In Attendance:
Excused:
Opening Prayer:
Principal’s Report:
St Albert the Great
School Board Meeting Minutes
April 13, 2015
Kelly Evans – Chair
Charles Stafford – Vice-Chair
Josh O’Bryan - Secretary
Kelly Schulz – Past President
Holly Preischel
Bernadette Cooper – Principal
Tom Simms – Asst. Prin.
Kitty Wagner – Faculty Rep
Greg Sysol
Brittany Pesce
Craig Vermost
Marie Gould
Patrick Early
Jeff Sullivan (by invitation)
Jeff Squyres (by invitation)
Chris Spalding (by invitation)
Rev. Wayne Jenkins
Meeting was called to order at 7:00p.m.
Mrs. Evans
Mrs. Cooper
Mrs. Cooper stated that the school was still waiting on Terra Nova scores, but she had received an email indicating that the scores were “great.”
Mrs. Cooper then announced that Mr. Simms was resigning at the end of the school year to pursue a career in law; the school board wished him well in his new career path.

Mrs. Cooper indicated that the process to replace Mr. Simms would begin immediately and that Mr. Simms would actively participate in the process.
Mrs. Cooper then reported on various other staff matters, including:

One candidate had so far applied for the open 7 th and 8 th grade
Math/Religion position.

Mrs. Borhoe (1 st grade) would be retiring at the end of the school year; Mrs. Hermes (K) would replace her if there would only be two
Kindergarten classes during 2015-2016.
The board then discussed Kindergarten enrollment:

Mrs. Cooper: 37 Kindergarteners are currently enrolled for 2015-
2016 o There are 59 Kindergarteners in 2014-2015.

Mr. Vermost: Parish Finance Council (PFC) has submitted a 2015-
2016 budget which provides for only two Kindergarten classes; PFC projects an approximate $80K budget shortfall in connection with retaining the current 3 class structure.

The board then discussed the implications of going to 2 Kindergarten classes on both the school’s budget and reputation. o Reputation
 Board members expressed concern that moving to 2
Kindergarten classes will raise concerns with parents about the future of the school.

 Board members also raised concerns that current parents may pull their students and a negative perception of St. Albert will make it increasingly difficult to attract new families. o Budget
 Board members expressed concern that moving to 2
Kindergarten classes will threaten the new building plan (which provides for 3 Kindergarten classrooms)
 Members suggested that a single grade with only two classes will create logistical issues as that class progresses. o Options
 The board discussed that moving to 2 Kindergarten classes for 2015-2016 may be inevitable, but that more information is necessary to determine the longterm impact.
 The board discussed using the additional
Kindergarten classroom to increase the number of 4year olds in the preschool to generate additional revenue and drive additional students toward our
Kindergarten.

It would likely be too late to expand the preschool for the upcoming year
 Mrs. Cooper indicated that Play Café will be expanding to accommodate 20 additional students during 2015-2016, which will increase revenue. o Enrollment Committee

The board then discussed the how to determine whether 2 Kindergartens is a long-term or short-term issue.

Upon motion by Kelly Evans, seconded by Patrick
Early, the board created a special “Enrollment
Committee” to study this issue.

The Committee will:

Gather data regarding: o Neighborhood demographics; o PREP participation; o Stewardship participation; o Baptism rates; o Current Student/Parent statistics and views; o Surrounding parish Kindergarten enrollment and trends; o Archdiocese enrollment and trends.

Based on this information, the Committee will make a recommendation to the board, administration and parish as proposed action with respect to enrollment trends.

A preliminary action will be to create a survey of current parents to determine their views, ideas, thoughts, etc. regarding the school, the administration and the current state of St. Albert.

PTO:
Committee Reports:
PR/Marketing/Devel.
Planning:
Budget:
Policy:
Data:
Technology:
New Business:
 Mr. O’Bryan suggested granting a “free dress” day to encourage responses. o The board then discussed ways to generate goodwill about the school and ways to increase revenue and enrollment, including:
 Developing a St. Albert “elevator speech” for use when discussing the school with potential new students and parents.
 Enhancing the Monday Memo by inserting biographies on St. Albert alums, biographies of current students (created by current students) and additional trivia about St. Albert the Great School and Parish.
 $500 referral fee.
 Send Catholic Education Foundation scholarship information to current and PREP students.
 Share Work Plans with parents/students to demonstrate positive changes. o The board decided to prepare a statement about the two
Kindergarten decision to parents.
Mrs. Gould
Mrs. Gould reported on the following PTO initiatives:

The alcove between the school buildings has been updated to provide additional protection from tornados and hurricanes.

Second Annual Fundraising Roundtable is to be held April 18 th .

Teacher Appreciation Week is the week of May 4 th .

Field Day is May 22 nd .
Ms. Evans and Mr. Sysol reported that preschool director day would be held on April 16 th . Planning will also have a picnic booth again this year.
Mrs. Pesce proposed a meeting of each Committee Chair to discuss next steps in the Strategic Planning process.
Mr. Vermost indicated that he had not received a new income statement as the PFC’s primary focus had been regarding the 2 Kindergarten issue.
Mr. Early discussed the attached proposed changes to school policies.
See Attachment A.
Mrs. Preischel indicated that she would determine how many PREP students would be going into Kindergarten in 2015-2016.
Mr. Stafford and Mr. Squyres discussed the progress and process of implementation of the Chromebook 1:1 plan.
Installment mass for new board members would be held on Sunday,
April 19 th , at 10:30 mass.

The board established the following dates for board meetings during
2015-2016:
Closing Prayer:
Meeting adjourned at 9:15p.m.
Meeting minutes submitted by Josh O’Bryan
May 4, 2015 Next meeting:

July 18 th (Workshop)

September 14

November 9

January 4

March 7

April 11

May 2
Mrs. Evans led the board in a closing prayer.

EN15053.Public-15053 4837-7880-5027v1
5/4/2015 2:16 pm
Attachment A
See Attached.