab
   2. New desks in 1^st and 2^nd grade

iii) Landscaping to finish in the back of the school around the playground and to clean up the front of the school

1. Auction deposit for the hotel
2. 5) Principal’s Report
3. Our projected enrollment for 2010 – 2011 as of today is 307 students.
4. b) Grounds and Facilities
   1. Eno Boards: most teachers are using them regularly and usage continues to grow.  We expect it will expand as teachers receive more training and learn from one another.  We are adding a portable Eno board that can be used in K as well as in music which will be held in the Church hall next year.
   2. We will complete the landscaping and clean up of debris and brush to left of playground fence.  This includes planting trees/bushes to provide a visual fence for the neighbors as previously agreed.

iii) Mark Sheehy received quotes for picnic tables for area adjacent to the playground. We will purchase them.

1. Engraving large stone outside the gate and bricks are scheduled to be completed 6/24
2. Lawns—Mark has 2 quotes for mowing.  The front water sensor on the front sprinklers is not functioning and will be fixed
3. Kevin Curran generously offered to donate a commercial air conditioning system to the school. While we appreciate the offer, the Board decided to not to pursue this because of concerns surrounding installation on the roof, duct work that would have to be completed, and ongoing utility expenses.

vii) Meeting space is at a premium.  We will use an area near one of the stairwells as well as the church hall, library and teacher’s room for future meetings.

1. The current music room will be the new 3^rd grade.  Miss Hilton will be moving from K to 3^rd grade.
2. The Church Hall will be shared between gym and music. The schedules for music and gym will change to work around scheduling the church hall.  Gym will take place on Monday and Thursdays.
3. c) New Staff. Mr. D has hired new teachers for the 2010 – 2011 school year.  They are:    Rossana Landau for Spanish and Holly Hauntsman as a pre-kindergarten aide in the am and teacher in the afternoon session.
   1. Bullying Education.   Bully avoidance and classroom disruption come up frequently on tours given to parents who are contemplating transferring their older child to our school.  On the fall calendar are two important dates.  The September calendar has NED Program/Bullying Education on 9/20 at 9:15 and 10 AM as well as a Parent Workshop on Bullying on 10/14 at 6:30 PM.
4. 6) Advancement
5. Marta has done a great job getting our Facebook page up and it is very active.  The number of St, Christopher fans continues to grow.
6. Recent Telegraph article described the babysitting course that several students completed after school.
7. Our volunteers are wonderful and active, although there are challenges in getting enough hot lunch volunteers.  Hot lunch is led by volunteers and it takes a team leader and 3 -4 volunteers each day.
8. We are running wait lists in several grades.  Beginning next year, we will move toward an application process, rather than just having people fill out a registration form.
   1. Unfinished business: replacing teachers’ desks/chairs.  Teachers recommend no replacement desks/chairs.
   2. Board Planning/Prioritizing meeting on 8/26, Thursday, at 6:30 PM. Suggested Strategic Planning Categories are: Enrollment, Fundraising, Community Vibe and a handful of initiatives that are our short-term priority including usage of eno boards to enhance academics.
   3. Meeting schedule for 2010 – 2011. Board meetings and finance committee meetings are normally on the second Wednesday of the month.  For your next year’s calendars—in November, December, and March, School Board Meetings will take place on the THIRD Wednesday of the month, not the second, due to a Holy Day, Ash Wednesday, etc.

10) Thanks for a great school year!