Minutes of Ray Local School Council
December 8, 2008
Staff lounge

In attendance: Heather Edelman, Christine Lancaster, Ray Lodato, Sean Murphy, David Myles, Ken Schug (arrived at 8:08 a.m.), Willie Walter (arrived 8:12 a.m.), Angela Williams-Walker, Jennifer Washington. Absent: Lee Barker, Bernadette Butler.

Ray Lodato called the meeting to order at 8:07 a.m.

On a motion by D. Myles (second: A. Williams-Walker) the LSC approved the agenda.

On a motion by D. Myles (second: C. Lancaster) the LSC approved the November minutes with a time mentioned in the minutes changed to 7:52 p.m.

K. Schug arrived at 8:08 a.m.

Principal’s report
Assistant Principal Barb Onofrio gave the principal’s report because Principal Butler was in Spain attending a conference. B. Onofrio reported that interviews for the reading teacher occur next week. She reported that participation by fourth graders in a mural project would cost $4,000.

W. Walter arrived at 8:12 a.m.

B. Onofrio asked whether the LSC would approve the reading teacher position if it cost a bit more than $30,000. Hiring cannot occur if insufficient funds are available.

On a motion by D. Myles (second: J. Washington), the LSC voted to amend the previous agreement and to fund the reading teacher position up to $40,000.

PPLC (The PPLC is an LSC committee that discusses professional development and curriculum)
B. Onofrio and teacher John Cusick reported the PPLC had met once but a chair had not been named.

Friends of Ray
A. Williams-Walker reported that the PTA and FOR would need to have separate bank accounts for the two groups to separate. Librarian Leslie Travis offered to help explain how the two groups merged.

Committee reports
*Bylaws - no report
*Facilities – D. Myles explained that the LSC needed to approve the dates that a chess tournament would be held at the school. On a motion by D. Myles (second: K. Schug) the LSC approved the dates for the chess tournament.

*Vision and Priorities – H. Edelman explained that the committee would expand and suggested Principal Butler be the lead person to present the committee’s recommendations. J. Washington said she did not think the principal should have the added duty of chairing the committee. LSC members agreed the committee should add more people.
*Principal evaluation – no report
*SIPAAA/Budget – no report
*Bilingual education – W. Walter reported that students speaking nine different languages were receiving bilingual education services. Those students will be tested in January. Members asked whether those students would be taking the ISAT test.
*Special Education – no report
*Technology – S. Murphy reported that the committee had discussed the state of printers in classrooms and debated whether printers should be located in each room or whether a powerful printer/copier could be centrally located on each floor. If teachers had a preference for a printer in each classroom, an inventory could be done and each room could have the same model.
-Murphy reported that an inventory of computers found 192 in the building, with 20 in poor condition and 60 in okay condition. The committee has been discussing the cost difference between replacing computers every five or six years.
-The possibility of piloting a “thin client” model at Ray is still under investigation. The committee may be able to meet with SunRay representatives next week. The long-term cost of the model is unknown.
Teacher and technology committee member Gabriel Sheridan said no one in the school is taking responsibility for LCD monitors.

PTA – no report

Old Business
R. Lodato asked whether there would be a follow-up meeting to the fall first-grade parents meeting.

At 8:59 a.m. A. Williams-Walker and W. Walter stepped out.

On a motion by D. Myles (second: K. Shug) the LSC voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:01 a.m.

Submitted by H. Edelman

Principal’s Report to the LSC
December 8, 2008
8:00am

Reading Specialist Update
I have two candidates who responded to the advertisement at Erickson and UIC.  The interview team will be organized to hold interviews the week of December 16.  The team will consist of teachers and administration.

Mosaic Project
Sixth grade students will be part of the Hyde Park 57th Underpass Mosaic Project.  Students will work with a local artist, Mirtes, who has worked on other mosaic projects in the school.  The big idea is to portray some facet of Hyde Park history.  The project will cost the school $4000.  It is set to begin in January.  I will give updates after further planning meetings with the teachers.

Special Education Team
Tiffany Holmes from Specialized Services gave a presentation on the best practices to be followed when writing IEP goals.

Spanish Academy
Mr. Martin represented Ray School in Houston Texas last week at the annual conference for Spanish language teachers in Spanish Academies.  The Spanish Consulate hosted the event.

Holiday Assembly
December 16 marks our annual winter assembly.  This program will be a collaboration between the Spanish department and the Fine Arts department.  There will be songs, dances and art featured in the program.  The primary grades and select middle grades will perform.

Piano Concert
On December 17 Sharon Madison and    a former Ray student will play excerpts from the nutcracker.  Grades four through six are invited.

RAY SCHOOL
Facilities &amp; Safety Committee
Minutes
December 4, 2008

Present: Bernadette Butler, Ralph Mirro, David Myles.
•        Missing floor tiles in corridors – 2nd and 3rd floor corridors complete.  Punch list work remains to be done including base, thresholds need to be installed where the tile surface meets the terrazzo. Sean Murphy spoke with either O’Neal and Herm Gutierrez last month and inquired about the delayed status.

•        Peeling paint –Awarded (and funded) a work order for an environmental assessment of the peeling paint areas to be preformed by Mat-tec.

•        UPS back up system – No up-dated information at this time.

•        School cleaning concerns -  Custodian staffing is a huge challenge as private custodian contractor struggles to provide school with timely and regular substitutes/replacements.  The excellent custodian we had last month has been reassigned.

•        Running Track –Ralph provided Ms. Perez with cleaning schedule.

•        Technology/Equipment – Survey by teachers on existing equipment is  underway. Surplus computer equipment awaiting assessment in Teacher’s Lounge kitchen area by CIP volunteer.

•        School Emergency Management Plan (EMP) – Some evacuation drills have occurred and more will be conducted in future months.

•        Annex building access - Access back into the school from the east playground through the annex building doors will be accomplished by the use of radios.  School security personnel will be primary “door opener” as building maintenance will assist if they are in the immediate area.  Three radios have been procured and are in the Main Office for use.

•        Sand box – Toni Perez  obtained information from sandbox “stakeholders”  and the recommendation is for the existing sand to be removed and for some other base such as wood chips or rubber tiles be installed along with play-lot equipment such as a “See-Saw” being placed in the area for children to use.

•        Auditorium Seating –Work is completed repairing all of the broken seats/backs. J Appreciation letter will go to the contractor thanking them for their beautiful repair work.

•        Upcoming Dates – Chess Club would like to use a few areas in the school on January 17th and the Annual Art Fair will need building access on June 5th, 6th and 7, 2009.

•        Recycling – No discussion.

•        Courtyard repairs – Have one proposal for $13,490 in ‘05.  Suggest that this committee look into making phased repairs over several years.

•        Fluorescent light fixture lens covers are needed throughout old building.  Ralph has 3rd &amp; 2nd floor survey and approximately $5,000 needed to fund replacement lens covers.

•        Window air conditioners – Prices ($32,235 in ‘05) obtained but there is a City moratorium on installing these window units in CPS properties.

57th Street Business Association – No update at this time.

Next Meeting:  January 8, 2009,  8:00 am

Summary by:  David Myles