O.L.L. Education Commission Meeting Minutes

 

August 16, 2007

 

 

Attendance:  Scott Liesch, Terri Brown, Karen Rusche, Ed Woelfel, Julie Balzano,Lynda Sexton, Angela Hautman, Craig Maliborski, Amy Osterfeld, Gino Trotta.

                      

Scott opened the meeting with a prayer.  There was an introduction of the new members as well as the existing members.  Scott stated that new members are asked to volunteer as secretary for the Commission.  Craig Maliborski offered and was elected as secretary.  Scott called for an approval of the minutes.  Terri Brown moved and the minutes were approved.

 

Karen Rusche gave the Principal’s report:

 

  1. The role of the Education Commission is to advise the principal and set the policies for the school.  The principal’s role is to inform the Commission of what is going on and carry out the policies.  We are to, also, set the policies pertaining to the religious education of the students.  Some matters that need to be discussed may require a high level of confidentiality.  New members of the Commission will be given a copy of  the Constitution and By-Laws.
  2. Elder High School awarded scholarships to three seventh grade students for essays they wrote on doing something special for others.  The winners were Michael Balzano, Megan Pflum, and Danny Murphy.
  3. The current enrollment is 430.  Each grade has two homerooms.  Students will be grouped for math and language arts.  Ms. Siciliano and Mrs. Smith will teach eighth grade language arts.  Mrs. Cassaro and Ms. Siciliano will teach art to almost every class each week.
  4. We now have 10 Smart Boards.  We will purchase others in the future.
  5. On September 5, we will receive a plaque acclaiming our full accreditation.  The goals for the next six years will center on the Catholic Identity goal.  We will be developing a Character Pledge to be used by the students.  There is a student performance goal to increase the use of critical thinking across the curriculum.
  6. Mrs. Paula Metz has been working on Option C software to print our report cards and keep grades on-line.  Faculty inservice will take place.
  7. In order to create a positive, welcoming environment for our new families, Mrs. Renie O’Connor was asked to have positive parents call and invite new parents to the Parent/Teacher evening on August 29.  They are, also, to mentor or share new information with the new parents.
  8. Next year all high schools will have open enrollment.  There will be two High School Fairs held on this side of town.  St. Ignatius will host one on September 27, and St. Antoninus will host one on October 11.  The high schools will not be coming to individual schools.  We are asking that eighth graders limit their shadow days to two days.
  9. The Sisters of Mercy sent us a thank you note for the $650 we sent to their Jamaican Missions.  This money was donated by the students with the Lenten Mission boxes.

 

PTO Parent/Teacher night is August 29.

 

Scott then asked what three main issues to address this year.  He then asked the Commission to brainstorm some main ideas.  He stated one main idea to address is volunteerism.  There is a volunteerism committee formed by Terri Brown, Julie Balzano, Lynn Breidenstein, and Sue Kampel.  Angela Hautman asked Karen Rusche about the process of exit interviews with families who leave OLL.  Karen stated she calls families and sends them a form.  Lynda suggested there be an exit interview before the transfer of grades to a different school.

 

There was much discussion on topics to address this school year.  The main topics are:

  1. The marketing of kindergarten
  2. Review of the discipline policy
  3. Possibilty of creating a pre-school at OLL
  4. Lunch

Scott stated we will rank these topics at the next meeting.

 

Also mentioned was the election process which will begin in January or February with contact with the PMT.

 

The meeting was adjourned, and there was a closing prayer.

 

                                                        Respectfully submitted,

 

                                                        Julie Balzano

                                                        Secretary