Scattergood Friends School Committee

Approved Minutes – March 24 & 25, 2000

 

The School Committee met on Friday, March 24th before the arrival of Pat Bassett, the featured speaker for the retreat, and continued on Saturday March 25 at Scattergood Friends School.

 

Friday, March 24

The meeting opened with a moment of silence.  Members present included Barb Garlinghouse, Lucy Hansen, Richard Johnson, Burt Kisling, Jeff Kisling, Ron Knight, Salome Raheim, Bruce Rohwer, Bob Rye, Dan Treadway, George Welch and Lowell Wilson.  Staff members present included Margie Figgins, Ken Hinshaw, Will Hardy, Nan Fawcett, Belle Hinshaw and Nancy Ryan.  Staff member Joey Giffen Hunter and David Rossell joined the group later.

 

Facilities Committee – Ken reported that the facilities committee has met several times with regards to the four-plex project.  Using an overhead projector and a topographical  map, Ken discussed locations for the new building, new septic, the pond and other possible changes. Based on the Facilities Committee’s recommendation, the School Committee awards the construction project to Laughlin Design to build the new four-plex for the amount of $300,000, and approved associated landscaping including a pond.  Other projects that were discussed include: auditorium and art building upgrades, driveway changes and paving and sound wall plans.

 

 

Saturday, March 25, 2000

The School Committee Meeting reopened with a moment of silence. The minutes from the January 22, 2000 meeting were accepted with changes.

 

Director’s Report – was passed out and read. In addition to the written report, it was announced that the Sara Berquist scholarship fund has received a gift of $10,000 and that Dan Treadway spent a week on campus as a Friend-In-Residence.  We appreciate the contribution to the Quakerism class, snow shoveling and the myriad of other areas that Dan lent a helping hand.  Nan spoke about an upcoming peer mediation training that she had arranged for students and an ISACS evaluation of a Cedar Rapids area school.  Nan and Joey reported on the Sandy Spring Friends School Quaker leadership conference that 6 students attended earlier in the semester.

 

Enrollment Update – Ken discussed Scattergood’s recent contacts with both Friends School of Minnesota and Friends School of Detroit.  We are trying to forge stronger relationships with these excellent feeder schools.  Although it is too early for a clear enrollment picture for next year, the combination of a large senior class and this year’s attrition will be challenging to overcome.

 

After 8 years of working at Scattergood, Dena Miller will not be renewing her contact for next year.  The Admission position may be reconfigured to better accommodate traveling needs of the position.  Job notices have been posted on the Scattergood web site and in several Quaker publications.

 

Staffing Update – Overall, Scattergood will have a very low staff turnover for next year.  In addition to Dena, the following staff members have notified Scattergood of their plans for next year.  Dee Thompson and Jill Morey will both be pursuing their own educational goals.  Connie Clopton-Schumm wants to spend more time with her young children.  Ardith Tjossem and Don Harris will be moving off campus this summer and will decrease their teaching loads. Dave Rossell is uncertain about his plans for next year.  Jim Mills, a former staff member has been teaching part time this semester and will be taking on a larger role next year, probably moving on campus.

 

Financial Report – The report was passed out, and it was reported that the budget continues to track as expected.

 

Development Committee – The report was handed out along with an e-mail and article relating to the previous day’s retreat discussion. The beautiful new view books are here and available for appraisal.

 

Technology Report – Jeff and David presented a detailed report on five possible technology paths for Scattergood’s future.  Extensive discussion ensued regarding the best path for the school to take, costs and budget considerations, time lines, staffing requirements, and related topics.  The School Committee has directed the administration of Scattergood Friends School to develop technological advancement and to implement a laptop program for staff and students as quickly as feasible.  The School Committee also authorizes implementing additional charges as a part of tuition to cover the purchase of computers for the laptop program.

 

Human Resources Committee –An updated job description and changes in the evaluation procedure for the Director were handed out and a discussion ensued. The School Committee discussed the recommendation of the Human Resources Committee that the annual Director Evaluation and the contract offer be combined.  The procedures, if approved, will be attached to the School Committee Rules.  The School Committee approved adding a paragraph encompassing Long Range Planning to the Director’s job description.

 

The meeting of the School Committee ended with discussion on possible curriculum changes for the next academic year.  After a critique on the day’s meeting and a reminder on confidentiality, the Scattergood Friends School Committee closed with a moment of silence.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director Evaluation Process

 

The School Committee approves the update to the Director’s job description to include Long Range Planning, and to combine the annual evaluation and contact offer to occur in November/December, with the Director’s deadline for accepting the contract by December 31. 

 

The Director, the Clerk of School Committee and the clerk of Human Resources Committee will meet annually to agree upon a small, realistic number of attainable goals, and then the Director’s evaluation the following year be based upon the attainment of those articulated goals.

 

Surveys of staff and School Committee members will be revised to better reflect the Director’s job description, and they will be used during the first two years of any new director’s appointment (when a thorough review is in order) and only every third year thereafter.  Other years, a less exhaustive evaluation based upon annual goal setting and performance appraisal of the director’s having met those goals.

 

The Director will meet with only the Clerk of School Committee, and the Clerk and possibly other members of Human Resources Committee to hear the annual evaluation.

 

March, 2000