SLT Minutes 10/12/10
Meeting called to order at 3:55
Members Present: Robert Verhoeff, Nicole Coll, Cathe Anderson, Carrie Criswell, Amy
Oclassen, Nancy Kawata, Amy Bondanza, Cathy Stanek
Welcome & Review of Agenda: See hardcopy
Public Comment: N/A
Minutes-Review & Approval:
Motion to approve minutes with changes, Amy Bondanza, second Robert. Motion
approved.
2010-2011 Budget Report:
Nancy--carryover to be received in EIA--which funds the EL Para-educator, so proposal
to district being re-worked as PTA no longer needs to fund the difference. Tier III $5118
above computer resource needs, so money is being accessed for teacher subs, for grade
level planning, and for MAP assessments, subs for evaluation meetings and fluency
testing. Essentially funds are being used for subs needed for educational purposes
onsite. Title II funds are also allocated for professional development, being used for
GLAD training.
Bully-Proofing Survey Results:
Nancy--(see associated document) students grade 3-5 took the survey, results are not
compiled by grade, only as a whole among the 3 grades. Results were anonymous.
While it is anonymous, there was space at the end for students to address a particular
individual. Nancy reviewed the results. Nicole asked who made the survey--DWK,
which is the company doing the bullying program.
Robert--being that there are yard monitors, do they ever record events and then turn into
the office, so there is a correlation between what happens according to the kids and what
the official observation is? Nancy--yard duties relay info to her, either verbally or in
written form. Nancy then pursues after the fact. Nancy describes the difficulty in
monitoring so many kids--ratio of 1/100. She observes that the kids are great, but there
are times when children act inappropriately and need to be talked to. Nancy says in
relation to the complaints she actually hears, the report seems high. Kids were talked to
about the idea of bullying prior to taking the survey. Nancy--the data is basically a
product of how the children are feeling regarding fights, etc. Robert asked Nancy if there
were any actionable items brought forth from the results. Nancy said she felt that while
the playground can be an issue at times, we have only a certain amount of funding as it
relates to yard supervisors. Nancy asked if there were any suggestions from SLT. Cathe
mentioned that there is an anti-bullying assembly next week. Stanek--feels the bathroom
issue is significant as it makes the kids scared to go to the bathroom--not necessarily
bullying but it is poor behavior which makes it intimidating. Nicole mentioned that as a
yard supervisor, they do keep track of who is in the restroom and for how long and do
their best to monitor the bathrooms. There has been a system of reward set forth on the
playground, called Eagle Talons, which has been very successful. Amy B. said that when
she was student teaching, there were some kids that were specially trained in conflict
resolution that the kids could go to as a go-between for kids and supervisors. May
require more time for the yard supervisors to monitor and those kids have more time out
of the classroom for training, etc. This may be a concern for the teachers. The Eagle
Talons may serve the same purpose as the incentive makes the kids want to act as
moderators. Robert asks Nancy to inquire with the district to get the results of the survey
from the other schools for better analysis. Stanek--the bully box would be useful to see if
the same names come up, and also have the kids put down a possible solution to get them
thinking about solutions. Nancy suggests a box in both the breezeway and in each
classroom. Nicole says the box in the teachers room means the teachers can handle it and
it may not need to get all they way to Nancy each and every time. Stanek--suggests that
this issue becomes one for student council consideration. Bring it up to them whether the
box should be in the breezeway or the classrooms, etc. to get them involved in the
solution.
ELAC Committee Formation:
English Learner Advisory Committee will be formed. These individuals will come
together with Ellen and Mrs. Robles, and ask if they would like a committee that would
meet on a regular basis. They can send a rep to SLT or delegate to SLT. Meeting set up
next week to determine how to get info out to parents.
District PI Status Update:
Rancho will not be a receptor school this year.
Kinder Lottery & Outreach Update:
Amy O--letters sent out to different organizations, preschools, bulletin boards, etc.
Advance and IJ were contacted, Advance has printed the tour dates for Oct., hopefully
they will continue this process monthly. Nothing has been posted in the IJ. Both
publications have the dates on the community calendar online. Cathe-NUSD is holding a
kinder registration and is looking to have a PTA presence. This event will take place on
Nov 6th from 9-12 and they would like representatives from each school's PTA to attend
and be available to answer questions from parents.
Principal's Update:
Nancy attended the new SLT Training meeting and distributed literature related to the
meeting.
Rancho School Plan:
Top 10 Achievements needs to be included in the School Plan. Nancy submitted
suggestions for items to be included as Top 10 Achievements (see related document).
Discussion of what other items may need to be included. Amy and Cathe requested that
Study Island be included in the Top 10 Achievements. Nancy used the District Goals to
help determine the Top 10. Robert asked what we need to do to be able to meet the goals
as set forth by the district. Broad tutoring brought up as an possible option. Attendance
was noted as a possible area for improvement. There is a connection between attendance
and academic performance. Robert asks where the funds go when a child is not in
school. There is not a direct line between lost funds due to absences and a pool of funds.
Proposed to add to the agenda for next time the response for intervention.
Leadership Team Bylaws:
Amy O--wants to make some changes to the bylaws. Under "Structure" it may not be
clear how parity is spelled out in the bylaws. The number of classified staff has gone
down, it may not be appropriate to say that there must be a classified staff member on
SLT. Amy proposes that instead of how it currently reads, it instead says: 3-4 teachers, 1
school administrator, 1 other school staff member (if available). Ideally we would want 5
staff and 5 parents. Budget cuts have diminished the number of possible classified
members.
2nd change--instead of how it reads, that it should instead say: "Team members
completing their 1st term may seek a 2nd term by placing their name on the ballot for reelection." Purpose being that 2 back to back terms (4 years) is not a given, so that
members have the option to discontinue after 2 years. It also provides the option for
more people to get involved as the election process happens on a more regular basis.
Amy presents the letter of resignation from Terese Truex, which means Robert becomes
the replacement for her position. Discussion as to whether there needs to be a standing
alternate, for which there is no basis in the bylaws.
Meeting adjourned at 5:45.
Minutes were respectfully recorded, drafted and submitted by Carrie Criswell, LT
Secretary
LT Email Addresses:
Amy Oclassen:
Nancy Kawata:
Sarah White:
Amy Bondanza:
Cindy Curtice:
Irene Sherwood:
Carrie Criswell:
Robert Verhoeff:
Nicole Coll:
Cathy Stanek:
Marianne Hill:
amyoclassen@gmail.com
nkawata@nusd.org
swhite@nusd.org
abondanza@nusd.org
ccurtice@nusd.org
Isherwood@nusd.org
carriecriswell@comcast.net
robert.verhoeff@bestcollateral.com
thecollfamily@hotmail.com
cstanek@nusd.org
marianne@nhainc.net