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GES Board
APPROVED Minutes
January 11, 2006

Board members in Attendance:
Nina Simonowicz, Patty Nordahl, Suzy Schweig, Dave Ingebrigtsen, Scott Pollock, Julie O’Neil, Amy Brown, Susan Miller

Others present:
Peter James

4:00 p.m. Call to Order/Welcome and Introduction

Reading of the Mission:
Dave Ingebrigtsen

Celebration sentences:
All

Approval of Agenda:
Susan moved to approve the agenda, Suzy seconded. Ayes all.

Approval of Minutes:
Patty moved and Susan seconded to approve the December minutes with a few small changes. Ayes all.

Director’s report:
Peter passed out a written report. Over winter break there was further re-organization at school; the science room has been reconfigured and the attic is re-organized again. There were volunteers here to help including Terry and Barbara Nagle who helped immensely.

Mike Link will attend the next board meeting. The focus of his visit is sponsorship.

The grant was approved by the state last Monday. We can expect to receive the funds in approximately five weeks. Feb 13th is the target date for receipt of funds. We have 13 months to use it, until Feb of 2007.

Based on the received input about calendar, many people preferred the 10 month calendar with 8 weeks off in the summer. See attached.

Patty made a motion and Scott seconded to approve the 10 month calendar. Discussion went around the table. Ayes all.

A technology committee is being formed and Ilena Berg has agreed to be the teacher representative.

Nina added to Pete’s report that in future the food committee will pay for the kitchen/food preparation license renewal. It is just a part of the cost of doing a Friday food program. GES has paid for capital expenses such as heating elements and cups and bowls, etc.

Julie made a motion to approve the invoices as presented and Dave seconded. Ayes all.

In revisiting the health insurance issue from last year, a sub-committee met and decided that some financial compensation should be given. The subcommittee recommended the board look to the budget and decide what area the reimbursement money come from, and how much.

The sub-committee also recommended that whatever amount is decided upon, it should be paid in this calendar year. Choices of areas of the budget were presented.

Susan made a motion that financial compensation be provided for the employee for health reimbursement Amy seconded. 8 Ayes, one opposed.

Each board member shared thoughts on the subject. Scott made a motion the money in the budget for field trips ($1080.00) be used as reimbursement. This motion was based on our past ability to raise funds for field trips. In addition, general consensus was that the field trip budget was the only place in the budget that could tolerate “losing” money. Dave seconded the motion, 7 ayes 2 nays.

Treasurer’s Report:
Scott passed out a summary of invoices paid and a second page summary of bills yet to be paid. Questions and answers regarding current set of bills

Educator’s Report:
Suzy reported that last learning block the parent teacher conferences went well and that we have had some time to reflect on our progress reports. Upcoming events include the Mixed Blood Theatre presentation of the play: Daughters of Africa. Starting January 23rd the Bear Cubs and Wolves will be learning to swim. The cost is $500.00 for the lessons and Peter is working with ISD 166 to provide transportation. Chess starts tomorrow in the K-2 classroom, starting with the history of the chess pieces.
Ilena Berg is willing to do the science fair again this year. This year the Science Fair will be expanded to include Birch Grove and Home-Schooled children. If there is enough interest Ilena will provide once per month workshops on how to conduct experiments.
The board agrees that this is a great idea, but it should start later, ideally after 5 pm.
Patty mentioned that attendance has not been reported on progress reports. Teachers and board agree, and will make the addition.

Committee Reports:
Enrollment/Community Relations:
Patty reported that K-2 open house will be on Wednesday, February 22. There will be coffee offered each day for casual visitors and all other classrooms can be visited by appointment. Patty will advertise on boreal and will send information of this open house to the pre-school. Julie can disseminate the information to Grand Portage families, Patty can inform birch Grove families.
Nina asked for a brief written summary what the enrollment committee is doing before the next board meeting.
Discussion about enrollment cap came up, and we have traditionally capped in February.
This year we will take re-enrollment in February and set cap at the March 8th board meeting.

Finance Committee-Budget Review:
Nina reported for the committee: The original budget was handed out. The new proposed budget is the second column (see attached). One of the changes between the original budget the new proposed budget is that the state gave us more money per pupil. Other changes were explained. Some of the changes were due to pupil enrollment in special education. Pete and Nina met before break with CMERDC and GES will be receiving monthly reports that show what we have spent to date. Theses reports will start next month, but will probably not be out by the February 8 board meeting.
Patty made a motion to accept the new proposed budget draft; Dave seconded. Ayes all.

Strategy / Vision Discussion:
Nina passed out a list showing what committees we have and the requisites listed beneath. We have had a large number of committees probably because we were without a director of some time. The board needs to decide what committees are actually needed. Board members need to reflect on what our needs are and what might still be needed.
After much discussion, it was decided that Curriculum will become an ad hoc committee.
Community Relations - necessary
Enrollment- a sub committee of community relations
Policy- necessary
Personnel- a subcommittee of policy
Technology –necessary / ad hoc
Food – ad hoc
Fundraising – necessary, subcommittee of finance
Facility - dropped
Transportation- dropped
Development- non-negotiable, required by our by-laws (board development)
Finance – non-negotiable, required by our by-laws.
Nina will follow up and provide a new list and grant money information.

2006-2007 Calendar:
Academic and Non-Academic Goals:
In the next month we need to better understand our MAPs test to help us re-state our academic goals.

Adjournment:
Patty made motion to adjourn at 6:54 Dave seconded. Ayes all

Respectfully Submitted,

Susan Miller, board secretary

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