Minutes of Ray Local School Council    DRAFT
January 12, 2009
Staff lounge

In attendance: Bernadette Butler, Heather Edelman, Christine Lancaster, Ray Lodato, Sean Murphy, David Myles, Willie Walter (arrived 6:42 p.m.), Jennifer Washington. Absent: Ken Schug, Angela Williams-Walker.

Ray Lodato called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m.

Approval of agenda
On a motion by D. Myles (second: C. Lancaster) the LSC approved the agenda with the additions of a PPLC report and an executive session to discuss the budget and the election of a replacement LSC member.

Approval of minutes
On a motion by S. Murphy (second: D. Myles) the LSC approved the December minutes with the change of adjournment time to 9:01 a.m.

Report from the Principal (See attached report.)
*A new Community Schools Initiative staff person may be on board by Wednesday. Meanwhile, Ms. Butler has met with someone from the non-profit to get the program at Ray started.
*The reading teacher hired to work with grades K-2 has to be hired as a reading and math teacher and will work on remediation in both subjects. She may not be able to fit in time to work with accelerated students. Ms. Butler explained that the cost to the school for the teacher would be about $23,000.00, including benefits. H. Edelman asked that Ms. Butler find a way for the teacher to include working with accelerated students in reading, which was part of the original plan for the position.
*Ms. Onofrio is modeling expository writing in some classrooms to prepare students for the Academic Olympics and ISAT.
*Dr. Van Acker is following up on PBIS at the Jan. 23 professional development day.
*The cell tower is gone. D. Myles and S. Murphy suggested someone looks at the building to make sure there is no damage from the removal.

S. Murphy asked Ms. Butler to include misconduct report numbers as part of her report each month.

Ms. Butler asked for approval of the transfer of $4,000 from the SGSA account to pay for teachers’ professional development seminar costs. C. Lancaster expressed concern that $4,000 was not enough to cover all teachers. Ms. Butler explained there is less time for professional development at the school and a move toward teachers pursuing their own professional development. Teacher Jan Schuitema asked if there was a particular direction teachers should go in pursuing their professional development. Ms. Butler responded that guided reading, writing, differentiated learning, science and Everyday Math should be the areas of focus.

On a motion by D. Myles (second: S. Murphy) the LSC voted to transfer $4,000 from the SGSA account to pay for teachers’ professional development seminar costs.

H. Edelman asked Ms. Butler about her professional development trip to Spain. Ms. Butler explained that the training focused on helping students keep their native language when they are enrolled in a language immersion program.

H. Edelman asked Ms. Butler if she had followed up on a discussion at the November LSC meeting about Ray School students’ options for middle school and specifically why some Ray students had not been accepted to Canter last year. Ms. Butler said she had not pursued the issue; she said the Canter principal hoped to come to future meetings at Ray about middle school options.

R. Lodato asked about noise at the fifth- and sixth-grade lunch period. A parent reported to him that the lunch period on a particular day was loud. Ms. Butler said she thought the noise level was 200% improved; she noted that students may be noisier on indoor recess days.

On a motion by D. Myles (second: J. Washington) the LSC approved the principal’s report.

Status of Friends of Ray – R. Lodato reported that A. Williams-Walker is still investigating this issue. Some money is expected from the a cappella concert by the U. of C. men’s chorus.

Subcommittee reports
*Bylaws - none
*Facilities (See attached report) - D. Myles reported the sand box was being removed. S. Murphy asked about the size of the maintenance budget. D. Myles said he would find out the information. He said a lot of money was going out this year for snow removal and salting.
*Vision and Priorities - H. Edelman reported she was waiting for approval to hold a meeting during the next PTA meeting.
*Principal evaluation – H. Edelman handed out the survey questions posed by LSC members to teachers and parents last year and asked LSC members to review the survey and send her feedback and any suggested additions.
*SIPAAA/Budget – no report
*Bilingual Ed. – W. Walter reported English language learners will take the ISAT.
*Special Education – no report
*Technology – S. Murphy explained some advantages of the thin client model for computers, including lower electricity costs and equipment that may last 10-12 years. Sun Microsystems brought several representatives to meet with the LSC technology committee and a CPS OTS representative. S. Murphy explained that with the Sun thin  client model, the desktop set-up would look the same and every program running today could continue to run. The tech committee asked Sun to come back with the cost of three scenarios: full implementation, 80-100 computers, 40 computers. If the school chose one of those options, a strategy session would follow with teachers, students, administrators and parents to work out how it would be implemented.
S. Murphy explained that OTS is looking for proposals from several companies to implement similar systems. OTS would support a thin-client pilot but has not committed any money.
R. Lodato mentioned that committee meetings need to be scheduled with 48-hour notice to the public.
On a motion by D. Myles (second: C. Lancaster) the LSC approved the committee reports.

PTA – no report

Old business – none

New business – none

Public comments – A parent reported white-out conditions outside.

Election of replacement LSC member
R. Lodato reported L. Barker had resigned. (See attachment.) Notice about the vacancy went out to parents on Thursday and Friday before this LSC meeting. Two parents were present to express their interest in the position. Iheoma Banks explained she has one child in the school, volunteers in the classroom regularly, and has a background in clinical psychology. Parent Valerie Walker-Rydel said she is an internist with four children attending the school, including children in sixth, fourth and second grades.

On a motion by B. Butler (second: D. Myles) the LSC voted to go out of open session into executive session to discuss the budget and replacement of the LSC member.

The LSC went into executive session at 8:04 p.m.

On a motion by D. Myles (second: S. Murphy) the LSC moved to return to open session at 8:36 p.m.

D. Myles made a motion (second: J. Washington) to create a process for every LSC parent representative vacancy in which two weeks notice is given before the next LSC meeting or a special call meeting at which parents can submit their names for consideration to fill the vacancy; and notice of the vacancy is posted at the school, in the e-news, and in a notice sent home with students. Approved: 6. Opposed: 2.

On a motion by D. Myles (second: S. Murphy) the LSC voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:42 p.m.
Submitted by H. Edelman

Ray Elementary School
Principal’s Report to the LSC
January12, 2009
6:30

The Community Schools Initiative: As previously reported, Mr. Samuel Ortiz was originally hired to fill the position of Coordinator. Right before the holiday break, we were notified that Mr. Ortiz is not able to fulfill those duties. Subsequently, additional candidates were interviewed last week and a decision is pending. Marie Stewart from Children’s Home and Aid Society is facilitating the starting of the program until the permanent position is filled.

Reduced Class Size Teacher: Candidates were interviewed by a team of administrators and primary teachers. Bridget Harrigan was hired and has completed all the necessary paperwork to fill the position. She started today by viewing the classrooms and meeting staff. Teachers have submitted recommendations for students to receive services. Ms. Harrigan will review recommendations, work on scheduling and begin preparation of materials so that she may begin servicing students next week. Her schedule will consist of working every day for three hours each day.

Curriculum Improvement: Ms. Onofrio presented a lesson in expository writing to three fourth grade classes. She will visit Ms. Webb’s class on Wednesday. She is sponsoring the expository writing session for the Academic Olympics. She is working in conjunction with the teachers to select one finalist who will represent Ray at the area level. The other goal was to model the writing process for teachers. Children are given the rubric that is the same for the ISAT.

Competitions: A school wide spelling competition was held Friday in the school. Nikolas Buck, 6th grader from room 302 will represent Ray School at the area competition at a later date.

Celebrations: Our holiday assembly was attended by many parents and friends. Our children were splendid in their performance of holiday songs and Spanish dance.

Inauguration: We are celebrating history this month. Students in grades 4 – 6 will meet in the auditorium on Inauguration day to view the swearing in festivities.

Other Dates: Friday January 16 is Picture Retake Day.

Friday January 23 is a professional development day. Topics include school based problem solving, Good Touch, Bad Touch by Imagination Theater and a presentation by Dr. Van Acker. It is also the day the PTA will honor the staff for Staff Appreciation Day.

Friday, January 30 is report card pick-up. Due to the difference in the Ray vs. CPS calendar, parents are requested to pick up report cards this marking period.

Budget: A request is being made for a transfer in the amount of $4000 from the excess in the teacher salary line to be added for seminar /workshop admission. Several staff members have requested permission to attend conferences away from school. The average admission for a conference is $200. This will enable approximately 20 staff members’ admission. We previously allocated money for substitute service, but not for admission to workshops.

Internal Accounts: We have $203,482.78 in our internal accounts.

RAY SCHOOL
Facilities &amp; Safety Committee
Minutes
January 5, 2009

Present: Bernadette Butler, Ralph Mirro, Antonia Perez, Therese Wasik, Gabriel Sheridan, Star Breit David Myles.

•        Missing floor tiles in corridors – 2nd and 3rd floor corridors complete.  Some punch list work has taken place but a lot more remains to be preformed.

•        Peeling paint –Awarded (and funded) a work order for an environmental assessment of the peeling paint areas to be preformed.  Contractor has been out to begin the assessment process. No other dates known at this time.

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

•        School cleaning concerns -  Window sills in gym to be dusted.

•        Technology/Equipment – Survey by teachers on existing equipment has been completed. Surplus computer equipment being inventoried.

•        School Emergency Management Plan (EMP) – On-going - Some evacuation drills have occurred and more will be conducted in future months.   We plan for information for evacuation procedures during future assembly gatherings.

•        Annex building access – Procedure in place - 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 rubber tiles be installed along with play-lot equipment such as a “titter-totter” being placed in the area for children to use.  Committee will obtain budget estimates as no funds are currently available for this project.

•        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:  February 5, 2009,  8:00 am

Lee Barker
5546 South Dorchester Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60637
January 2, 2009

Dear Ray:

This letter is to inform you that as of January 5, 2009, our daughter Ava will transfer to a new school and therefore, it is necessary for me to resign my position as a member of the Ray School Local School Committee effective January 4, 2009. Both of these actions, Ava’s transfer and my resignation, are taken with disappointment and sadness.
In our two years at Ray, my wife Kristina and I have been greatly impressed by the amazing community of parents, teachers, and community leaders who endeavor to make Ray School one of the stellar elementary schools in Chicago. We have met and worked with people in the Ray community who have inspired us to our best and allowed us to form friendships that will last a lifetime. We could not have dreamed how satisfying our participation could be when first we cast our lot with Ray.
However, as several members of the LSC know, this has been a tough year for our family at Ray.  The institutional problem of classroom overcrowding has been compounded by a lack of foresight and planning by our administrative leaders. This created an acute series of problems in our daughter’s classroom that no teacher should be expected to handle.  As we worked with other parents to meet these challenges, our efforts were met with limited appreciation and response by the school’s administration. In October, the principal of the school convened all first grade parents and, at the conclusion of that meeting, initiated a promise to follow up with another meeting in November that would provide a next step to address this problem.  As far as we know, the November meeting never took place. We can only draw the conclusion that the administration of the school does not share the same level of commitment to excellence and problem solving that is maintained by Ray School parents and teachers.  It was then that we made the disappointing and sad realization that without the support and leadership of the administration, parents and teachers will have a limited impact on the future of the school.
We hope you understand that when forced to make a choice between our daughter’s education and our commitment to our community school, we must choose the former.  Our disappointment and sadness is that we were forced to make this choice.
Please accept all my best wishes.  Kris and I will continue to cheer for the LSC and support all hopes for Ray School, but circumstances mean that we will have to do so from the sidelines.

Sincerely,

Lee Barker