Minutes of Ray Local School Council Meeting
April 15, 2009
Staff Lounge

In attendance: Bernadette Butler, Blake Davis, Heather Edelman, Christine Lancaster, Ray Lodato, Sean Murphy (arrived 8:10), David Myles, Ken Schug, Jennifer Washington, Willie Walter (arrived 8:13). Absent: Angela Williams-Walker.

1. Call to order
R. Lodato called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m.

2. Approval of agenda
On a motion by H. Edelman (second: J. Washington) the LSC approved the agenda.

3. Approval of minutes
On a motion by H. Edelman (second: D. Myles) the LSC approved the March 9 and March 30 minutes.

4. Principal’s Report
*Kindergarten lottery
Principal Butler reported that 28 students from the pre-Kindergarten classes were not accepted through the lottery process to Kindergarten at Ray for next fall. Former Superintendent Duncan told the LSC and PTA last Spring that pre-K students should be accepted, but with the change in administration, Principal Butler was advised to accept students through the lottery only. Many pre-K parents have been very dedicated to Ray for two years, and now they are being told they cannot join the school. Because of the unusual set of circumstances this year, Principal Butler is asking for the LSC’s support to request from the central office a one-time additional Kindergarten teacher position. The cost would be about $90,000, including benefits.

Pre-K parent Leslie Davis spoke, explaining that she did not learn of the change in plans until mid-March, at which time it was too late to enter lotteries for other schools. She was joined by more than a half-dozen pre-K parents.

LSC members expressed sympathy for the parents. J. Washington asked how the additional students would affect overcrowding in the lower grades. B. Davis asked whether future pre-K parents would be asked to sign a statement saying they understood the policy. Principal Butler explained that in future years, pre-K parents would receive a letter explaining that there is no guarantee of admission to Kindergarten.

Melissa Megliola-Zaikos from the AMPS office was in attendance. She explained that an additional classroom would have to be filled with students starting from the top of the lottery. She asked Ms. Butler to confirm the number of students looking for placement and said she would consider ways to help them find a school to attend.

J. Washington made a motion (second: S. Murphy) saying that the LSC strongly supports the principal’s efforts to accommodate the 28 families negatively affected by the lottery. The motion was approved 10-0.

*SIPAAA Budget
Principal Butler asked for a few changes to the 2009-10 budget, including reducing the budget for Spanish substitutes to $1,522, reducing the budget for behavioral consultant to $4,000, reducing the budget for security services to $1,544, increasing the budget for summer clerk/parent worker to $4,058, increasing the budget for substitutes for PD to $2,029, and increasing the budget for the technology teacher to $43,014. On a motion by D. Myles (second: J. Washington) the LSC approved the proposed changes to the 2009-10 budget. The motion was approved 10-0.

(J. Washington departed at 8:56 a.m.)

*Magazine subscriptions
Principal Butler asked the LSC for permission to start a magazine subscription fundraiser for school beautification. B. Davis asked about the possibility of direct solicitations for funds.
On a motion by D. Myles (second: S. Murphy) the LSC voted to allow the administration to proceed with a magazine subscription fundraiser for school beautification. The motion was approved 7-0, with two members abstaining.

*Staffing
Principal Butler explained that several positions are being cut for the 2009-10 school year, including two Spanish teacher positions and a special education assistant position. In addition, the bilingual education teacher’s position is being cut from full- to half-time. Principal Butler explained that she is appealing the bilingual education and Spanish cuts. She said she did not expect to regain the special education position because the school does not have enough special education students as required by CPS. She said the school may not be able to provide the kind of inclusion it would like to offer to special education students.

(B. Davis departed at 9:11 a.m.)

On a motion by S. Murphy (second: W. Walter) the LSC voted to adjourn the meeting at 9:14 a.m. The motion was approved 8-0.