Seawell
Elementary School
December 2,2003
Members Present Amy Kwiek, Keri Litwak, Terry Stewart, Katherine Worley, Frine Carbonell, Phylis Cook, Ursula Council, Mark Peters, Teri Stern, Larry Fox
Others in attendance Marny Ruben, Holli Clem (FORT Co-chair)
Mark Peters reviewed the agenda that included budget issues, traffic, SGC Chairs meeting with Dr. Pedersen, County Commissioners proposals, and facilities.
The agenda and previous minutes were approved.
Holli Clem shared FORT’s concerns about the safety issues of having elections at Seawell. FORT is going to write a letter requesting that Seawell not
be used as an election site due to the layout of our campus and safety concerns. The SGC decided to endorse the letter.
Becky Kaufer and Laurie Buck, two of Seawell’s teachers, were recognized as National Board Certified Teachers.
Marny Ruben shared the process of how the School Improvement Plan is created and monitored, including the role of the Lead Teachers.
Larry wanted to know how the SGC could help implement and monitor the SIP. He suggested that updates on the SIP could be shared at SGC meetings.
Mark wanted to know if it would be helpful to have a parent liaison to help keep up with facility needs at the school.
Terry reviewed a list of needs that she had been aware of for years that needed to be fixed.
Marny suggested that grade levels/ teams list items that need to be fixed so a master list could be complied and shared at the next SGC meeting, along with a safety assessment that was completed in August 2002. This would allow the SGC an opportunity to prioritize and plan for facility needs at Seawell. The need for a liaison could be decided at the next meeting.
A safety concern about parents signing students out and going to the classroom to pick students up was shared. The process was not clear. Teachers could not be sure if parents had signed students out or not. Administration would look into this.
Marny Ruben shared the 2003-2004 budget with the SGC.
Traffic- the police have been visible and busy on Homestead road and Seawell School Road.
Request for Enrollment Cap- Keri and Amy will draft a letter and share it at the January meeting.
SGC Chair Meeting- Mark shared what he learned at this meeting with Dr. Pedersen. Dr. Pedersen wanted input from the SGCs about when to hold the SGC training- Saturday? evening? SGC members were to let Mark know their preference.
Should Seawell have an email list for parents? This will be revisited in January.
Mark shared Dr. Pedersen’s perspective about the loss of a second grade assistant. State funding was cut this year and he feels like this will get
worse in the future.Mark will contact Ruby Pitman to add Seawell to the Budget Listserv.
Mark shared that the budget for capital improvements would be sent to the County Commissioners as a total list of needs for the district rather than
a conservative list as was sent in last year. This way the complete list of needs will be listed.Mark will invite the parent representatives for the Curriculum Committee to share their work at an SGC meeting.
Mark shared the district calendar proposals. He will draft a position statement from our SGC.
Mark shared information about the four proposals from the County Commissioners and the need to continue to be involved in the process.
Facilities- Steve Scroggs would be invited to speak about the Capital Improvement Plan. We could also ask him about an enrollment cap.