St. Gabriel School Board
Meeting Minutes
September 9, 2008

Attendance:
In Attendance: Pam Huelsman, Kathy Stivers, Dennis Comella, Denny Bruce, Julie Marino, Pete McManus, Lucie Mohr, Deana Padgett, Margaret Gohmann, Susie Bennett         
Absent: Stacey Hobbs, Ruth Ann Harmeling

Opening Prayer:  Pam Huelsman

Agenda Items: 
Reintroduced new members and positions; Denny Bruce will now serve as the Chairperson. Ruth Ann Harmeling is the Vice-Chairperson. Stacey Hobbs is the Secretary.

Updated email listing for the entire board

Reviewed September goals. 

Discussion on concerns about our future and the smallness of our Pre-K program.  Enrollment numbers for the school are down in kindergarten and first grade.  Surrounding schools are taking our pre-K students.

Scheduled our meetings for the upcoming school year.  (Oct. 21, Nov 18, Jan. 20, Feb. 17, March 17, April 21, May 12 )  We moved to the 3rd Tuesday of each month except for the month of May. Kathy will make sure that the meeting dates will be placed on the web and on the school calendar. She will also ask Janey Miller to put us on the church calendar and reserve the teacher’s lounge for those meetings.

Denny began a discussion on our new Open House procedure.  The students enjoyed being with each other, the first day of school was more organized, parents loved the freedom to visit with many teachers, class list posted early was very helpful.  It was suggested that we tweak the time for next year and set up labeling tables for parents in the cafeteria

Denny also read the board’s bylaws and made sure everyone had a copy of the roles and responsibilities of the School Board.  We also went over our Mission Statement.

We are very happy that we have two teachers, Mary Flynn and Sandy Weber to take care of public relations.

If members are going to be absent they should let Pam, Kathy, Denny or Ruth Ann know.

We will add to our agenda “Enrollment Update” to keep abreast of meeting items from the enrollment workshop that Fr. John, Pam, Kathy, Tim and Lisa are attending.

Faculty Update:  Dennis Comella
School Theme – “Respect

All classrooms now have SmartBoards thanks to the PTSO.  Teachers have been taking refresher courses and training on how to use them.

8th grade fund raisers for their trip to Washington, D.C. has begun.

The school is now collecting pull tabs to help send children with cancer to summer camps

Service hours and mentoring is in progress for the 8th graders as they prepare for their November confirmation; 2nd graders are preparing for Eucharist. Reconciliation teachings have also begun.

Most school clubs have begun to form and meet

Principal Update:  Pam Huelsman
The new registration process was met with much happiness from the parents.  Average time was under three minutes.

New teachers-Margaret Barrio (Spanish), Chris Huelsman (8th grade English and Religion), Jenee Chamberlain (3rd grade), Beth Macaluso (Kindergarten).  Tammy Goodlett is the new school secretary.

Becky Romero is working with teachers to develop strategies for our gifted students

Brief discussion on the necessity to have a school logo in the future on all correspondence and uniforms.  This comes from the enrollment workshop that our administrators are attending.  The archdiocese has requested that all schools follow the new procedures.  This will be in development for this school year as we devise our procedures.  A monthly update will be given to the board by Pam and Kathy.

Enrollment figures are 732.  This does not include preK.  Pam and Kathy have been working with Fr. John to find ways to increase our numbers.  We have begun to accept students from Highview area churches this year.  Pam will reach out to these churches in the spring.

Action Items:
Kathy will call Janey and get the faculty lounge reserved.  She will also see that the minutes are placed on the web and that future meetings are in all bulletins.

Pam will send “Did you Know”  to the parish for the bulletin introducing our new members and Chair

Stacey will make sure that “enrollment update” is added to future agendas

Ruth Ann will you see that name tags are made for new members?

Closing Prayer:  Kathy Stivers

Our next meeting will be Oct 21st in the teacher’s lounge.  Dennis will do the opening prayer and Denny will be responsible for the closing prayer.

St. Gabriel School Board Agenda

May 19, 2008

Opening Prayer  - Pam Huelsman

Chairperson Comments – Mark Hollinden

New Business

• Elect new School Board Officers

Action Items

• All Board members were asked to type up an evaluation of the year.  What you liked, what you didn’t, suggestions...
• Sherry will add Selection of School Board Officers to April Calendar

Faculty Update – Dennis Comella

Principal Update – Pam Huelsman

Open Discussion –

Closing Prayer – Lucy Mohr

St. Gabriel School Board Meeting Minutes

April 22, 2008

In Attendance:

Pam Huelsman, Pete McManus, Lisa Leister, Kathy Stivers, Stacey Hobbs, Father John Stoltz, Dennis Comella, Lucy Mohr, Denny Bruce, Mark Hollinden, Sherry Babey, Ruth Anne Harmeling, Jennifer Bode

Opening Prayer:  Denny Bruce

• Tuition letters have already gone home to parents and even though operating costs have risen 9% tuition only went up 3%.
• Improvements to the grounds and buildings were discussed.

Father John Stoltz attended the meeting to discuss admissions policies and changes that will be made to those policies.

• A Stewardship Director has been hired and will handle marketing for the Parish.

• Selection Sunday – there will be 16 names to draw from to fill the three vacancies that will result from members who have served out their three year terms.  The exiting members are Mark Hollinden, Sherry Babey and Jennifer Bode.

Chairperson Comments – Mark Hollinden

• Discussion of ways to get feedback from graduating students and their parents.

• All School Board members please type up an evaluation of the year, what you liked, what you didn’t, suggestions for next year, etc.

Principal Update – Pam Huelsman

• The Archdiocese is looking for each school to have a logo that will identify them by May of 2009.  St. Gabriel is looking for ideas for this logo currently.

• Uniform break reductions and alternatives were discussed.

• Mobile laptops are being used to design the roller coaster project – virtual roller coasters.

• A new emergency response system has been donated by parishioner Ron Woodlee for the parents of all students.  This system will send information directly to parents when there is something they need to know.

Faculty Update – Dennis Comella

• The countdown to the last day of school is up on Miss Lauder’s window.
• The 8^th Grade is preparing to leave for Washington, DC
• The 7^th Grade is preparing for a retreat in Owensboro
• The teachers are preparing for upcoming In-Services.Upcoming Events are the PTSO Walk-a-thon and the Derby Festivities.
• The third conferences were a success.  They gave parents ideas of what to do to help the students over the summer

The next meeting will be on May 19, 2008 in the Teacher’s Lounge from 6-8 P.M.

3/18/08 School Board Meeting

Attendees: Dennis Comella , Sherry Babey, Pete McManus, Denny Bruce, Stacey Hobbs, Jennifer Bode, Lucie Mohr, Mark Hollinden, Deana Padgett, Pam Huelsman, Kathy Stivers

Absent:  Ruth Ann Harmling

Opening Prayer:  Kathy Stivers

Closing Prayer:  Pam Huelsman

Old Business:

• Covered February and March goal calendar.  
• Decided to move the March “update computer facilities” to computer items in February.  
• Looked at session dates for school board new people to attend.
• Pam Huelsman discussed other schools admission policies and how they were similar or different from St. Gabriel’s.  The decision would be implemented to accept students from other parishes that didn’t have any school affiliate.  All new students would be on a probationary period for three months.  Final acceptance would be at the discretion of school administration.  In the future, special needs students will be  considered based on percentage per classroom in accordance with archdiocese.  In addition, the removal of #6 in handbook, which states, “accept non Catholic students on a tuition basis”.

Faculty Update:  Dennis Comella

• 3^rd Quarter reports cards and conferences have been held.
• Catholic Identity with 2^nd graders beginning 1^st communion, 7^th graders prepping for confirmation and service criteria. 
• Holy Week beginning Thursday and Friday in Church with special masses.
• 3^rd, 5^th, 7^th grade finished Terra Nova Testing. 
• The cafeteria served breakfast before school during the testing window.
• Cathy Balbach-art teacher selected to present in
New Orleans at a National Art Education Association ConferenceYoung Authors: several winners went on to regional judging.
• 8^th graders Governors Cup at state had 6 participating, which is the most ever from St. Gabriel.
• Spelling and Geography Bee has had 6^th graders representing St. Gabriel.  
• Walkathon gearing up to begin soon.

Principal Update:  Pam Hueslman

Delayed Schedules/Emergency Closings:  working with archdiocese on changing all grade schools to be the same as high schools for a 2 hour delayed schedule instead of individual school policy

Handbook:  minor changes and wordings addressed.  No major changes to be addresses.  Pam will email copy to board prior to the book going to the printers in May to look over. 

Extra Conference Day added this year by archdiocese.  Discussion by board on when and what time this will occur.  Decided on April 16^th from 3-6 pm as needed by teacher and parent.  April 18^th is deadline for parents to be informed their child is failing for the school year.  St. Gabriel will not offer summer school and other schools fill up fast. 

The last day of school this year is May 21^st, with the 8^th graders last day on the 15^th, a Brunch with parents on May 16^th, and graduation to be held on May 20^th.

08/09 Calendar distributed with conference days of October 9^th, March 5 and April 24^th.

The new doors in the cafeteria and kindergarten wing to be done shortly.

Bus Subsidy-final vote in state legislature upcoming for private school funding for buses.

New Hires:  3^rd grade:  Jenee Chamberlain taking Lisa Rohleder’s position; Ashley Weiland staying home and Beth Macaluso taking her position in kindergarten.

“Did You Know” see website for early dismissal due to inclimate weather when phones are busy.

Media:  Next year a teacher will be assigned to submit articles for local newspapers.

Open Discussion:

Stacey Hobbs-outside parent from St. Patrick complimented St. Gabriel on their technology.  Multiple visitors to school are impressed with St. Gabriel Technology.  Frequently sited as a key reason for them to consider our school for their children.

Action Items:

Change Pete McManus email to:  Shamrok77@bellsouth.net  and Deana Padgett’s email to: keatd@bellsouth.net 

Business Manager to speak about budget.

All schools: design a logo on uniforms that would immediately identify us at St.Gabriel

Uniform breaks being reduced for next year; think of incentives to keep kids active in boxtops, skating etc.

Next Meeting:  April 22^nd-6:00 pm

Opening Prayer:  Denny Bruce

Closing Prayer:  Mark Hollinden

St. Gabriel School Board - January, 2008

Attendees:  Pete McManus, Mark Hollinden, Deana Padgett, Stacey Hobbs, Lucie Mohr, Denny Bruce, Jennifer Bode, Dennis Comella, Sherry Babey, Pam Huelsman, Kathy Stivers

Absent:  Ruth Ann Harmling

Old Business: 

Deana Padgett updated the board on attending the recent faculty meeting. Teachers seemed to be receptive about board members attending and sharing ideas.  January 17th faculty meeting Mark Hollinden will try to attend if he is not out of town with business.

Pete McManus gave an update from the Stewardship Committee and they said that you do not have to have a child enrolled at St. Gabriel in order to serve on the school board.

Kathy Stivers reported on the Terra Nova Achievement Tests for the school.  Overall, St. Gabriel looks very good compared with the national standards.  Pam Hueslman also stated that all Catholic schools are considering testing grades 1-7 in the future.  Currently only grades 3, 5, and 7 are tested.

Pam Huelsman talked with Father John about the admission policy.  He has asked the school board to come up with one that he will look over.

Sherry Babey presented the updated copy of the yearly goals month by month of the school board.

Faculty Update:  Dennis Comella

Reconciliation for 2nd graders will be January 20th and the children have been preparing for it.

PTSO is sponsoring the first Father/Daughter Dance on January 12th.

School is preparing for the Catholic Schools Week January 28-February 1.

Young Authors Story Writing Contest sponsored by the Courier Journal has begun.

Students are also preparing for the Geography Bee and the Spelling Bee.

Quick Recall Teams have started for 5&6 and 7&8 graders.

Governors Cup Academic Matches will be at St. Gabriel starting on January 26th.

Principal Update:  Pam Hueslman
                       

3rd grade bathroom area torn up over Christmas break and the floor is almost completed Kindergarten bathrooms will also now be updated starting in June.  Keyless entry has been discussed and new doors put on classrooms. 

32 principals will be using a E-walk device at St. Gabriel to monitor teachers with two minute observations.  It plugs into a computer and downloads information immediately to teacher about comments seen during walk thru, individual instruction, group work. etc.  It can help with goal setting, professional growth and instructional techniques.

Staff Changes:  Barbara Dunaway is leaving to find a part time job.  Tammy Goodlett will take Barbara Dunaway’s  secretaries job in the front office.  Kim Boyd and family will be relocating to Florida and Lisa Rholeader will be taking Kim Boyd’s 2nd grade.  Susan Hart may retire at the end of the year.

There has been progress between timely reports to the Archdiocese from the Cafeteria.  Some Cafeteria Survey response items that have been implemented include playing music during lunchtime and placing cups by the cashier to use to fill with water.

Asked to support GIFT-a business tax credit for schools from the state that is being sent out to parents.

Open Discussion: 

Pete McManus addressed the board about straying off topic too much during meetings and asked us to be more focused.

Action Items for next meeting:
                       

Sherry Babey to present updated monthly goal calendar with changes made.

Pam Huelsman will check with business manager about attending board meeting in March.

Mark Hollinden will follow up with Bruce Nord with Terra Nova tracking of grades 3, 5, 7.

Pam Huelsman will review  other schools admission policies and update the board.
                       

Closing Prayer:  Kathy Stivers

Meeting Adjourned at 7:18 p.m.

St. Gabriel School Board

November 13, 2007

In Attendance:

Pam Huelsman, Pete McManus,  Kathy Stivers, Stacey Hobbs, Dennis Comella, Lucie Mohr, Mark Hollinden, Sherry Babey, Ruth Anne Harmeling, Jennifer Bode

Opening Prayer:  Stacey Hobbs

Chairperson Comments – Mark Hollinden

• Discussion of homework policies.

Old Business:

• Registration Night – We will no longer have a registration night.  Parents will pick up packets earlier in the summer and return the completed forms to the School Office.  Open House will be a time to meet the teachers and see the classrooms.
• The Board would like for one of its incoming members this spring to not be a parent of a student at St. Gabriel.  Pete McManus will talk with Father John and the Stewardship Committee regarding this and report back.
• The remodel on the restrooms located near the 3^rd grade classrooms will begin over Christmas Break.
• We are still looking for a new project for the Board.  One possibility is an Alumnae Directory.  This will be this month’s Did You Know.

New Business:

St.Gabriel School’s admissions policy was discussed and new wording was suggested.

The picking up of students from after school activities was discussed.  Students will now be dismissed in the same manner as they are when school is out.  They will be picked up in the car pool line area.

Faculty Update – Dennis Comella

The computer lab now has 15 mobile, wireless laptops that can go to any classroom.

Sixth grade Quick Recall won the city championship.

Second grade continues to work toward their First Communion

Professional Development – The teachers are observing one another in their classrooms

Principal Update – Pam Huelsman

Centralizing the cafeterias – The Archdiocese will get contracts and all Catholic schools will have the same lunch.  The goal is to start this in January.

The Wellness Policy – healthy snacks will come back into effect with new guidelines for accreditation.  This should take place in the next year.  Also a new binder will come out in the spring regarding blood born pathogens

Julie Adams will attend a future Faculty Meeting to talk about food allergies.  We have a considerable number of students who only eat peanut butter for lunch; therefore going nut free would pose a problem.  All teachers are trained in how to use an epi pen.  Gordon Food Service provides most of the food to the Archdiocese and they provide a full list of ingredients for their products on their web site.

Action Items:

Deana will report on the Faculty Meeting she attended.

Mark will send an updated copy of the goals to Sherry.

Pete will talk with Father John and the Stewardship Committee regarding having a non parent on the School Board next year.

Ruth Anne will get Margaret the new Did You Know.

Lucie will try and attend the next Faculty Meeting

Kathy will review the Terra Nova tests

Pam will speak with Father John about the admissions policy.

The next meeting will be on January 8, in the Teacher’s Lounge at 6:00 P.M.