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CASC meeting Dec 14, 2010
CASC
Tuesday, Dec 14 2010
Co-chairs: Pam Dilworth-Christie and Dave Fortier
Secretary: Connie Downes
Present: Carolyn Phillips, Bonnie Jean Stacey, Tim O’Malley, Wendy Boland, Dan MacKinnon, Wallace Beaton, Stephen Kurelek
- Welcome and Introductions
- Approval of November minutes - postponed
- Principal’s Report
- See newsletter for summary of items.
- Late arrivals – encouraging punctuality.
ACTION: Pam/Dave to post Heather Gilman’s list of suggestions for punctuality.
- Teacher’s Report – No teacher rep present - cancelled
- Treasurer’s Report (Wendy)
- Budget
- Budget
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Garden sale and
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In clearing up loose ends some more details needed.
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Misc costs – $3 K projected. Were based on last year’s estimates. Unclear what was included but likely cookies/coffee etc. at meetings.
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Outdoor classroom - $500 was on books because it was spent last year. Not requested this year so can be removed . Keeping $5k for next year.
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Playground ($2K requested for watering. Based on last year can be decreased to $1.5K )
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Family support – $1K - pot that can be used at Megan’s discretion to support any family. $1 K to beacon schools.
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Scientists in Schools – projected $1,800 removed since there were no requests.
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Lice checking – last year’s fees did not cover costs. Remove for this year (using parent voluneers). Should review at end of each year. Agreement that Lice Checking needs co-ordinator.
ACTION: Pam to contact Doreen to discuss co-ordinator needs for lice checking.
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Will carry forward $3,600 over for next year.
MOTION: Wendy will prepare revised draft of final budget for Pam and Dave to circulate electronically to the people in attendance today. Deadline for vote Jan 7 (minimum of 5 votes req’d). Motioned by Wallace, seconded by Dan. All in agreement.
- Future of position
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Position is too big for one person to handle on her own. For this year, Haley has agreed to help by doing counting and money handling. Wendy will finish this year but will not be able to do it next year.
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Suggestion for honorarium to volunteer. Discussion that this may not be allowed and also that honorarium would not make up for the amount of time req’d. Could we have a professional work to get forensic work and establish a system?
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SUGGESTION: CASC looks into hiring an accountant, preferably but not necessarily within the Churchill Community, to setup a user-friendly accounting system to include software.
ACTION: Wallace to enquire with his accounting contact to see if there is interest in a possible contract and/or to get suggestions for other accountants.. Wallace to report at January meeting.
ACTION: Wendy to send wording to Dave and Pam for CASC newsletter item asking for shadow-treasurer and money handler to begin taking over task.
- OCASC updates (Steve Kurelek)
- OCASC elections – all acclaimed, can get names on OCASC website
- 5-year strategic review (deadline April 2011): 3 questions put to small group discussion. What would a successful strategic plan look like? What do you value in your school? What can we do to make schools/district better? Therefore nothing negative was discussed, very quick brainstorming approach. Approach lacked critiquing and assessment of ideas.
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Suggestion that CASC discuss ideas in more detail and put forward suggestions to OCASC.
ACTION: Pam to organize a January meeting with Jennifer MacKenzie (Trustee) on Strategic Review in January on how Churchill can contribute to the review. Dan and Pam to prepare draft letter on the subject for discussion.
ASAC update (Dave Fortier)
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Working group establishing a framework on how Alternative approaches can be used in other schools etc. Need to develop a common framework. Meeting in Feb with staff member for board who was responsible for “school effectiveness” framework.
- Committee updates
ASRTS
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issue summary and 2-year action plan will be put on website and advertised in newsletter. Wallace working on getting funding extended beyond next year. Some delays because of new principal and new lead teacher (Heather Crysdale) getting up to speed.
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Major actions (some already completed):
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Winter walk to school day (Feb 9). Heather to discuss this with staff as a DPA activity.
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Cycling workshop at school (May 2011)
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Heather to discuss plan with staff. Wallace to attend. Hope to encourage other teachers to use curriculum-based activities (e.g. DPA, classroom mapping, kid’s artwork for events etc.).
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Pilot test of daily walking school bus (targeting specific neighbourhood area) rather than the current ad hoc approach. Looking for community partner to provide “drivers”.
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Discussion on need to get “Inside Churchill” updated and include this item.
ACTION: Dan to prepare an outline for Inside Churchill with input from Janet, Sara and Megan to present at next CASC meeting. Rough draft by March, finalised by April.
- Education (Dan)
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No meeting this month. 55 responses to survey (Do people want evening sessions in evening?) Parents interested in getting info on transitions (changing school levels etc.), more info on alternative schools, what would help partent attend (childcare etc.). Survey continues to January, when Dan will report further.
- Other Business
- Pink Shirt Day – Bonnie Jean Stacey
Discussion on possible activities related to fund-raising and raising awareness on this cause. E.g. Barbara Coloroso as a speaker/fundraising event. Suggestion that it might be organized as an all Alternative Schools campaign. Selling t-shirts as fund raiser may not be the best idea because of other sales events that have happened recently and the need to be inclusive. Other angles could also be taken e.g. Pass it around Day (slightly different approach towards “kindness”), UCan approach, video of the events leading to organizing the Pink Shirt Day, school sharing related to anti-bullying etc. General agreement that fund-raising event not be held this year. Important issue that requires further discussion. Education Committee has put it forward as a possible workshop day in the new year.
ACTION: Bonnie to organize something with Megan for Feb 23 (Pink Shirt Day) and to work with Education Committee on further ideas.
- Next Meeting: Jan 11, 2011 . Meeting adjourned: 9:00
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