CKCS GOVERNING COUNCIL MINUTES

October 28th , 2002 7:30 pm-9:30pm

BADGER RIDGE/CKCS LMC

Members in attendance: Joyce Price, Susan Butler, Joe McShane , Janine Lehr, Celeste Matsushima, Gary Shmerler, Robert McNallie, Laura Schultz, Chris Uelmen, Michael Kosorok , Todd Brunner. Members absent: Rob Cramer. Others in attendance: Jennifer Faulkner, Laila Tabrizi, Jenny Meyer, Don Marsh, Marykay Zimbrick, Kathy Schaefer, Tricia Kermicle.

  1. READING OF THE MISSION STATEMENT—Gary Shmerler

    2. CKCS will be a public education option for parents and teachers in the Verona Area School District where students will develop strong learning skills and a broad base of knowledge through the use of proven educational materials and programs, in a safe and structured environment.

  2. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION (10 Min)
    1. It was noted that this has been the first year in the history of CKCS that the middle school has had two sections per grade. The staff will continue to meet informally to address any challenges that might come up.
    2. Housekeeping notes:
      1. Susan Butler brought up some issues regarding a questionnaire that was sent out in order to get feedback from parents on their preferences for conference times. But once conferences came around it seemed that none of the preferences were taken into consideration. The middle school team replied that once those questionnaires were returned it had already been decided that the historical procedure for conferences would no longer work and a new procedure would be tried this year.

2. The whole report card issue seemed confusing to some parents via the BRMS newsletter. There is a whole separate lingo unique to the middle school and CKCS parents need to be brought up to speed on what applies to CKCS MS students vs. BRMS students. There really are no specific CKCS contributions to this newsletter, in part because John Berge does not want CKCS in the newsletter. It simply comes to our students as a courtesy. The weekly newsletter generated by each CKCS teacher is the best source of information for specific CKCS activities.

III. BOARD ISSUES (110 Min)

    1. Middle School Program planning for year 2003-04
      1. History of the program: Chris Uelman gave a very nice, brief history of CKCS MS class progression. Year one was 1996, and there was one section each of 6th and 7th grade. Then in 1997 through 2000 there was one section each of 6th,7th and 8th grade. During each sequential year a second section was added per grade so that by 2002 all three MS grades had two sections.
        1. The CKCS MS started at the Verona Area Middle School location, which is now Badger Ridge Middle School. There was a 24 student

          2. cap per class with a very high retention rate.

        2. CKCS was originally planned to be a k-5 program but because of the content of knowledge and sequenced learning method it was decided to carry this sequence through the middle school years.
        3. The "fallout" from the CKCS MS actually began when there were two middle schools(the addition of Savannah Oaks) and parents now had a choice.
        4. Fifth and sixth grade retention history: 2000-2001: 20% of the students chose other options. 2001-2002: 8% of the students chose other options. 2002-2003: 50% of the students chose other options.
        5. Last year, surveys were sent out to families from the district as well as CKCS in order to get feedback regarding the retention issue. Some of the concerns mentioned: our MS groupings for math, social issues, if one family left others would follow in order to keep their kids with their friends, the backyard school phenomenon: savannah oaks is in the neighborhood of a lot of former CKCS students making it more convenient, negative press.
      2. Current Assessment of the program: We basically need to increase enrollment and then retain the students. We are obligated by December to make a commitment to the Verona School District as to our projected enrollment for next year. This directly impacts the budget. The challenge we then face is to better communicate to the parents and the public exactly what we do at CKCS MS, what we have to offer, and how the program works because there is a lot of misinformation floating around.
        1. Academic and structure.
        2. Parent and student needs analysis.
        3. Budgetary constraints and challenges.
        4. Review of the program execution within the Verona School District.
        5. Identification and discussion of strengths and weaknesses.
    2. Creation of an Action Plan to Support the Middle School: This portion of the meeting was handled in a very unique fashion. We all filled out a "strategic planning exercise" suggested to us by Gary. Based on a compilation of ides from that exercise (which is being handled by Gary) we will then be able to address the four points below. More information will follow as we have future meetings to solidify our strategy.
      1. Brainstorm of ideas and recommendations.
      2. Prioritization of ideas.
      3. Determination of the execution strategy.
      4. Next steps.

IV. HIRING COMMITTEE REPORT: Joe McShane made a motion that we accept the below mention individuals for thepositions in the SAGE and EEN departments. Laura Schultz seconded the motion.

    1. New Sage Position: Pat Siemens (current part-time music teacher) and Tina Errthum (current student teacher) were recommended.
    2. New District EEN part time position: No action required because this was a district hire, but CKCS did participate in the interviewing process.

A formal vote was conducted, all members were in favor, Susan Butler abstained.

The next Governing Council meeting will be 11/11/02 at 7:30pm in the BRMS LMC.

 

 

 

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