Meeting Minutes
April 2, 2009
NBECHS Advisory Council
Minutes
Present: Joe Koski, Rebecca Mashatt, Elaine McGee, Mary McGee, Cody Carlson, Stacy Efurd, Karen Spencer, Michelle Check, Sybel Alger
President Elaine McGee called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m.
Mashatt announced that the school was named a
The selection process for next year’s freshman is nearly complete. Letters will go out tomorrow informing parents and students of our admission decision. Almost 10 percent of the staff took part in two Saturday sessions.
There will be a pep rally tomorrow to celebrate the
Koski said there are wonderful students coming next year. Staff members will know them by face. Some will need monitoring from the beginning. All will be invited to the
Mashatt congratulated boys’ basketball coach Morgan Singleton, who was named coach of the year in the Warrior League. The team finished first in the division.
Cody Carlson said the baseball and softball teams are competing. He said students remain concerned about the bathrooms. They want to start looking like a
Mashatt reported on the college program in the absence of Tina Frey, who is working on the master schedule. Students who have more credits get first choice. There are a few juniors who will be released from the school if they fail one more class. They won’t be able to graduate. Some college professors have given us more seats, so we are able to enroll more students.
Koski said he plans to meet with the staff to set budget priorities. He asked for direction on reimbursement for the summer AVID conference. New teachers and those who teach AVID are required to attend; it is open to the rest of the staff. Expenses involve lodging, travel, and time. Options are extra-duty pay or per diem. If pay hourly, you have to decide when the day ends. What about planning discussions at dinner? Most conferences have evening events. That’s not an issue with per diem pay. We’re spending $600 less than last year on the hotel and buying trolley passes to cut mileage costs. The conference is already in the budget.
The consensus was to pay a per diem rate.
Shari Lauda arrived at 5:30 p.m.
Koski asked if the advisory council wants to form a budget subcommittee or take the budget directly to the council.
Spencer said she wants to see what the teachers want instead of go through a subcommittee. Check said she wants to see everything in the budget.
Elaine McGee said advisory council members can attend a budget preparation meeting. It is a public meeting, so it is open to everyone. It will be after school on Monday, April 27.
Spencer asked if groups or individuals can help fix or upgrade the facilities? Koski replied that it’s OK for groups to raise money, but the Education Code says that actual labor that is performed by certified or classified employees can’t be contracted out or performed voluntarily.
Bus transportation for sports, which was discussed in a previous meeting, will be discussed during the budget process. Elaine McGee asked if we can sell bus tickets to other students to help cover the cost. Check said that can be successful. Mashatt said they try to transport both boys’ and girls’ teams at the same time. Shari Lauda said in the
Alger brought up Coach Percy’s request to provide transportation for the golf team for the rest of the season. The coach and his wife are driving the five students now. Alger moved and Carlson seconded to authorize $800 to cover golf transportation to the remaining matches. The vote was unanimous. Koski said he would check with the track team.
Koski said the difference between the rate for a school bus and a van isn’t much because most of the cost is for the driver. The district needs to develop a rental rate. Lauda said it should include mileage and wear and tear and be worked into the athletic budget. Koski asked Lauda to talk to him about the issue after the meeting.
The minutes were reviewed and filed.
Spencer asked for an update on bus passes. Mashatt explained that some students took the bus to the college but didn’t come back to the school.
Under old business, the proposal for a school marquee was discussed. Mashatt provided a proposal for a sign with a box containing four lines of changeable letters. Cost is $4,531 and about $2,000 for installation. Check said we should consider the cost of the marquee versus maintaining the website with up-to-date information. Mashatt said an LED readout is instant. Carlson said most students want the LED sign because it’s fancy. Mashatt said we can use it for fund-raising by selling ads. It would catch everyone’s eye. Efurd asked where the money would come from in the budget. Elaine McGee said there are things students need more. We should use the website to tell about what money we’ve spent. She’d like more feedback from parents. Spencer said she questions whether the marquee should be a priority right now. There is so much more do to. Mashatt recommended tabling the idea again.
The agenda packet contained a proposal to remodel the computer lab. Mashatt said the bid is in two parts: desks along the walls and a center island. All the desks would face the front, which would have a pull-down screen and a projector on the ceiling. The teacher desk would be elevated so all the screens are visible. Installing a wireless network is in progress. The material is here. We need to install hardware. Koski said the long-term vision is to purchase more computers. Spencer said her school leases computers, which are replaced every three years with new equipment. Koski asked the council to adopt the presented floor plan; staff will work on details for completing the project. Mary McGee asked if students can help move and clean for community service. He said yes.
Spencer moved and Carlson seconded to authorize the computer lab remodeling project.
Carlson expressed concern that the pass-through gates on the fields are open all the time, so anyone can gain access to the school during the day. Koski said Valley View has gates that lock those openings during the day. He said he would investigate.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.