Summit Hill Elementary

School Governance Council

1

Listen well - Everybody speaks and honors time limits. - Be honest and speak with one voice - Assume good will - Stay on topic

Meeting Agenda – December 17, 2014 7:00 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.

7:00 – 7:04 Call to Order

Members present: Julie Bolton, Brandy Cleveland, Carla Driggs, Ken Hirschi, Michelle Howard, Lisa Jeffcoat, Jo Lynn McCrossan, Karen Palumbo, Michelle Howard, and Nancy Murphy

Absent: Kelly Chester

Mr. Hirschi called the meeting to order on time. It was recommended that we edit the agenda to remove action from the seed fund request, correct the date to read 12/3/2014, and add time for Ruth Bowen, Summit Hill counselor to speak. Ms. Palumbo moved to amend the agenda and Ms. Jeffcoat seconded the move to amend. All members of the committee unanimously agreed.

7:05 – 7:05 Approve December 3, 2014 Agenda (Action)

Ms. Bolton moved to approve the minutes as amended and Ms. Howard seconded the motion. All approved.

7:07 – 7:10 Amend and Approve December 17, 2014 Minutes (Action)

The Council reviewed the minutes and noted to change Ms. Hirschi to Mr. Hirschi. Page two had November 6, 2014 removed and added August 3, 2015 and the word free was changed to frees in the sixth paragraph. Ms. Palumbo moved to amend the minutes from 12/3/14 and Ms. Jeffcoat seconded; the council approved the motion to amend. Once amended, Ms. Palumbo moved to approve the minutes as amended and Ms. Jeffcoat seconded. The council voted to approve the minutes as amended.

7:11 – 8:00 Review Public Comment (Discussion)

Ms. Driggs presented the comments from the five presented Parent Comment options. There was one comment from the comment box and 46 responses from the Survey Monkey. Most of the Survey Monkey comments were from Summit Hill staff. The following are results:

89% preferred teacher training spread through the FCBOE proposed calendar year

6.5% preferred the summer training (teachers returning one week prior to FCBOE contract)

2% opposed any additional days for teacher training

2% unrelated comments

One comment was to make Technology a scheduled “special” like P.E., Art, and Music.

Summit Hill Elementary

School Governance Council

2

Listen well - Everybody speaks and honors time limits. - Be honest and speak with one voice - Assume good will - Stay on topic

There is concern that students do not lose any instructional time due to additional teacher trainings.

Mr. Hirschi noted that SGC proposed dates which specifically coincided with long weekends (which already have high absenteeism).

Another comment was regarding implementation of the Strategic Plan. The committee discussed that the plan will be implemented over a 3-year span.

The public wanted to be sure that the teacher training days would coordinate with Hopewell Middle School, Northwestern Middle School, Cambridge High School, and Milton High School. Mrs. Murphy noted that she has already shared the proposed dates with the principals at each of the schools.

Mr. Hirschi noted that the November 6 date was removed from the proposed teacher training dates because many Summit Hill teachers already attend training at the Georgia Technology Fair.

The council discussed the paperwork which needed to accompany the Public Comment portion.

A link to the 2015-16 proposed FCBOE school calendar should be provided to Summit Hill community. The proposed teacher training days should also be provided to the community.

8:01 – 8:03 Approve RFF (Action)

Ken Hirschi noted that the Top/Strategic Initiative was to add four release days for Professional Leave and one additional pay day for teachers for professional learning.

The council voted on approving the RFF. All present members voted to approve RFF as written. Ms. Palumbo motioned to approve the RFF, Ms. Jeffcoat seconded, and the council all approved.

8:09 – 8:16 – Edit Seed Fund Application (Discussion)

Ruth Bowen, Summit Hill Elementary Counselor, presented information regarding Student Character Training. The location of the training is in Johns Creek, GA. Ms. Bowen will be checking on the pricing and the availability. The cost of the training will be going up in 2015. The course includes high ropes and low ropes courses.

Ms. Bowen likes the question, “Have You Filled Your Bucket Today?” The training would encourage kindness. The book, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” representative will be here at 11:30 on December 18 to further discuss with Ms. Bowen. The representative noted that this is not a program but a culture change.

Summit Hill Elementary

School Governance Council

3

Listen well - Everybody speaks and honors time limits. - Be honest and speak with one voice - Assume good will - Stay on topic

Mrs. Murphy will be paying and sending three SGC individuals to “The Leader In Me Symposium” which will be held February 2015. Ms. Jeffcoat, Ms. Bowen, and Ms. Driggs will be the three people attending the symposium in February. Ms. Bowen said that Shakerag Elementary has enjoyed the program immensely.

Mrs. Murphy suggested that council members visit schools that have incorporated the above mentioned program.

Ms. McCrossan mentioned that Camp All American could also be a program which could benefit Summit Hill Elementary.

Ms. Cleveland said she has been participating in the Connected Educator program. One of the videos she recently viewed was a 47 minute video showing teachers how to incorporate social media in their classrooms.

8:17 – 8:18 Opportunity For Public Comment

No one was present to comment.

8:19 – 8:26 Proposed January 21, 2015 Agenda Items

Mrs. Murphy prepared the next meeting Agenda.

8:27-8:30 Announcements and Adjournment

Mr. Hirschi thanked the committee members for all of their hard work during this process. Mr. Hirschi motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 a.m., Ms. Jeffcoat seconded, and all of the committee members approved adjournment at 8:30 a.m.