SSC Meeting

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

5:15 pm – Tech Lab

1. Town Hall Meeting feedback

a. Good ideas

b. A bit too much “preaching to the choir” – no real solutions presented

c. Grassroots movement

2. CL Budget

a. How to address the students

i. Discuss the economics of the situation

ii. Be careful not to be too political

3. Layoff

a. In the past, layoffs have been rescinded, but in this situation, it does not look as good. CL has had to layoff 4 teachers so far.

b. Consolidation is different than layoff – consolidated teachers will have a job, not necessarily the teacher who has the position now

4. Budget Planning (note that all budgets need to be negotiated with the union…)

a. All categories have had either reductions or have been completely eliminated.

b. Benefits costs have gone up for all teachers – everyone will cost $3900.00 more next year - $196,470 total (or more) including all 31 teachers.

c. There will be an increase of students in all grades, and that will impact total # of students, currently projected at 700.

d. There will be 3 general ed classes in each K-3 grade, with a projected enrollment of 24 students in each K class; 27/28 students in each 1^st & 2^nd grade classes; and 30 in each 3^rd grade class. There will be one GE 1^st/2^nd split class.

e. Concern that 1^st/2^nd grade split needs an experienced teacher, plus it will be important to hand pick the students who will be best suited to a split. Staff thinks 1^st/2^nd split is most appropriate (versus K/1^st).

f. Concerns about KIP 4/5 split, especially in the future with K classes of 24 students.

g. Our BSC priorities go forward regardless of class size increases.

h. We need to think about how to find funding solutions; from the district, and from the PTA – what will the district provide, and what will the PTA provide? An example is materials…

i. When we sign off on a budget, we are not locked in if the situation changes over the summer

j. PTA may want to consider matching the FLAP carryover funds that will pay for .05 of a KIP 4/5/Middle School support teacher.

k. Hopefully we will get as many student teachers as possible to help with the increase of class sizes; a partnership exists with USF, and one may develop with SFSU; also, an increased partnership with parents who should sign up with SF School Volunteers and other community based organizations can volunteer to help (Cathy will talk to Valerie Persky and also research community based organizations that provide reading support)

l. Do we want to formalize a partnership with SFSU/USF to provide student teachers? Teachers say this is difficult…there are some barriers, including student teachers wanting to work in schools with more challenges.

m. This information will be shared with the school community through Mr. Hack’s morning coffees, PTA meetings, letter to the school community

5. Questions/concerns about the 4^th grade writing assessment test, which was not administered this year because there was no funding to administer it. 4^th grade teachers may administer it themselves, with help from the parents for scoring.

6. Next meeting’s agenda – discuss GATE compliance, and look at goals/objectives in our BSC

7. Next meeting: Tuesday, April 20^th, 5:15 pm (although a meeting may be called sooner if the budget situation requires)