GES Board Meeting

July 7, 2004

Approved Minutes

In Attendance: Suzy Schweig, Alan Stone, Barbara Nagle, Nina Simonowicz, Patty Nordahl

Others present: Terry Nagle

Call to Order: 4:10 p.m.

Reading of the Mission:  Barbara Nagle

Celebration sentences: All

Approval of Agenda

Nina Simonowicz asked if public relations could be added to New Business under the agenda. Suzy Schweig moved to approve the agenda.  Patty Nordahl seconded. Ayes all.

Approval of Minutes

Nina Simonowicz moved to approve the minutes from June 23. Alan seconded. Ayes all.

Treasurer’s report                                                                                                                    

Nina reviewed the school’s financial position and said that cash flow will be an issue at least short-term.  She noted that all expenditures must be authorized and be accompanied by a purchase order.  The school anticipates receiving the remaining portion of its first year federal grant – amounting to $52,000 -- sometime over the next several months. At the same time, the board agreed it needed to begin drafting the request for second $150,000 federal grant.

Educator’s Report

Suzy reported on plans for the July term.  Themes for the term will be building community and exploring our county’s history. We need to staff-up for some ninth grade curriculum requirements.  Educators said they planned to do intake conferences (for the new school year) with parents and students over the next 45 days with a special emphasis on the new students. Plans also are being made to do MAP testing on all new students sometime near the end of the first learning block.

New business

Suzy Schweig made a motion to hire Susan Miller as the school’s special education teacher on a full time basis.  Amy Brown seconded.  Ayes all. It is understood that
Susan has other obligations beginning in early 2005 that will last an indeterminate period of time and the school will have to determine how it will handle the special education needs of students at that time. Board members noted that Kelly Sommer, special education teacher for the school last year, had done an outstanding job in midst of some extraordinary circumstances.

Nina made a motion to approve a physical therapy contract with North Shore Community Hospital for services to students.  Alan seconded.  Ayes all. 

Board members discussed academic and non-academic goals for the new school year and plans for communicating this information to our sponsor and also developing our annual report and plan for improvement. 

Committee Reports

Food committee has a plan to use the second learning block (beginning in late August) as a trial period to determine what meals can be served at a breakeven price.

Personnel committee noted the need to have someone handle the physical education requirements of students.

Enrollment – want to get together a group of parents to help identify students who may be interested in attending GES.

Policy committee  -- Patty Nordahl reported a homework policy is being revised.  The policies will be distributed to all new parents. 

Buildings and Grounds  -- Alan reported quite a number building completion projects were addressed during June, some still are in various states of completion. Information regarding these matters is being communicated to the building owner.

A curriculum and academic goals meeting has been set for July 21 – in conjunction with the next board meeting.

Adjourn

Amy moved to adjourn.  Alan seconded.  Meeting adjourned at 6:15 pm.