March 2017 Community Council Minutes

Community Council Minutes for

March 1, 2017

Attending:  Lori Brinkerhoff, Katie Frew, Sara Tenney, Ashley Drosher, Cindy Pendelton, Dave Gerstheimer, Barbara Brown

Mr. G. went over the budget for the 2017/2018 school year.  Budget is set to increase by about $13,000.  Budget will be used for keeping aides in place to tutor reading and math, and monies also will be used to help replace technology in the form of new projectors.  New projectors cost about $867 each.  Projectors are 10 years old. Some monies from the candy sales will also help fund replacement of projectors.

He would like to send teachers on a rotating schedule to some conferences at a cost of about $1000 per teacher for a 3-day conference.

The PLC’s have worked well with getting teachers to get dialogue on the best practices for teaching the Big Rocks in the core curriculum.  

Lori Brinkerhoff feels it is a good use of the money to keep the projectors up and running, as they are being used on a daily basis for teaching. She also agreed that teachers could benefit from workshops.

Dave talked about how teachers have willingly taken the Big Rocks project on and told about Ashley Hunt teaching Mindset classes and even teaching some on the district level.  She is doing a fantastic job!

Sara Tenney talked about a program used in Oregon that supports the gifted and talented.  All teachers did reading at the same time and they expand the better readers up a level as needed per their abilities.  She would like to see this program discussed as an option for coming years for Hooper Elementary.  She also suggests the U of U program called Next Steps.  A reading program that has benefitted Sunset Elementary School.  Aimed at first and second graders.  Says they have seem incredible results.

Lori Brinkerhoff wondered if Sage testing results are still available.

Cindy Pendelton wondered when we could put in the reading hour with block schedules and the art classes.

Art teacher is paid about 4,000 out of the school funds, not trust land monies.  She is also paid by a grant and North Ogden Elem.  

Lori Brinkerhoff Motions to accept the budget  

Ashley Drosher seconds the motion.  All agreed

Sara wants the reading idea looked at for next year.  Mr. G said he would like to look into it and would not implement until 2018 if it was something that works for our school.

Brinkerhoff agrees that it is a good idea to wait and study it out

Discussion on benefits and disadvantages for the gifted with the reading hour.