Scattergood Friends Scho ol Committee

Approved Minutes – May 13, 2000

The School Committee met on Saturday, May 13th at 9:00 am at Scattergood Friends School.  The Meeting began with an Executive Session. 

The general meeting opened with a moment of silence at 10:05 am.  Members present were Joe Davison, Barb Garlinghouse, Lucy Hansen, Burt Kisling, Jeff Kisling, Ron Knight, Donnie Morehouse, Bruce Rohwer, Bob Rye, Dan Treadway, and George Welch.  Staff members present included Nan Fawcett, Margie Figgins, Ken Hinshaw, Dena Miller, Eric Miller and Nancy Ryan.  Committee member Richard Johnson and staff members Jan Luchini and David Rossell joined the meeting at a later time. 

The graduating senior class introduced themselves and shared their academic and vocational plans for the upcoming year. 

The minutes from the March 25, 2000 meeting were accepted with changes.

Director’s Report – The director’s report was presented by Ken.  Eric Miller announced his decision not to return next year, based on a full time teaching position at Kirkwood Community College.  Sarah Giffen-Hunter and Jennie Schmidt will be taking different portions of Eric’s job next year.

Enrollment – Dena handed out a report of the current admissions picture.  We are right on track for this time of year, but we will need a successful summer to be fully enrolled. She also announced that Scattergood has become a member of TABS, The Association of Boarding Schools.

Academics – The minutes from the May 12, 2000 academic subcommittee meeting were read.  Copies of this report will be sent out with the next mailing.

Spirituality and Community Life – Nan reported on how things are going at this time in the year.  Scattergood has been forging alliances with several local groups that offer services for our students, particularly Mecca, a drug use and abuse center, and UAY, United Action for Youth, which offers free counseling and sponsors youth events.  Six students also spent a whole day taking a peer mediation training course.

Technology – Jeff handed out the technology report.  David reported on a recent conference he attended about implementing laptop programs in schools.  We are on a good path, but Dave noted that other schools warn that we should be prepared for a tumultuous first year until we work out the new program.  According to the latest information we have on costs, it should cost approximately $800 per student per year for student laptops.  Laptops for teachers will cost the school around $20,000.

Development – Bruce presented the development report, and the annual phonathon was presented as a great success, raising over $25,000.

Consultation Committee – The consultation committee has requested committee changes, notification of those not wanting to renew for another term and nominations for those people who may be willing to serve.

Scattergood has been using the legal services of Barbara Barrett.  She has moved to a different law firm which has an office in Cedar Rapids.  The School Committee has approved maintaining our legal relationship with Barbara Barrett at her new law firm.

After discussion on laptop financing options, The School Committee approves the consultation committee’s recommendation of additional charges to cover purchasing of computers for the laptop program as a component of tuition.  The School Committee also approves debt financing to cover the purchasing of computers for the laptop program, with specifics to be presented at the next Meeting.

Financial Report – The current financial report was handed out.  A proposed budget was also passed around.  More discussions on the budget will occur at the next meeting.

Long Range Planning – At the next meeting we will review recommended changes to the Long Range Plan.  Members are asked to reread chapters 1 and 2 before the July meeting and review the goals in relation to each committee’s self-evaluation.

Scattergood Friends School Committee closed with a moment of silence.

Executive Session - notes provided by the Clerk of the Meeting

There was frustration expressed by several about the lack of time to prepare for discussion on the changes recommended at the March meeting for the Director Evaluation.  As this was a “Rules” change other than a process change more time was needed to discuss the changes.

After several members spoke there was a great lack of unity and no consensus to change the Director Evaluation as stated in the School Committee Rules as to the timing of the dates of the Evaluation or to combine the Evaluation with the offering of the Note of Agreement to the Director.