O.L.L. Education Commission Meeting Minutes
October 12, 2006
Attendance: Terri Brown, Julie Balzano, Amy Osterfeld, Jim Frede, Scott Liesch, Lynn Breidenstein, Chris Siciliano, Patricia Garratt, Sue Kampel, Nancy Jamison, and Ed Woelfel
Terri Brown opened the meeting with a prayer.
There was an approval of the mintues from September 14, 2006.
Amy Osterfeld reported on St. Catharine's Education Commission meeting. She was unable to attend due to their strict time limit followed immediately by their PTA meeting. Sue Kampel and Nancy Jamison were unable to attend any other Education
Commission meetings. They stated, though, that St. Jude and Visitation's websites contained updated information to school policies and procedures. There was some discussion to obtain different school's handbooks so we can review their admission policies and compare them to OLL's.
Terri Brown read the PTO report from Elaine Tepe who was unable to attend the meeting. Elaine reported that the Bully-Proofing Program was well attended and well received. The PTO is forming a planning committee for Catholic Schools Week. A letter will be coming home to ask for volunteers. The PTO has designed a monthly calendar to go home with the students. These are replacing the calendars that were sent home at the beginning of the school year. We are hoping to keep more current and up-to-date information doing them on a monthly basis.
Jim Frede stated the there is a plan to re-do the OLL website. Sue Kampel was hoping our website could promote or market the Education Commission as well as the school.
Terri stated we were to focus our time on reviewing and revising the admission policy in the school handbook. This was difficult to do without Karen Rusche present. The policy was read and it was felt that the screening process by the school psychologist needed to be concise and clear as to what is involved in the screening. Scott Liesch added that there should be a family screening as well as the student. It was felt there needs to be a step-by-step procedure process to the screening and that this process be kept on file. Sue Kampel "googled" admission policy and felt this was a good resource for procedures and guidelines. Terri Brown stated she would ask Karen Rusche for a print out of the step-by-step admission policy that is currently used similar to the tuition aid process. There was also some discussion about the policy that is written in the handbook. There should not be a policy if it is not going to be enforced,ie: families required to participate in Saturday/Sunday liturgies at OLL) Terri Brown stated she would call Pat Armstrong from the Catholic Schools Office to obtain guidelines on the admission policy.
There was discussion with Jim Frede as to a volunteer policy associated with tuition aid. This will be discussed at a later date.
Terri Brown stated she had a parent approach her about language used on the play-ground by the students. It was agreed this was not our purpose and asked the teachers present to address this with the other teachers. Again, it was brought up about coaches using foul language. Our Lady of Lourdes Athletic Club reports to the PMT.
Sue Kampel then presented a handout on updates for the website for Education Commission. This included a reference to the Constitution and By-Laws. Approval from Karen Rusche is needed before adding this to the website and how to communicate policies that are updated.
Julie Balzano read the Prinicpal's Report from Karen Rusche:
1. Friday October 13, 2006, the faculty will work with Catholic Identity and Student
Learning goals. This is for accreditation process.
2. On Wednesday, October 18, the 7th graders will be in a Student Leadership
Program at Camp Joy.
3. Our Bully-Proofing Youth day of inservice went very well. The faculty will meet to
further carry out the suggestions.
4. During the week of October 23, the 7th graders will be working on the Archdiocesan
Writing Assessment. This is earlier than usual.
5. Carol Greulich and Sr. Maria have put together an Inter-generational Catechesis
Plan. They will provide special rituals centered around life events throughout the
year. On Sunday, October 22, they will have the blessing of the car keys. They plan
to increase the volunteer base and faith formation by 50 percent.
6. On October 27, Mercy and Elder will speak to the 8th graders.
Terri Brown then stated there was a date change for our next meeting. The next meeting date will be announced at a later time.
There was a motion for adjournment and a closing prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Julie Balzano, secretary