Site Council Meeting Minutes - March 5, 2008

Members Present

• Rob Gibson, Vern Marshall, Tricia Barry, Melissa Dragich, Wiki
  Smith, Linda Kapranos, Chris Tebben,, Tom Fuller, Kim Ilosvay, Carol
  Schrader, Ingrid Petersen
• Guests: Craig Williams, Madeline Kokes, Gabrielle Tanner, Julie
  Wainwright, Katherine Muller, Julie Jetton, Cheryl Hering, Anita McKey,
  Nancy Drinnon, Ron Hartmann, Christine Dean

Update from Linda

• Diagram re: class size vs. enrichment
• Sharing what staff said – pros and cons of low class size vs. enrichment
• Melissa explains difference between enrichment (as the district
  mandated 3x per week) and electives (which happen as part of a daily
  schedule)
• Library and counseling don’t count as district’s 3x/week mandate

• Ron – advocated for band program, thinking about long-term
  philosophy of school and wondering if we can increase transfers to add
  to FTE
• Julie W. – advocating for music program, stating academic benefits
• Craig – Music/Band?  Wondering, any way to build up FTE by increasing transfers?
• Gabrielle – recognizing we are in a “no-win” situation, advocating
  for doing one thing well vs. snippets of many enrichments and…25 is not
  a “small” class size
• Others – Julie Wainwright voicing support for band/music program
• Point made that Freshman may not join band at Grant without taking band in 8th grade
• Madeline – votes for smaller class size to get core subjects
  • importance of foreign language and technology
  • can we form partnerships with companies for enrichment?

Recommendations /Prioritizing Staffing

• Linda ~ district set aside money for kindergarten to decrease class size
• if classes go above 23, they get an EA
• if kindergarten enrollment is over 76, we get a 4th FTE, but lose all EAs
• Model “A” (lower class size, less enrichment) seems best
• site council informally votes by show of hands, vote unanimous
• Kim wonders if less enrichment will mean longer Basics classes, Linda not sure now
• Carol – reiterates that we need to come up with priorities as a community, for a long-term vision
• Linda  -  wonders, what can we begin to start early and implement throughout the grades
• Wiki – any chance of a “zero period”?   Parents in attendance vote
  favorably for zero period, plus period and mixed age periods (as long a
  skill levels are put together)
• Melissa – we need to think about .5 vs. 1 FTE – what can we support?
• Site Council informally votes on prioritizing enrichment:
  • 1st – PE
  • 2nd – Library
  • 3rd – Spanish
  • 4th – music
  • 5th – art
• Some parents voiced desire to say more in the larger community about decisions being made regarding enrichments.
• All in attendance vote (added with site council vote)
  • 1st – PE
  • 2nd – Music
  • 3rd – Library
  • 4th – Spanish
  • 5th – art
• Some parents voiced desire to say more in the larger community about decisions being made regarding enrichments.

Agenda for next meeting (March 16th)   

No agenda made at meeting