September Meeting

MCMS Parent Advisory Meeting Minutes

September 15, 2010

12:00-1:00 in Room 122

1. Welcome and Introductions

Dr. Sue Kreuser, Principal

Mary Utz (8^th)

Chris Leary (8^th)

Carol Tulevich (8^th)

Renee Coles (7^th)   Not present

Eileen Bates (7^th)

Tom Saunders (7^th)

Julie Anderson (7^th) Not present

Shara Livingston (6^th)

Melissa Robinson (6^th)

Susan Sullivan (6^th)

2. Responsibilities and Duties:  Please see handout or Carteret County Schools’ website

3. Position of Chair-Someone is still needed for this positon.

a.       Facilitate meetings

b.      Meet with (or delegate) Carteret County School Board to provide building update and exchange of information.  The first Board meeting is scheduled for October 5.  The Board will meet with advisory chairs from 5:00-6:00 for an information meeting.  Tom Saunders agreed to represent MCMS at the meeting.  The Board greatly prefers to receive the Issues for Discussion sheets in their Board meeting packets.  In order to do this, Barbara Russell must have them one we prior to the meeting.

November ___, January ___, March ___, and May ___.  We will need MCMS reps at each of these meetings.

4. Position of Secretary

a.       take minutes and distribute to members, school board and school website- Jeannie Fischler agreed to be our secretary.

5.  Hiring of new staff members

            Wendy Garter, 7^th Grade Osprey Language Arts

            Kristen Yanity, 7^th Grade Starfish Math

            Marie Sherrill, 8^th Grade Leatherback Language Arts

            Wingate Smith, 8^th Grade Leatherback Social Studies

            Rodney Woods, 8^th Grade Leatherback Social Studies

            Paula Kight, 7^th Grade Osprey EC

            Debbie Butcher, 6^th grade and 7^th Grade Osprey Counselor

            Lindsey Schopfel, 6^th-8^th Grade PE/Health

            Trish Sheppard, 6^th-8^th Grade Boost Teacher

            Lori McNeil, 6^th-8^th Grade ESL Teacher

            Mike Neptune, 6^th-8^th Band

            Dawn Tarter, 6^th-8^th Grade Family and Consumer Science (Home Ec)

            Melodie Willis, 6^th-8^th Grade AIG Teacher

            Allie Phillips, Bookkeeper

            Gloria Ellis, 6-8^th Grade EC Resource Teacher

                Amanda Smathers, 6^th Grade Sea Turtle Science for Rebeccah Haines

                                Reassignments:    Megan Curley – to Technology Faciliatator

                                                                Alice Boulia – to 6^th Grade Language Arts

                                                                Carol Neill-to 6^th Grade SeaHorse Math

                                                                Christi West-to 6^th Grade SeaHorse Language Arts

                                                                Leslie Becton-to 6^th Grade SeaHorse Science

                                                                Nancy Piner-to 7^th Grade Social Studies

                                                                Amanda Speegle (Savage) to 7^th Grade Osprey Science

                                                                Rachel Dodgens to 7^th Grade Starfish Science

                                                                Terri Miles-to 8^th Grade Sandpiper EC – looping

                                                                Lindsey Fodrie-to 8^th Grade Sandpiper math - looping

6. Transition Programs:

                                    a.  Dialogue and Dessert –optional evening meeting for rising sixth grade parents

                                    Only five parents showed for the initial meeting, so Dr. Kreuser cancelled the second

                        b.  Orientation – we have made suggested changes for next year’s crowds and pictures

                        c.  Sixth Grade Parent Back to School Night-favorable feedback

                        d.  Sixth Through Eighth Grade Open Houses-favorable feedback

A suggestion was made by the group to rotate through all classes on students’ schedules and to keep the PowerPoint presentations brief

7.  Priority Areas for our School Improvement Plan (we will need a parent representative to serve as a liaison)

(18) Integrate Meaningful Writing and Reading Across the Content Areas

                (15) Continue to prioritize, establish, and foster strong student-teacher relationships

(10) Provide service learning projects and community involvement opportunities for our students

                (10) Study brain based research

(8) Gain a further understanding of the needs of students who come from an economically disadvantaged home environment

                (7) Continue to prioritize daily physical education and health education for all students

                (7) Analyze the effectiveness of our ESL programs

                (7) Emphasize differentiation in all content areas

(6) Focus on developing strong student character, personal responsibility and community/world involvement

                (6) Explore the concept of Professional Learning Communities

                (6) Continue to acquire technology equipment as the budget permits

                (6) Emphasize compacting opportunities for students in all content areas

                (4) Implement a comprehensive character education program

                (3) Foster a positive and engaging environment for staff 

8.  Other

a.  PTO Fundraisers-an update was given on the annual fundraiser; funds raised will be used for student and staff incentives as well as continued purchases of technology

b.  A Thumbs Up was given to the PE uniforms!

c.  Parents expressed a concern about lunch time being rushed.  Sue will check on this and revisit at our next meeting.

Excellence:  Every Student, Every Day!