Connecting Waters Charter School

Parent Council Meeting

Adopted Minutes

 

Tuesday                                                         Lucille Whitehead Intermediate School MPR

December 8, 2009                                         119 N. Reinway Ave

6:30 p.m.-Regular Meeting                          Waterford, CA 95386

____________________________________________________________________________________

 

1.  Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 6:43 pm at the Lucille Whitehead Intermediate Multipurpose Room, 119 N. Reinway Ave., Waterford, CA by Mrs. Nelson, Executive Director.

 

2.  Pledge of Allegiance

 

3.  Approval of Agenda

Ron Mayo moved to approve the agenda.  John Young seconded.  There was a unanimous vote to approve the agenda.

 

4.  Roll Call

Name

Present

Absent

1.      Margarita Anderson

X

 

2.      Jonelle Bateman

 

X

3.      Rueshan Boone

X

 

4.      Kelly Chandler

X

 

5.      Bobbie Chimerofsky

X

 

6.      Damea Daniel

X

 

7.      Roberto Gutierrez

X

 

8.      Amanda Hall

X

 

9.      Annette Jackson

X

 

10.  Sonja Kluesener

X

 

11.  Jeanne LaCelle

X

 

12.  Angel Leverich

 

X

13.  Shawna Luciano

X

 

14.  Tina Maxin

 

X

15.  Laura McCullough

X

 

16.  Sheila McGaffee

X

 

17.  Lorie Mahoney

 

X

18.  Ron Mayo

X

 

19.  Denise Narmore

X

 

20.  Ramon Navarro

 

X

21.  Elisabeth Purcell

X

 

22.  Nikki Rogers

 

X

23.  Graciela Salas

X

 

24.  Melonie Saleh

 

X

25.  Sheila Sisco

X

 

26.  Shandi Virnochi

 

X

27.  Denette Weaver

X

 

28.  Lance Wells

X

 

29.  John Young

X

 

 

 

 

5.  Consent of Calendar

Unapproved minutes of the September 8, 2009 meeting were reviewed and approved.  Damea Daniel moved to approve the minutes.  It was seconded by John Young.  There was a unanimous vote to approve the September 8, 2009 minutes.

 

6.  Hearing of the Public

Sonja Kluesener mentioned Naval Sea Cadet Corps for Americans ages 11-17.  Mrs. Nelson and Lori Porter, Parent Support for CWCS, stated they are coming to the Parent Workshop Training on February 19th.

 

Lance Wells said we need an unbiased way to evaluate instructors with regards to Moodle.  Mrs. Nelson said there is an evaluation for each course.  If a parent has a complaint or comment, they should follow the communication protocol by contacting the following people in order to resolve this conflict: 1) the instructor, 2) the department chair, 3) Mrs. Nelson.

 

7.  Information Items

      A.  Assessment Report

      No comments were made.

 

B.     Attendance Report

Ron Mayo asked what the school attendance was at our September meeting.  Karen Johnson said it was around 1,900.

 

C.    Cash Flow Report

No comments were made.

 

D.    Conflict of Interest Policy

Mrs. Nelson reviewed the policy and noted that the company was not Velocity Computer Systems but Velocity Computer Supplies.  Ron Mayo asked who Mrs. Nelson was associated with at Velocity Computer Supplies.  Mrs. Nelson said it was her husband.

 

E.     Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement

No comments were made.

 

F.     Curriculum Report

No comments were made.

 

G.    ES Support Report

No comments were made.

 

H.  Graduation Report

      No comments were made.

 

I.  Guidance Department Report

      No comments were made

 

J.  Language Arts Department Report

       No comments were made

 

K.   Ceres Learning Center Report

       No comments were made

 

L.    Modesto Learning Center Report

       No comments were made.

 

M.   Math Department Report

       No comments were made.

 

N.   Parent Support Department

       No comments were made.

 

O.   Parent Workshop

Mrs. Nelson reviewed the vendors that are scheduled to attend the Parent Workshop Training on February 19, 2010 in Modesto.  Also discussed were the different workshops that parents and ESes will be able to attend.  Ron Mayo suggested an orientation for prospective/new parents.  This workshop would cover:  What is expected of the student and the parent?  What the student and the parent should expect from CWCS.  Amanda Hall suggested including “How is our school different from others?”  Kelly Chandler would like a Q&A.  Jeanne LaCelle suggested CWCS parents discuss the different types of scenarios they use to home school their children.  Sheila Sisco, Jeanne LaCelle, and Sonja Kluesener, Shawna Luciano and Sheila McGaffee are willing to describe their home school environment at the Parent Workshop Training.  Denise Narmore suggested “organization for school”.  Lori Porter noted this workshop is being done by Lisa Bliss, a parent of CWCS.

 

P.   Student Council Report

Mrs. Nelson talked about how proud we are of our Student Council and their officers.  They have held successful fund raisers.  They are working on a school prom and a student newsletter.

 

Q.   Treasurer’s Report

Mrs. Nelson noted we closed our Bank of America account and opened a Bank of the West account because it is located in Waterford.

 

R.   Vendor Report

            No comments were made.

 

9.   DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Mrs. Nelson reviewed her Director’s Report.

CST Data: 

Mrs. Nelson explained what the Data Team is doing for WASC such as looking at STAR and other school data.  WASC wants our school to look at different trends of our subgroups, socio disadvantaged and Hispanic.  Mrs. Nelson noted that looking at the data from different angles is interesting.  Mrs. Nelson said there is quite a gap in English, with girls doing better.  Boys were a little better in math.  

 

Sonja Kluesner asked if the Data Team could show their report online.  Mrs. Nelson sated that the findings would be posted online.

 

Mrs. Nelson stated math continues to be an area that needs improvement.  We are looking at areas where students fall behind causing gaps in learning.  Currently, the Data Team is brainstorming ideas to improve student achievement in math.

Ron Mayo suggested showing students how math applies to every day life.

 

Jeanne LaCelle suggested having a check off box for recommendations of areas students should be working on to strengthen any weaknesses when the ES goes over STAR scores with the parent.  We need to find a system in which parents can be accountable to have their student work on specific areas.  Mrs. Nelson stated the ESes are supposed to do this at the beginning of each school year.  Mrs. Nelson brought up Scantron.  Mrs. Nelson is impressed with our scores, but they could be better. 

 

Mrs. Nelson went over the financial report from IEM.  Funding provided from the state for each student has dropped by 12% from the amount projected when the budget was approved last May.  We are looking at changing the MOU with WUSD to be able to have access to our 5% money that is in reserve.  It was asked if the budget removed from K-8 would be refunded for the next school year and the answer was “no”.  More budget cuts are inevitable and will include salaries and programs.

 

We will more than likely have to take out a loan for our cash flow and pay it back when the state pays us at the beginning of the next school year.

 

Parent Educator Certification Program

Mrs. Nelson went over the Parent Educator Certification Program to gauge interest from the Parent Council.  Many of the workshops will be offered at the Parent Workshop in February.  Mrs. Nelson said the timeline for a parent to complete the Parent Educator Certification Program should be about one year.

 

  11.    DISCUSSION ITEMS

            A.  WASC Action Plan

               Mrs. Nelson went over the WASC Action Plan with the council.  The action plan outlines our goals for our school and our students.  Jeanne LaCelle talked about typing versus handwriting the writing prompts.  Jeanne said she gets more from her child when the child types instead of writing it out.  Mrs Nelson said we have a Writing Prompt committee and she will bring this to their attention for consideration.  Elizabeth Purcell suggested turning in a writing prompt typed instead of handwritten. 

 

               B.  Budget Crisis

               The budget crisis facing our school and all other schools in California was discussed.

 

               C.  Parent Council Committee Sign Ups

               Mrs. Nelson went over the committee groups.  She will be calling on the parent council members to help in the groups they signed up for as well as help with the WASC focus groups.  Mrs. Nelson said the WASC committee would have to meet in person where as other groups could meet via conference call.

 

               D.  Cashing of stipend checks.  Karen Johnson asked the council members to please sign their checks as soon as they receive them.  The council was told if they have a problem with their stipend checks to contact Karen at the school office.

 

  12.    COUNCIL COMMENTS

Jeanne LaCelle brought up a-g courses for Spanish.  She is very impressed with the program her son is in.

 

Damea Daniels mentioned how pleased she was with Rosetta Stone.

 

Margarita Anderson wants to know if an a-g pre calculus class will be offered.  Mrs. Nelson stated that she would mention the need to Debbie Kutz, math specialist and math department chair.

 

Lance Wells asked if a class such as Jeff Bradshaw’s photography class could be added to the a-g list for Fine Arts.  Mrs. Nelson said that question would fall under the Guidance Department and she will mention it to Mary Halter.

 

13.    ADJOURN

The meeting was adjourned at 8:55pm.

 

NEXT REGULAR PARENT COUNCIL MEETING: March 9, 2009.

 

This agenda is posted at Connecting Waters Charter School, 12420 Bentley Street, Waterford, CA 95386.  This agenda was also posted at least 72 hours at the IEM, Inc. Offices, 1166 Broadway Ste. Q, Placerville, CA, 95667 and at the Waterford Unified School District, 219 N. Reinway Ave., Suite B, Waterford, CA 95386.