Minutes of Ray Local School Council
September 8, 2008

In attendance:
Lee Barker, Bernadette Butler, Heather Edelman, Christine Lancaster, Ray Lodato, Ken Schug, Jennifer Washington, Angela Williams-Walker
Absent: Sean Murphy

R. Lodato called the meeting to order at 6:39 p.m.

Approval of Agenda
On a motion by R. Lodato (second: B. Butler) the LSC unanimously approved the meeting agenda.

Approval of May, June and July minutes
On a motion by J. Washington (second: B. Butler) the LSC accepted the minutes with two changes to the July minutes: K. Schug’s name spelled correctly and S. Murphy selected for V.P. position. Abstained: one.

Report from the Principal (see attached)
Principal Butler introduced Kristen White of Children’s Home and Aid to explain Ray School’s potential involvement in the community schools initiative. Through the initiaive, Children’s Home and Aid could provide afterschool programs, counseling, parent workshops and community building activities. The organization also could help organize external partnerships. Children’s Home and Aid could hire a site manager by mid-October and start programs by January. The grant was acquired for Ray by the former director of the Hyde Park Neighborhood Club. Principal Butler noted that the partnership was awarded $105,000, not $150,000 as appears in her report. On a motion by J. Washington (second: A. Williams-Walker), the LSC unanimously approved a partnership with Children’s Home and Aid.

Principal Butler discussed diversity in the first grade classrooms. She provided a chart of the racial composition of the three first-grade classes. All classes are approximately 50 percent African-American. White students represent about three to 30 percent of each class. Hispanic students are about 3 to 6 percent of each class. Asian students are about 15 to 30 percent of each class. Bi-racial students make up 0 to 10 percent of each class.
Principal Butler and some teachers who attended the meeting explained that teachers try to balance classrooms according to race, academic ability and behavioral issues.

Principal Butler also mentioned the increasing number of students participating in the  existing afterschool program and the expansion of afterschool offerings.

Principal Butler mentioned a staff development session teachers attended about differentiated instruction, and she mentioned new school-wide intervention strategies in behavior.

Principal Butler invited PTA President Joy Clendenning to introduce the list of fundraisers planned for the year. The PTA hopes to raise $30,000 to $50,000. On a motion by J. Washington (second: K. Schug), the LSC unanimously approved the PTA fundraising events.

Principal Butler invited Librarian Leslie Travis to discuss Student Council fundraisers, which the council uses for the school or donates to an outside organization. On a motion by J. Washington (second: K. Schug), with the proviso that students report back on their fundraisers and get fundraisers approved by school administrators, the LSC unanimously approved the Student Council fundraisers.

Reports from LSC Subcommittees
Existing subcommittees include Bylaws, SIPAAA, Bilingual, Special Education, Facilities, Vision and Priorities, and Technology.

C. Lancaster explained the difference between the PTA and LSC special education committees. The PTA committee offers support for parents, while the LSC committee discusses how well the school is meeting students’ needs. Because C. Lancaster is the chair of the PTA committee, she asked the LSC to replace her with teacher Jan Schuitema as chair of the LSC committee. On a motion by K. Schug (second: J. Washington) the LSC unanimously approved J. Schuitema as the LSC special education committee chair.

David Myles passed out an update of Facility and Safety Committee issues (see attached update) that were addressed over the summer. He explained that an environmental assessment of the peeling paint has been paid for and will be conducted, but that the work to fix the peeling paint is not yet funded.

H. Edelman explained that the Vision and Priorities Committee was created after joint meetings last spring between the PTA and LSC. The committee was charged with creating a wish list (see attached) for the school that would offer direction for the PTA fundraising committee. Asst. Principal Barbara Onofrio, C. Lancaster, PTA Treasurer Dana Roby and H. Edelman met a few times over the summer and complied wish lists created during the SIPAAA process and through surveys of parents and teachers conducted last year. PTA fundraising committee chair Bronwyn Lodato and B. Butler joined the committee to refine the list. The next step is to start identifying resources to bring these services to the school. Surfacing to the top of the list was a reading teacher. On a motion by A. Williams-Walker (second C. Lancaster) the LSC unanimously approved the Vision and Priorities wish list and charged the committee with finding solutions and resources.

Status of Friends of Ray
R. Lodato urged Friends of Ray to separate from the PTA to expedite fundraising.
A. Williams-Walker will investigate the procedure for separating the two organizations.

LSC Vacancies
The LSC has two vacancies: one parent representative position opened by the departure of John Gonzalez; and one teacher representative position created by the departure of Liz Avila. Two parents presented themselves as candidates for the parent position: Jennifer Kay, parent of a first grader, and D. Myles, guardian of a sixth grader.

Teachers planned to vote for a new teacher representative during the week.

Old Business
None

New Business
H. Edelman suggested creating a Spanish committee and Principal Evaluation committee.
L. Barker volunteered to set up LSC trainings.

LSC unanimously voted to move to executive session at 8:58 p.m. to discuss the LSC parent representative vacancy. The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.

Submitted by Heather Edelman

Principal’s Report to the LSC
September 8, 2008

Enrollment
As of Friday we have 574 students enrolled K-6.
Classroom Diversity
Placement of students in classrooms depends upon factors of gender, race, ability and special needs.  Race cannot be the first and only factor.
New Hires
The hiring process began at the end of last year as Mrs. Butler was informed about possible changes in staff.  Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Schuitema and Mrs. Rogers attended the job fair at navy Pier and began to search for an ESL teacher, special education teachers and an intermediate grade teacher.  I set up interview teams comprised of teachers who would work with those teachers or who had knowledge of the job along with both administrators.  As I became notified of other positions, openings were posted in the CPS bulletin and other teams were set up to conduct interviews.
Positions
All positions have been filled with the exception of two bus aides. We are in the process of hiring the bus monitor position previously filled by Brian who now works the after school program.

Grants
Community Schools Initiative Grant was awarded to enhance student learning, provide a vehicle to involve parents and to promote community involvement.  The partnership was awarded $105,000.
After-School Counts (ASC) targets low performing students. The program focuses on reading and math for four hours per week for twenty weeks. Funding based on school enrollment
Award; $13,500.00
After-School All Stars (ASAS)
Provides enrichment and recreation activities for 4 hours each week, 20 weeks per year.  The             programs will employ one coordinator Award: $15,576.00
AMPS-Written for staff development and substitutes and consultants

World Language and Culture- $3600 was awarded for supplies, artists and residency

Additional After School Programs
Tuition-Based After School – Enrollment is up to 65. We added one new employee.  We increased parent worker hours to help with lunchroom and playground. Children now split into activity groups.   Mrs. Abella is researching new activities and personnel to lead.  There will be more communication between the regular classroom and after school to ensure homework is completed.
We Got Game (Fee Based) - We are still working out the details.
Multi-sports, basketball and soccer skills will be offered.  There will be a minimum of 8 students, max of 20. Offered to K-2nd and 3rd-5th.
.

Staff Development
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) This staff development was a follow-up to all of the planning and staff development and support given by Dr. Rick Van Acker last year.
A group of teachers and staff attended the two-day session of the 2008 Summer Leadership Conference.   Each team attended select workshops that would further develop their understanding and role on their team.  Once again it is important that teaching assistants be given the same information and skills so that they do become an integral part of the educational team.  Offerings included the plenary session where the topic was “Addressing over-Representation of Student Groups in Academic and Behavioral Failure”.

Ann Benninghoff
Teachers and teaching assistants attended a full day session of staff development at              Westside Tech.  The topic was “Practical Strategies for Differentiated Instruction”.  Having the assistants attend the sessions exposed them to activities and strategies that they can use with students and have a fuller understanding of what and why different strategies must be used with diverse learners.  Staff came away with a ready packet of activities to be used for kinesthetic learners, visual learners and auditory learners.  One great learning that has significant implications for teaching is the fact that most of us are visual learners but the children who are generally identified with some form of special need tend to be tactile/kinesthetic learners.  Most teachers teach to the visual and auditory modalities.  In the workshop teachers were given activities that could be adapted to     different subject areas
Principal and Assistant Principal Staff Development
Emergency Management
Mrs. Butler attended the Emergency Management System training.  This year the planning is done on line and all codes are done in plain language as opposed to color codes.  Evacuation, lockdown, shelter-in-place and all clear are the new terms.  Teachers and students will be given the new language within the next few weeks.  If an emergency happens before we will simply use the old language and proceed as in the past.  The new system is part of the national system as set up by Homeland Security.  Copies of what this means will be provided for parents.
Law Conference
Both administrators attended the mandatory Legal conference.  Sessions attended were Student discipline and due process, contracts, Labor, LSC relations, policy issues and teacher evaluation
Both administrators attended PBIS and Anne Benninghoff sessions

Theme for the Year
Change -The entire staff listened to the story of Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson that is a parable about recognizing and adapting to change.  We will buy each staff member a copy and one children’s copy per classroom.  The plan is to read the book as a group and to have teacher read it to children and discuss it.  This will further the SIPAAA goal of

School-wide Intervention Strategies
Academic and behavioral strategies are taught modeled, role played and rewarded to teach competencies of self-awareness, self-control and social skills in class.  Students are taught socially responsible ways of responding, reacting to students exhibiting anti-social behavior in the classroom.  A citizenship assembly was held for the entire school. Three rules for this year are:  Be safe, Respect yourself and others, Be ready to learn and help others learn. Expectations and positive and negative consequences were discussed.  Teaching assistants who are responsible for particular areas of the school presented what the three expectations look like in each of their areas. Teachers made individual systems in their classrooms to support the program.

PTA Board Fund Raisers and 57th St. Book Fair
We need to approve these tonight.

IMPACT Gradebook
This new web-based tool allows teachers to take attendance, enter grades and store information electronically.  The tool allows the principal to monitor grades and attendance.  In the future it will allow parents to view current grades and attendance.

Hispanic Heritage Month
The world language team is in the process of planning activities for the period September 15 through the end of October.  Different grade levels will focus on particular aspects of the culture and create displays.  Plans are to have a gallery walk and a student performance as part of the celebration.
Curriculum Teams
Teachers have signed up for the curriculum team of their choice.  Each team received areas of responsibility.
NCLB Audit Report
100% of our teachers are highly qualified

Student Supply Boxes
We sold over a hundred but the results or what we made are still pending

Budget
Copies in individual packets. $92, 354.29 left in available funds

Internal Accounts
$149,185.52

RAY SCHOOL
Facilities &amp; Safety Committee
Summer Update
September 4, 2008

This is a Summary Report our June 2008 Minutes noting the repairs (in bold type) that occurred over the Summer of 2008 as the Facility Committee did not meet in September.

•    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.

•    Peeling paint –Herm Gutierrez (CPS Operations) visited School in late August and has awarded a contract for an environmental assessment of the peeling paint areas.

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

•    School cleaning concerns –  Repairs/adjustments made within hours of our June meeting to the restroom partition doors. ☺  Adequate levels of paper and soap supplies are being stocked in restrooms.
•    Running Track – Area remained clean as of August 28th.☺

•    Technology/Equipment – Need confirmation of School having a schedule for LAN wireless system installation.  Uncertainty at this time as to the status of this installation.  New telephone system installed.  Per the LSC, School would like to be part of the “pilot” program with Sun Computer Systems.

•    Bi-lingual Signs – Completed in May  ☺

•    Beautification Committee – See comments above on peeling paint.

•    Landscaping project –  Met with landscaping contractor  (Christy Webber) on May 13th to review expectations only to learn of what wasn’t include in their scope.  Ralph following up with contact person and has alerted them of our need to have service prior to the upcoming Art Fair.

•    Auditorium PA system –  Installed the week of May 26th and working (3 wireless microphones are audio recording capability.) ☺  Thanks to all who contributed to this much appreciated up-grade!

•    School Emergency Management Plan (EMP) Last remaining Drill (security lockdown) to be scheduled for Monday June 9th.

•    Annex building access - Access back into the school from the east playground through the annex building’s double doors was discussed.  Decision:  One radio and one door key on paddle will be available in the office for staff to pick-up prior to going on the playground. ☺

•    Lauren, received a proposal from the artist Mr. Chavez, for designing and installing/mounting his art work.  Decision:   Thank Mr. Chavez and offer that his art that has been displayed at Ray School for at least 7 years be shared with others at another location.  Lauren to get back with Mr. Chavez.

•    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 property.

57th Street Business Association – No future meeting dates identified.

Summary by:  David Myles

LSC Vision and Priorities subcommittee
Draft priority list
September 8, 2008

SIPAAA area #1 - Academic Achievement
*Reduce class size
*Reduce class size with a k-1 reading specialist
*Technology coordinator
*Professional development
*White boards

SIPAAA area #2 - Spanish
*Professional development, with the goal of immersing students in language and culture

SIPAAA area #3 – Parent and Community Involvement
*Ray's Café
*Principal's Coffee Hour
*Parent workshops

SIPAAA area #4- Learning Climate
*Building repairs
*Increase lunch staffing
*Increase after-school offerings
*Offer healthier lunch