Seawell
Elementary School
October
7,2003
Members
Present: Amy Kwiek, Keri Litwak, Terry Stewart, Katherine Worley, Susan Pegg,
Phylis Cook, Ursula Council, Mark Peters, Teri Stern, Larry Fox
Visitors:
Kathlene Holmes, David Klionsky, Laurie Buck, Linda Williford, Merna Galassi,
Joanna Edwards, Dr. Collins-Hart, Maryanne Rosenman
Others
in attendance: Marny Ruben
Mark
Peters reviewed the agenda and approved the minutes from the previous meeting.
Seawell lost 1/2 ESL position to the high school due to a decreased number of English as a Second Language students at Seawell this year.
Seawell earned $1600 at the Great Harvest sale.
Chuck Stone, a professor at UNC and local author will present his new book at the PTA meeting on Nov. 10th at 7:00 in the media center. This will be an African American focus group meeting, a FORT meeting, as well as a PTA meeting.
Seawell is down one teacher assistant position in second grade this year due to the state lowering class size and local funding not being available.
Third grade assistants are helping to minimize this loss by working in a second grade classroom one hour a day.
Terry Stern is helping by running off second grade papers.
David Klionsky shared that parent involvement is welcomed on a teacher need basis for updating web pages. Web pages are not required for teachers. Parents who are interested in helping can contact David.
Merna Galassi shared data from the state accountability testing. She reviewed that Seawell met all of the No Child Left Behind categories.
Linda Williford shared the events that FORT sponsored last year including adopting Hargraves as their neighborhood, hosting a PTA meeting, and organizing Asian Night.
Kathlene Holmes shared the work Seawell has been doing on Equity and the progress of the African American focus groups. She also shared about the Adopt-a-Student program, After-School Tutorial, and an Equity Parent Survey. Kathlene shared new strategies that Seawell is trying this year.
Terry Stewart presented the Literacy Collaborative model that Seawell began implementing last year and continues to phase in this year.
David Klionsky presented on the number of computers Seawell has in use and the new focus of refreshing computers and networking computers. He shared his role as staff development trainer for teachers and the half days of release time for grade levels to work together on technology skills.
Susan Pegg shared the lead teacher roles for the new SIP.
Maryanne Rosenman and Dr. Collins-Hart followed the presentation with a question/answer session about the previous SIP.
Dr. Collins-Hart congratulated Seawell on meeting their NCLB goals stating that it was not a coincidence, it was strategic and concentrated.
The fifth grade teachers will be sending out a survey soon for parents to vote towards their interests for a fifth grade trip/culminating activity at the end of the year. The results of the survey will be used in making the decision about the trip.
Ms. Council relayed a concern of minority parents at the orientation on the issue of starting to talk to our children about drugs at an earlier age. It was shared that this in part of the fifth grade Health curriculum and in the new Healthful Living curriculum.
Mr. Peters shared a discussion about equity and how the district is looking into fees that children are assessed for activities and events that are related to school.
Terry Stewart shared that a meeting would take place when key members of the police force returned from vacation.
Goals for the year- moved to the next meeting
Merger- Public hearing dates were shared and Maryanne Rosenman reinforced an emphasis on the importance of representation from the Chapel Hill/Carrboro staff and parents.
The question of Seawell’s SGC and PTA taking a position on the merger was raised. The committee agreed that the SGC needed more information on the issue. Mark shared a draft of a list of concerns about the merger that he would like the SGC to share/ask about at the hearing at CHHS on Oct. 16th. Issues, concerns and personal views were shared with the realization that the SGC represents the entire school and what is best for the school. The SGC decided to make a decision as a group at the next meeting, after going to the hearing. The committee edited and revised the list of concerns/questions to be shared at the hearing.
SGC will have a second meeting in October, scheduled for Oct. 21st at 6:00- no dinner. The issues to be discussed are goals for the year and merger.