CASC Meeting Minutes, Tuesday January 12th, 2010 7pm

Attendance

Co-chair: Pam Dilworth-Christie and Dave Fortier

Secretary: Cheryl Brouse and Connie Downes

Donna Weldon;  Wendy Boland, Connie Daymond, Maureen Clarke,  Carolyn Phillips,  Scott Webb, Russell McClelland, Wallace Beaton, Suzanne Amenta, Dorren Jans , Stephanie Muir, Karen Mosurinjohn,  Stuart Fowler, John Hindle, Eva Schacherl, Maria Hunter,  Matt Johnston, Eloise Holland, Anna Ekstrandh

Approval of minutes

• correction on Alphie Kohn in last minutes 
• Approval of minutes moved by Maureen; seconded by Dave

Treasurer’s Report (Donna Weldon)

• all going well 
• pizza and sub have broken even
• $2,000 budgeted for sister schools; discussion on whether to give $1,000 to each sister school (same as last year) or split among a 3^rd school; noted that if we change our school grants we would have to notify schools
• Agreed that sister schools receive $700 (Cambridge and Connaught); will check to see if Grant is getting money from other schools; if so, split the remainder between the 2 (but see below)

Action: Connie Daymond to give Donna final amount for microphones.

Action: Donna to ask Janet if we need to apply for communication money. 

Action: Dave/Pam to add  “Thank you” letter from sister schools reporting how they spent the money in the CASC newsletter

• Stolen cash:
  • Cash stolen from Terry Fox (~$500); most cheques were salvaged; parents will be asked to give a contribution to cover stolen money
  • Agreed that CASC will cover shortfall from the remainder of $2,000 budgeted for sister schools; 
  • If this is done Grant will be given some other form of help
  • In future, parents will be asked to send cheques not cash, all cheques will be recorded
  • Security concerns raised over having a cheque stolen; it was requested that parents be notified immediately if this occurs again; 

Action: Connie Daymond to notify parents of lost cheques if this occurs again.

Teacher’s Report (Russell McClelland)

• Canal trip (Feb 11)
• 3/4 going to the Museum of Civilization
• Schlokey boards have not gone out this year; 

Action: Dave/Pam to ask Hayley to send out email requesting volunteers for Schlokey boards

• Safe and Active week
  • Clean Air Champ to speak (Monday 9:00-9:45); teachers to do walking activities within school grounds; save hot chocolate for Canal trip day; Roy’s class will help with promotional materials
• Clubs: knitting; drawing, School of Rock; morning sports (soccer for Gr 1-2;  floor hockey for Gr 3-6)

Principal’s Report (Connie Daymond)

• Linda will not work on CASC newsletter anymore because it interferes with processing of school newsletter; no CAS newsletter issued for last 2 months
• Agreed that CASC will take care of CASC newsletter from now on
• 3 Trustees visited  as part of review, including Director;  thank you notes have been sent 
• Some staff felt they didn’t have a voice in the Alternative School Review; not much recourse because teachers are employees of Board; 

Action: Pam will tell the Trustees that teacher’s would like more of a voice

• Connie Daymond concerned that she did not know CTV had visited the school (they were not on school property or within school time);  if such an event happens again she would appreciate being told .

Action: Dave/Pam to send parents notification that they should not talk to media on school property, unless it has been pre-arranged and approved. If they choose they can let CASC know of any interviews

Discussion items

Lice (Maureen Clarke)

• In lieu of regular lice check the “Lice Squad” (private organization) will arrive Thurs Jan 28 to check all children and staff
• Parents to give $2/head; head check mandatory; CASC will cover shortfall
• Every child will be given diagnosis sheet (and evidence!). treatment option advice
• Maureen, teachers and Connie Daymond to get list of all children with lice; families will be contacted and given advice and follow-up
• If successful this will be considered for next year (3 times at peak period: Sept, after Christmas and after March break)
• Discussion on whether we should buy a few lice combs; agreed to wait to see how Lice Squad visit works and then reconsider 

Action: Connie Daymond to arrange schedule with teachers and ensure appropriate checking area with lighting

Active and Safe routes to school (Wallace Beaton)

• Safe driving and drop off slipping again (2-way traffic); paper flyer reminders sent out with email follow up; police officers asked to do enforcement blitz ; volunteers will be reminding perpetrators in the morning!
• Buses do not have to follow guidelines; Wallace will look into this and determine best approach
• Events:
  • Winter Walk to School Day – presentation from Clean Air Champs (former Olympic athletes to discuss healthy living etc.); cost covered by committee
  • Tues – walking on grounds; Wed – walking school bus; mini-carnival on arrival; 
  • Walking Wed – March, April and June 2
• Bike racks – looking at replacing current ones; 
• Safe cycling coursed – looking at organizing this in spring (will be a fee)
• Curb cut for pedestrian crossing in city 2010 budget 

Alphie Kohn lecture (Anna Ekstrandh)

• Churchill School fundraiser (Thurs Feb 11, 7:00 pm) at Woodroffe auditorium; tickets available at Dovercourt.org
• Focusing on parents, educators etc. but will open it up; Trustees to be given free tickets
• Also Thurs morning Ottawa U event (but not public); elementary teacher’s event on Friday, Feb 12
• Hayley will send out email notification

New/other Business

• Kid’s Marathon: Maria offered to organize Kid’s Marathon if people want; this is associated with Ottawa Race weekend; starts in Feb until Race weekend; last km needs to be escorted on Saturday; $20 kid so would have to be a pre- or post-school activity

• School Website: Scott Web invited teachers or anyone else to send him items they would like to post items on the website (URL: www.churchillnews.ca)

• Ride for Cancer: Molly doing well and hopes to return to school after March. She will be poster child for Ride for Cancer; Connie Daymond to send material for website to encourage participation

• May Plant Sale: Suzanne looking for a grower to supply the plants for the plant sale.  Last year’s Greenhouse supplier is not available. 

Action: All: please contact Suzanne if you have any ideas.

Program Review (Dave Fortier)

• Pam and Dave have been meeting with Trustees; lots of other activities from PRAC, CPRAC;
• Board now recommending Alternative Schools should lose their status and go into regular stream;
• now determining what can be done to influence decision; some Trustees in favour of alternative schools; some on fence;  some felt review was poorly done; others want to end program
• Vote will be Jan 26, will be public and hoping people will attend
• Alternative system will change and we have to be part of the change and influence the final outcome;  suggestions that alternative approach be adopted in regular system
• Some Trustees are recommending an interim approach: “incubator” (i.e. R&D on alternative/innovative practices) or “lab” school (staff to get experience in alternative methods); hoping some will recommend that a small portion of alternative schools be retained and others closed
• Questions;
  • Where will funds for teachers to “incubate” at an alternative school come from?
  • How will the spread of “alternative philosophy” in regular system be implemented?  i.e. accepting and implementing alternative methods (e.g. accepting parent volunteers) requires a shift in culture and philosophy; needs a child-centered learning perspective; not an easy thing to do; difficult to measure because it is more of an atmosphere
• We need to disseminate our message and the need for choice in education
• Email tomorrow with guidelines/suggestions on how to comment on report (inconsistencies, contradictions etc.)
• Invitations to visit our school have been sent to all Trustees before they vote.
• Suggestions that a standard statement be sent out.

NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, February 16, 2010

MEETING ADJOURNED: 9:45 p.m.