Minutes 1/8/2019

District Forum Representatives Meeting Minutes-approved
1-8-2019

• Attendance sign in sheet is separate
  • Maureen Lynch, Kerr
  • Kelly DiNatale, HS
  • Susan Littwin, Fairview
  • Kim Bartolacci, DMS
  • Marcia Kusic, Community
  • Barbara Eichenlaub, Community
  • Sandy Garcia-Tunon, President
  • Carrie Solari, O’Hara
  • Elizabeth Carter, Secretary
  • Marybeth Dadd, outgoing President
  • Dana Kellerman, Co-VP
  • Kelly Caracciolo, Co-VP
  • Melissa Tai, Kerr
  • Patty Kaiser, Fairview
  • Leah Cullen, O’Hara
  • Elizabeth Klamut, HS
• Barbara Eichenlaub, our newest community representative, is attending her first meeting, welcome
• Marybeth (MB) passed out today’s agenda
• DF Board had a consensus yes vote via email for revised bylaws and leadership team changes (see email from 12-20-2018 from MB)
• Paul Giuffre, FCASD attorney, informed MB via email that FCASD school board (SB) will be voting at February 11, 2019 meeting to recognize DF as a 915 organization in addition to all other 915 organizations being recognized
  • Leah Cullen explained it is important to have us officially recognized for recording purposes
  • MB has submitted DF bylaws to Paul Giuffre for district’s review
  • DF reps should feel free to let their member schools know that we will be incorporated into 915 policy in February
  • Thanks to all who served on the bylaws committee!
• February 26th DF Public Meeting Update
  • Tim Mahoney (FCASD Director of Special Education and Pupil Services) confirmed meeting on special education and community involvement is still in the works
    • Parents Advocating for Learning Support (PALS) meeting was the impetus for this meeting topic
    • There was an incident recently involving some DMS students which is somewhat documented on Facebook and other social media; Tim will be notified to see if this issue can somehow be addressed
    • Is there a system set up at DMS, similar to the programs at the elementary level and HS level, to pair up students at DMS?
    • Bystander intervention/lessons (ongoing would be great): anyone is empowered to help others, not just a specific buddy
      • OLEAS training for administration and staff
  • Tim Mahoney would like the meeting to stay at the 9am time slot so that some students can participate
  • Executive board will work with Tim Mahoney to finalize the meeting topic and details
• Current and Future Committees
  • Communications

The following people volunteered to be on the committee:

• Elizabeth Klamut, chair
  • Barbara Eichenlaub
  • Leah Cullen
  • Carrie Solari (will help with social media)
• Kelly Caracciolo (will continue to promote the meetings this year, even as she transitions into the Co-VP role. This is not necessarily going to be the job of the Co-VP moving forward; roles will be assigned based on skill sets of members)

 

• Our website will be changed to a new platform with enhanced organization and giving overall topics more equal weight from a user standpoint
  • For DF’s use and maintenance, the new platform will be more user friendly, easier to link to videos, and require no need to know coding
• Nominating Committee for upcoming school year
  • Will be formed in February or March, under the direction of our new President, Sandy

• Member School and Community Updates
  • Kerr (Melissa and Maureen)
    • New building construction well underway
    • Pre-K opening next year for anyone in district meeting criteria
      • Limited to 20 students
      • No transportation provided
    • Mold seems to be okay but roof is leaking now
      • Supplies seem to be at pre mold remediation levels
  • Fairview (Patty)
    • Fundraiser discussions are underway
    • Parking for assemblies and parties is an issue
      • Shuttles from Ice Cream World
  • O’Hara (Carrie)
    • After school PTO programs starting up soon
      • Yogi
      • Spanish
      • Math pentathlon
  • Hartwood: No representative present; no report
  • DMS (Kelly)
    • New schedule presented to SB at last night’s meeting
      • Can watch informational video on FCASD website
      • 6th and 7th grades keeping mainly the same schedule
      • 8th grade will have to choose their electives and will move to an A/B schedule
      • Phys Ed is required in every grade level
      • Core classes at 60 minutes and others at about 44 minute level

High School (Kelly and Elizabeth K.)

• Presentation made at PTO meeting by HS administration about plans for a re-evaluation of strategic and comprehensive plans for the district
  • Hill Group and all school site based teams will be consultants for re-evaluation
• District online forms are being revised by Megan Collett (FCASD Executive Director of Instructional and Innovative Leadership). Focus groups were held to get parent input.
• Start School Later committee will be meeting on February 6th (by invitation only; will include all school site based team members)
• Community
  • Barbara mentioned this year’s district fundraiser for Make a Wish
    • Years ago, DF worked with District Administration to change the recipient of fundraising to something local and to have a more altruistic component for the students.  The decision was based on many factors including an organization’s overhead, and to ensure students (especially at the elementary level) have a connection to the reason for or purpose of the charity.
    • DF members requested that the monies raised be used on many of the worthwhile, local charities to enrich the community for members in need of services or programs.
    • It was noted, District fundraisers are on a 2 year schedule, so this is the last year Make a Wish will be the recipient of funds.
    • Sharpsburg Library is in need and has had to cut hours due to lack of sufficient funding.  Maybe the district can consider this as a future recipient.

 

• Marcia
  • Is trying to encourage some community members to become more involved in the school district
  • What is the situation on the solar panels at the new Kerr building?
    • MB’s husband has been involved in information gathering for this issue and has met with Dan Breitkreutz (FCASD Director of Ancillary Services)
  • In Fox Chapel magazine had letters and articles written by and about the superintendent and school board members who are up for election
• School board meeting last night
  • SB voted to allow its members to participate via telephone

• MB resigned as President and announced she will be running for school board this spring
• Sandy will take over as President (as previously voted by the Board via email in December 2018 and January 2019 )
• New Business (brought forward by Sandy)
  • April 9 meeting will remain an evening meeting
  • Idea discussed to hold a candidate forum night for FCASD SB election in May.  The idea was discussed on Nov.13 with Terry Wirginis, Nancy Foster and Eric Schmidt and they were in favor
    • Must be non-partisan, all candidates must be invited
    • Ideas for meeting include a round table/session type format, with each region having its own space, if possible
      • Allow each candidate to make an opening statement to all in attendance, then break out into regional groups for a Q & A session
    • Have each candidate answer a list of the same questions in advance and publish that on DF website
    • At the meeting, the public will be able to ask questions
  • Board agreed it’s a great idea and Sandy will move forward with the organization of the meeting

 
 
Minutes recorded and submitted on 1-8-19 by Elizabeth Carter, DF Co-Secretary