HVRSD Parent District Council

Minutes of 9/9/04

 

Present: Hill- Convener, Fletcher- Recorder, Tengi, Considene, Taylor, Myers, Weeks, Maida, Carpenter, Bender, Karp, Howren, Mikalsen, Heck, Kahme, Phelan, Bruno, Gustafson, VanSelous, Doran, Lewis, Lang.

 

Meeting called to order at 9:10am.

 

Superintendent Lorenzetti sends his regrets for missing this month’s meeting.

 

HVRSD Speakers:

OPENING DAY

John Bach, Assistant Superintendent, reported that Opening Day went smoothly at all schools and facilities were up and running as planned.  80% of the new computers for TMS were working, with the rest to be ready next week.  Trailers there were also almost fully ready.  At CHS, the 100 Hall classrooms are ready, the TV studio is ready and awaiting funding for equipment, and the PCLW engineering lab will be completed in the next few weeks.

 

TECHNOLOGY

Caroline Bennett, Assistant Director of Information Technology, noted the hard work of the tech staff in installing all the new equipment.  An agenda was discussed for a meeting in October (?) with the PTOs to go over data base issues.  Agenda topics were: 1. Collection of email addresses via the district web page and their use.  2. PTOs and school office personnel should send/bring a list of data NEEDS to guide data collection.  3. Directory data collection procedures.

 

LANGUAGE ARTS K-5 (hand outs)

Steve Wilfing, Asst. Principal at SB and k-5 language arts supervisor, discussed the Leveled Reading Program by Scholastic Books that is being introduced this year.  The books from this program are rated by level A-Z with 10 titles per lettered level and six copies per book for small group reading.  There are fiction and non-fiction titles.  The program stresses comprehension but also has a strong k-3 phonics component.  It allows for more continuous evaluation of progress and avoidance of static groups.  Materials already in the class, such as anthologies, will be folded into this system.  The Reading Recovery Program will be replaced by “Literacy Intervention” which will stress group work to reach more students and ease the disruption of pull-outs.  The teachers have completed several in service days on this program already and a letter describing it will go home in the coming weeks.  A look at 6-12 reading programs and a review of the writing program are proposed for next year.

 

REFERENDUM 9/28(handouts)

John Bach and Joann Meyer, Community Relations, discussed the upcoming referendum and ways to help encourage parents to get informed and vote.  HVRSD has produced a video which will be ready next week for Back to School Nights, lawn signs are available from various groups and brochures will be handed out at BTS Nights.  Parent volunteers are needed to make phone calls the night before.

 

STONY BROOK PRINCIPAL SEARCH

John Bach reports that a search committee formed by Richard Lang has advertised for candidates and is narrowing the field.  The finalist(s) will visit and meet with parents, faculty and administration on 10/6 tentatively.

 

HCHY (handouts)

Perennial favorite Sheryl Stone handed out this year’s resource material from the HCHY group.  Two booklets, “Me at My Best” for TMS and CHS students, and “Your Family” for elementary parents, were provided.

October 23rd is the Mayors’ Breakfast, 8:30am, Hopewell Valley Golf Club.

A lecture “What’s Eating You” on eating disorders is on 11/11/2004 at 7pm at TMS.

March 3rd, 2005 is Hopewell Valley’s Night Off!

Sheryl would like the PTOs to email her the family and student counts, and the professional and support staff counts, plus the newsletter deadline for each school.

*John Bach agreed that the district should provide a review/overview of the life skills programs offered k-12, as begun by PDC last year.

 

Roundtable Items:

PTO Treasurer Procedures (handout)

Barb Phelan presented the results of a survey of budgetary practices from all PTOs.  A meeting date of 9/15 at 9:30am was set with the district’s auditor and attorney.  PTOs are asked to bring copy of insurance and by-laws.  An email to Barb of insurance requirements beforehand would be helpful.

 

Project Democracy

Kim Bruno reports that PD is ready for the presidential election.  The only question will be for president.

 

Out of District Placements in Directory

Lynne Gustafson reported on the procedures for out of district placements being included in the directory.

 

Welcome Committees

Kathy Mikalsen asks that anyone interested in working together on, or discussing a welcome committee, to please contact her.

 

Lap Tops for PTOs

Kathy Howren suggested that the PTOs all acquire lap tops with the same software for budgetary work.  Judy Hill will provide names of contacts at Janssen and the Hopewell Valley Foundation for free or reduced price machines.

 

Meeting adjourned 12 noon.

 

Next meeting: October 14th, 9am- Refreshments by TG.