Fox Chapel Area District Forum (DF)
Representatives Meeting Minutes
2/12/19
 
Attendance (sign in sheet in records):
Susan Littwin, Fairview
Patty Kaiser, Fairview
Melinda Guinn, Hartwood
Sari Brecosky, District Office (DO)
Somer Obernauer, School Board (SB)
Kelly DiNatale, High School (HS)
Maureen Lynch, Kerr
Sandy Garcia-Tunon, President
Elizabeth Carter, Secretary
Dana Kellerman, Co-VP
Elizabeth Klamut, HS
Lynne Sherry, O’Hara
Kelly Caracciolo, Co-VP
Barb Eichenlaub, Community
 

1. Sandy called the meeting to order at 9:05am and asked for quick introductions as new members are attending including 1 from O’Hara Elementary School, 1 SB member, and 1 from the DO.
2. Sandy called for a motion to approve the minutes from 1/8/19 DF meeting.  Motion: Kelly DiNatale; 2nd: Dana Kellerman; all approved.
3. Sandy shared that DF is now a 915 organization as approved last night by the SB at their meeting.
4. The public DF meeting for 2/26/19 has been arranged with Tim Mahoney (Director of Special Education and Pupil Services).  It will take place at 9am in the LGI room in the HS.  Tim will invite some students and teachers to participate.  Meeting topic is Ability Awareness & Special Education Services in the FCASD.
   1. Elizabeth K. suggested we ask the public to submit questions in advance via email to Tim Mahoney or DF.  Public will still be invited to ask questions at the event.  Event will be shared on DF Facebook (FB) and FC Lounge FB.  Kelly C. has shared the event with PTO presidents and will share with others in the district.
5. DF’s April 9th evening meeting (6:30-7:30pm) will be a candidate forum for FCASD SB elections for all running this year.
   1. Sari mentioned the district may already be planning a candidate forum.  Sandy will get in touch with Gene Freeman (FCASD Superintendent) about this but DF reps feel having another candidate forum would be beneficial to the district.
   2. Melinda, Dana, Patty, and Elizabeth K. will put together a list of questions for the candidates.  Responses will then be posted on the DF website.
6. District Telethon update:  Elizabeth K. spoke with the HS principal and HS activities coordinator to see how the organizations are selected.  Every two years, there is an extensive selection process.  Interested organizations need to contact the HS principal by March 22nd.  The HS site based team is involved in the decision. Barb E. asked if all site based teams are involved in making the decision about which organization is chosen.  Elizabeth K. will ask HS principal for clarification.  We are at the end of the 2 year cycle for Make A Wish.
   1. Sari attended a meeting where the idea of the elementary schools splintering off from the fundraiser was raised, but the schools did not want to splinter off.
7. Kelly D. summarized the Start School Later meeting that was held on 2/6/19.  All site based teams had a chance to report on their ideas pro and con on this issue.  Additional data has been requested.  How is the health of students affected by a time change?  Sports; busing; how would it work with block scheduling; have schools who have made the switch shown improved academic performance?  Jordan Pallitto with the Hill Group can be contacted with input/questions.
8. School Reports
   1. HS: Elizabeth K. (see her attachment for more information)
      1. Dr. Lentz (HS Program Principal) is coordinating the Middle States accreditation visit; parents are needed in March; Sandy will request parents as she is HS PTO President.
      2. Raptor system scans the driver’s licenses of anyone visiting the school every time they visit utilizing Megan’s Law data (sex offenders).  Name (not license) is all that’s needed.  Clearances still have to be submitted to volunteer in the schools.  There is also a visitor management side to Raptor (custody orders).
         1. Our DF reps should inform their PTOs what exactly Raptor is doing.  Having to show a driver’s license could limit undocumented parents from participating (even in parent conferences).  Students in the school whose parents are undocumented can be legally enrolled.  There is concern that the hard stance on driver’s licenses may make parents feel unwelcome and/or be intimidating to those who may not have a license.  Raptor should not be a barrier to community participation.
         2. If you come to a school and can’t document who you are, you will be escorted while in the building.
         3. Mike Hower (HS Lead Principal) said if someone’s name is found in Megan’s Law, that person will be escorted through the building.  Which actually isn’t that different from what is being done now.
         4. Melinda: This should all be very clearly communicated to the incoming new Kindergarten families.
         5. Elizabeth K. will follow up with Sari about the DO communicating Raptor’s use in a more clear and detailed manner to district parents/guardians.
      3. Guidance information on the HS website includes information on how to volunteer (as HS students for school credit) as well as college and career information. This online information is extremely outdated and will be updated soon and on a more frequent basis.
   2. DMS:  Kelly D. is providing information as Leah Cullen and Dave Gravina are not in attendance.
      1. New PTO VP: Gwen Gdovichin
   3. Fairview: Susan and Patty
      1. Winter after school programs going on; video made and shown last night at SB meeting.
      2. Working on PTO website.
      3. Collecting books for the African library project (gently used kids’ books of all levels).
      4. Multicultural night was well attended.
      5. 3rd and 4th grade PSSA scores were #1 in the state.
      6. Fun Fair is open to the Fairview Elementary School community.  Since parking at the school is always an issue, a shuttle will be provided.  The PTO will pay for shuttles regularly for bigger events.
   4. Hartwood: Melinda
      1. Magnificent Mondays have wrapped up; pick up has worked well even with requiring all adults to show IDs.
      2. Valentine’s parties will occur at different times of the day so that parent volunteers do not need to be in the building at the same time.
      3. Hoping to recruit some new DF reps now that DF is a 915 organization.
   5. O’Hara: Carrie Solari sent an update via email to Sandy:
      1. Family movie night on 2/22 to benefit Sharpsburg Library.
      2. Book Fair coming up.
   6. Kerr: Maureen
      1. After school program and math pentathlon are going strong.
      2. Uses online forms for registering for events but this does not seem to alleviate volunteer hours behind the scenes.
      3. Construction is still going on but the road has limited access for walkers; cars are driving too quickly on Kittanning Pike during school hours.
         1. This seems to be an issue district wide; perhaps DF can use this as a topic for a future meeting; public safety initiative.
   7. Community: Barb – nothing to report
   8. SB: Somer
      1. Full enrollment in the new Preschool program to start next year.
      2. Spanish immersion program will likely require a lottery.
      3. Kerr construction is coming along on schedule and on budget.
      4. The district is in the process of analyzing retirements of staff and making enrollment projections for 2019-20.  The district negotiated with the union and offered an early retirement incentive. The end of this school year is the first year of early retirements.  A list of 13 staff was presented at the SB meeting on 2/11.  The district is not sure how many staff will take the incentive next year. 
      5. Class sizes will remain the same and not increase; may decrease in some areas.
      6. No classes/programs will be eliminated next year.
      7. New safety officer was hired; additional safety features have been installed at some schools.
      8. Fracking and emergency evacuation program for DMS and Hartwood; is being developed and revised.
      9. Safety issue in general under discussion; want to be able to account for all students in the event of an evacuation or disaster.  What if someone’s in the bathroom, for example, when the building needs to be evacuated?
      10. Business Manager, Kim Pawlishak, working with the teachers and the district office in regard to the budget for next year.
      11. District has reduced the number of times kids (4 times only) are tested (STAR) and has also reduced preparatory time; Dan DiDesidario (Director of Student Achievement and Instructional Verification) has streamlined the testing process; requests for retests now need to go through the central district administration
      12. There will be a new FCASD website at the end of this school year being done by a third party.  Question was asked:
          1. Is there an opportunity for parent input?  Contact Jill Leonard; Elizabeth K. will contact Jill.
      13.  A question was asked if officers in the schools are police officers.  They are now but not sure if they are required to be.
9. Communications Committee Report (Elizabeth K.)
   1. Working on defining a communications plan; committee has been formed; Elizabeth K. will reach out to a communication professional who is also a community member to see if she has any interest in helping on the committee.
10. New Business
    1. We need a nominating committee to suggest possible candidates for next year’s DF representatives.  This committee will be first on the agenda for our next meeting.  Ginger Thomas has decided to resign as a HS representative.  We don’t need to fill that position for the remainder of the year because we still have two reps for HS.
    2. Sari reported there will be a new language exposure curriculum at the elementary school level.  Still very much a work in progress/preliminary stages.  Ashley Constantine (Executive Director of Elementary Education and Instruction) will be making a presentation on this.  Elementary students will be exposed to multiple languages. This will result in having to choose one language at the 6th grade level.
       1. DF would like an update from Ashley C.; Elizabeth K. will get information about DF parents’ questions to Sari who will communicate with Ashley C.
       2. Dana: will this result in more language hours than the kids have now over the course of each year at the elementary level?
       3. Somer said SB has asked Ashley Constantine to examine how foreign language instruction impacts/fits in with other elementary curricula.
11. Sari is retiring in May but she will stay on as the administrative DF representative through the end of this school year.
12. Somer said the SB members will rotate at DF meetings according to their schedules.
13. Kelly D. made a motion to adjourn. 2nd: Elizabeth K. and all agreed.  Meeting adjourned at 10:45 am.

 
Minutes submitted 3/7/19 by Elizabeth Carter, DF Secretary

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