December 9, 2010 Minutes

FOSB Board Meeting Minutes –

12/9/2010

Attendees:

Jane Davies (MS Chair), Kelly Bryant (ES Chair), Jodee Reed, Carita Polin, Brian Williamson, Rolf Sonnerup, Dan Miller, Donna Mack, Lance Adams, Robin Lofstrom, Caitlin Racey, Beth Armitage, Susan Motte, Megan Ratcliffe, Zara Kublin, Andy Mates, David Sommerville, Jen Millen, Jodi Russell, Robin Lofstrom, Karla Alcantara-Warren, Sarah Kopf, Peg Peterson, Beth Boram, Lisa Crozier, Michelle Pearson, Katherine Ropp, Caleb Banta-Green, Jennifer Busch, Sam Star, Melanie Shelton, Jessica Phillips

Chair’s Report:

• Passed November minutes.
• We have a middle school treasurer.
• Bulk of meeting time (7:30-9) was for budget discussion to communicate and gain clarity on budget philosophy questions.  This is to communicate and understand what people value and want to especially protect in the program in light of tough budget years. 
• Key highlights from budget discussion were:  what should we spend monies on:  arts, librarian, PE, key elements that make Salmon Bay unique, as well as core components like math/language/art, etc. … 
• Key opinions were: 
  1.  as long as the district wasn’t fully funding the staff we felt were vital to the school, parents want to continue to offer a grant to the school to help fund the shortage;
  2.  also, full time librarian, PE, volunteer coordinators and arts are critical to the curriculum – opinion expressed by teachers and parents;
  3.  parents feel we could increase fund raising efforts and like idea of assigning fund raising to specific items, so parents understand what they are donating to.

Secretary’s Report:

• November minutes posted and passed – thanks Robin for doing them!

Principal’s Report:

• We were short on time so we abridged reports to have time for budget review.

Volunteer’s Report:

• Megan: Caitlin filling in for Megan while she’s out of town and she’ll be in touch next year for tours etc.  Directories are done!

Treasurer’s Report:

• We have a new middle school treasurer, David Sommerville, – yay and thank you David!

Additional Reports:

• BLT:  Sam Star (middle school rep) reported that they discussed rescheduling conferences and the planning for a math night. Sam encouraged parents to email him or Robin regarding any questions parents may want raised at BLT.
• Facility Committee:  A.J. Silva has contacted district and is coming up to speed on seismic updates as the funding becomes available to make them.  He is working on master list of the current state of the building and remodeling needs.
• Playground Committee:  we have a landscape architect, Maggi Johnson and are excited to move forward.
• Auction Committee:  Edith Fuchs is the new head of the auction committee with help from Megan.  Thank you Edith!
• Alternative Education Committee:  Caleb is working on tool for self-audit of alternative schools and is continuing overall efforts with John Miner.
• Legislative Committee:  Katherine Ropp reported on district meeting last week.  The district shrunk our geo-zone by 4 blocks.  Sibling is still first tie-breaker, followed by geo-zone and then lottery.  There is discussion of removing sibling preference for option schools in the future.