SAINT CATHARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
APRIL 17, 2012 7:00 P.M.
SCHOOL LIBRARY

Attendees:  Janet Weisner, Erin Heuser, Jim Samuel, Pat McJoynt-Griffith, Katie Reinker, Ami Carmon, Julie Schmitz, Cece Kanowsky, Ann Krieger, Carol Rearick

Absent: Fr. Lumpe, Chris Schweitzer, Mark Quinlan, David Bourke, Meg Allwein

1. The minutes from the March 2012 meeting were approved.

2. Principal’s Report:
   Battle of the Books – participated in March
      - 7th and 8th grade students
      - 1st in region, 3rd in Diocese
   Kindergarten
      -Round Up completed prior to Spring Break
      - 20 enrolled
      -Looking at moving to a full day program in the near future
   Pre-School
      -42 enrolled
      -Looking for ways to rearrange space
   Sacraments
      -Confirmation was April 14th, successful event
      -1st Communion is April 29th
   Teachers
      -contracts have been given to teachers
      -In-services for Common Core Standards are scheduled
       -detailed explanation of Standards to be available soon
      -textbooks are coming in for next year
   Earth Day
      -students will see Chimpanzee at the Drexel Theatre

3.  Committee Reports:
   Finance:
      -Budget is on track for the school year.
      -Tuition Conversation
      -1.5% tuition increase will be put into effect (approved by Board)
      -Extra programs (Partners, SPICE, Home and School) have    assisted in keeping the increase low
      -BINGO is down this year and the contributions that come from that program will be monitored closely
   Public Relations: No Report

4. Strategic Planning
   Parishioner List being reviewed for marketing and recruiting purposes

5.  New Business
    Volunteer Hours
      -discussion on how it was monitored and if needs were being met
    Parent Pack
      -information is on-line
      -volunteer sheets still coming in
      -cost and time saver by being on-line
  
Next Meeting:  Tuesday, May 8, 2012

SAINT CATHARINE ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
MARCH 13, 2012 7:00 P.M.
SCHOOL LIBRARY

Attendees:  Janet Weisner, Erin Heuser, Meg Allwein, David Bourke, Pat McJoynt-Griffith, Mark Quinlan, Katie Reinker, Ami Carmon, Julie Schmitz, Cece Kanowsky, Carol Rearick
Absent: Fr. Lumpe, Chris Schweitzer, Ann Krieger

1. The minutes from the February 2012 meeting were approved.

2. Principal’s Report:
   Students Lenten activities
    -2nd grade Reconciliation
    -Stations of the Cross – all classes
    -Penance Service for 2-8
    -8th graders are working with the younger students on stations
    -DARE for 5th and 7th graders
      -respect, tolerance, alcohol/drugs, health curriculum
John Peterson Scholarship
    -Working with parents of special needs kids
     -provides $ to parents to reimburse costs
     -school is the provider or site
     -work with local public school district
     -child stays on IEP not service plan
     -deadline is April 15
     -family applies through the provider
     -if $ runs out on scholarship, they could apply for auxillary services
     -only a couple of schools in the Diocese will be involved
Teachers
    -Common Core Standards Math Inservice
     -less standards but more intense for each standard
     -will adopt a new math program
     -$25,000 for adoption through Auxillary Services
SPICE Dinner
    -very successful
    -used for all children not just special needs
Diocesan Policy Changes
    - Field trips – private transportation, cell phone policy
    -Overnight trips – must be approved by Principal
    -Time for religious instruction
        Grades 1-6 =35 minutes a day
        Grades 7-8=40 minutes a day
    -Math in Elementary school
        Algebra Grade 8
        -not tied to Terra Nova Scores
        -Individual assessments by school
        -Final will be taken at High School
    -Technology
      -acceptable use policy will add employees in policy and consequences
   -English as 2nd Language
   -School websites and social networking rules
       -only school employees
3.  Committee Reports:
  Finance:
    -Budget is on track for the school year.
    -Tuition Conversation

Public Relations: No Report

4. Focus Group Breakout Sessions

Next Meeting:  Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.

Attendees:  Janet Weisner, Jim Samuel, Mark Quinlan, Cece Kanowsky, Ann Krieger, Erin Heuser, Meg Allwein, Katie Reinker, Pat McJoynt-Griffith, Carol Rearick

Absent:  Fr. Lumpe, Chris Schweitzer, Julie Schmitz, Ami Carmon

1.  The minutes from the September meeting were approved.

2.  Principal’s Report:
Terra Nova Testing next week
-  Multiple assessments for all in math, science, reading, social studies and a cognitive ability assessment
-  Gives us a profile of our students, indications of our strengths and weaknesses
Field Trips
-  Curriculum based
-  Partners in Education supports these opportunities
OCEA Convention
-  Catholic Educators Conference that occurs every 2 years
-  Educational opportunities for teacher growth
8th grade
   -Visiting Bishop Hartley this month
   -Visiting St. Charles in January
Catholic Conference of Ohio
   -Two programs that will involve possible participation by Catholic 
              schools in the state of Ohio:
     •  Peterson Scholarship that will provide funding for children on an IEP that are enrolled in a chartered, non-public schools
     •  Tax Credit Program that may be a line item on tax return forms.  Hearing will be in November
     •  Parent Sacramental Meetings
        October meetings for 2nd grade preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion and 8th grade preparation for Confirmation
3.  Committee Reports:
     Finance: no report
     Public Relations: no report
4.  Sustainability Plan
-Need for a person to be named the Chair of this project
     Fr. Lumpe and Mrs. Weisner are working on filling this space
-Chairs will be needed for the following committees: 
     Finance, Public Relations, Development, and Facilities
-Focus for this year will be to review current plan and begin updating the plan

Attendees: Father Lumpe, Janet Weisner, Erin Heuser, Jim Samuel, Ann Krieger, Chris Schweitzer, Ami Carmon, Mark Quinlan, Pat McJoynt-Griffith, Carol Rearick, Julie Schmitz

Absent: CeceKanowsky, Meg Allwein, KatieReinker

The meeting convened at 7:05PM with an opening prayer.

The Minutes from the June 14, 2011 meeting were approved.

Principal report:

• The School year is off to a good start.
• Enrollment is 261 and we are pleased to have 20 new students to the school.  2^nd grade is the smallest with 20 students, 1^st and 5^th grade are essentially maxed out at 34 students. 
• Pre-school has expanded and now offers extended care this school year. We are up to 40 students.
• We welcomed new faculty members. Miss Smith in the 6^th grade is a graduate of Ohio Dominican and has a special certification in math, Miss Logan in 1^st gradecame to the school from our preschool program and Mrs. Pitstick joins St. Catharine’s as our music teacher.
• 2011-12 School year begins a new 4-year accreditation schedule. We were proudly re-certified for the beginning of this school year.
• The Parent handbook is now officially posted on the website, paper copies are available by request but none have been requested.
• New science curriculum is being introduced.
• OCEA has a major biannual conference in Columbus October 3^rd-4^th; in excess of 10,000 Catholic school teachers and staff participate, our SPICE program will be making a presentation.

Committee reports:

• Finance: Pat McJoynt-Griffith gave a finance report closing out the 2010-2011 school year and projections on the budget for 2011-12. Finances remain tight, but with 20 new students and support from the Parish the school has a balanced budget. There was a drop of nearly $50,000 in the income to the school from Bingo last year and that will need to be watched and addressed.

• Public Relations: Chris Schweitzer gave a report on public relations and highlighted the new additions and functions of the school website. It will be further enhanced this school year. Fundraising efforts are being looked at to be combined with enhanced marketing efforts. There will also continue to be enhanced and alumni database building effort.

New Business:

• The board will focus on the renewal and revisiting of the current sustainability plan adopted in 2008. Important to the effort is recruiting additional parents and parishioners beyond just the advisory board members; people with specific expertise or passion for the report sections.
• Janet Weisner will ask the diocese if there is a new format for sustainability plans and direct any suggestions or changes to the board.
• The robust discussion on finances and public relations and recruiting are important to the school functions and those tactical operations will be considered for addition to a revised report to make it more of a document guiding the efforts and actions as opposed just to a strategic document and score card.
• It was noted that the tremendous effort that went into creating the schools first sustainability report in 2008 allows this new effort a much refined path and greater chance for success.

Pastors Remarks:

• Father Lumpe commented on the budget issues and was very positive on the current position of the school compared to others, but noted that budgets remain very lean.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15PM.

SAINT CATHARINE SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
JUNE 14, 2011 7:00 P.M.
SCHOOL LIBRARY

Attendees:  Fr. Lumpe, Janet Weisner, Erin Heuser, Julie Schmitz, Jim Samuel, Ann Kreiger, Chris Schweitzer, Ami Carmon, Albert Vautour, Cece Kanowsky , Meg Allwein, Katie Reinker, Carol Rearick

Absent:  Mark Quinlan, Pat McJoynt-Griffith, Charlie Rath

1. The Minutes from the May 10, 2011 meeting were approved.

2. Pastor’s Remarks: 
    Funfest was a great event that was well attended and safe.
    Gates to the property are now locked every evening.
    Concrete work has started on the property.

3. Principal’s Report:
    End of year activities were successful and enjoyed by many
    1st Communion, Confirmation, Awards Day, Field Day, Graduation
    Records are off to the High Schools – 2 going to CSG, 1 to CCS, 6 to St. Charles, the rest to Bishop Hartley
    We will have 2 new tutors in the fall through CCS.  We will know who they are in August.
    Mrs. Arens will be leaving due to her husband being transferred.  The position has been posted and the interviewing should be next week.
    Enrollment:  around 260
    Preschool is full
    Some space available in each grade

4. Committee Reports:
    Finance Committee:  No report
 
    Public Relations Committee:  
         Phase II of website development to begin – will be a productive tool not just information.
         Possibly taking things like the Handbook and Parent Packs On-line
         Looking to have Development Directors from other schools come to talk to the board about fundraising and growth.

5. Elections:
    President:  Jim Samuel
    V. President:  Chris Schweitzer
    Secretary:  Cece Kanowsky

6. Goals:
    Development – growth of alumni, fundraising, communication
    Review/revise Sustainability Plan

7. Next Meeting:   September 13, 2011
     7:00 pm School Library

The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.