SCC December 3 Meeting Notes
Hello MES ohana.
To help keep you informed, so you can be prepared for Monday December 8th meeting, I have provided you with my notes from the Dec 3rd meeting. Please not these are not the officail minutes from that meeting.
On December 3, 2008, the MES SCC held a “working” meeting to finalize the 2009-2010 Academic financial Plan (AFP). This AFP would then be put to vote on December 8, 2008.
It is important to understand only the SCC board members have voting privileges. However each board member represents different interested populations in our school: teachers, staff, admin, parents and community, and they are required to vote in a way that responsibly represents their constituents.
The public discussion that takes place at these meetings are very important. Our representatives hear and are accountable to us. They do not vote how they personally want things to be, they vote to best represent their constituents.
At the Dec 3rd meeting:
Ms. Arai’s presented a 4+1=5 step proposal to balance the budget.
- She eliminated a Kindergarten class. *This was verbally announced, not documented in her 8 page report.The following 4 changes are documented in her report:
- She funded 5 teaching positions.
- She eliminated the PTT Spanish position.
- She funded Professional Development substitutes.
- She eliminated a clerk typist position.
Ms. Arai proposed a priority list of positions and programs to be funded by supplemental funds IF there is an increase to our budget. The following is her list according to her priorities.
- Spanish part time teacher (PTT)
- SurfReader (0.5)/SurfMath(0.5)
- STD, QSS and CI resources & Supplies
- Tech budget
- Math resources
- Counselor, (0.5)
- PSAP Ed Assistant (0.5)
- Computer Tech
A parent contacted Tripler authorities and informed the SCC that the Tripler renovation has been delayed so the anticipated enrollment decline is not expected. The current AFP budget is based on the reduced enrollment numbers. It is anticipated that we get more students, and our budget will increase accordingly.
Ms. Arai informed us the school consolidation as read in the newspapers will affect MES by increasing our enrollment as some of Shafter’s and Red Hill’s students will come to us.
Mrs. Oshiro a Kindergarten teacher addressed the SCC after hearing about the Cut by accident when she returned to school to do some extra work. She was in clear shock that Kindergarten was targeted to be CUT. She informed the SCC and the public the role Kindergarten has in building the strong foundation of this school. She also informed us on the enrollment dynamics Kindergarten has on the rest of the upped grades, and overall enrollment of the school. She provided a lot of valuable information that most parents did no know. Ms. Arai tried to silence the Kindergarten teacher, saying this was not the time to discuss it!
Much of the night was spent discussing how to prioritize the supplemental list of things to be funded. Many requested putting Kindergarten on the list.
In response to a parent’s question, Ms. Arai clarified that Spanish is NOT required. That the grade level teachers are NOT required to teach a foreign language. Ms. Aria and others did agree that the Spanish teacher is excellent.
A parent came up with an ingenious way to reduce class size by hiring an accelerated math teacher to function side by side with the GT teacher.
They will service grades 3-6.
By these teachers taking math and language arts out of the regular class. They will reduce the class size and the 4 grade level teachers will be able to divide up the grade and give concentrated attention and teaching to 4 different levels of students.
Parents brought up the role of SurfReader/SurfMath servicing ALL students who require it, and the impact it has on developing the skills at the developmental grades.
Concerns over the role of the Academic Coach was raised. Is the position worth it? Ms. Arai asked the teachers in attendance to answer the question. They responded that it was. ( I have heard otherwise, but this was not voiced at the meeting).
I provided a spread sheet with multiple budget cut scenarios to help people visualize how we could fund 5 vs 6 teachers. I have include this spreadsheet as an attachment.
Parents voiced their disgust with this process. The impression that admin will do what they want to do regardless of what is said at this meeting.
The need to pass an AFP was brought up. Since the budget is based on an enrollment known to be inaccurate, it is irresponsible to make all these CUTS when we know with great certainty the budget will be more. There was a request to have new numbers given to MES so we could work on a “real” budget.
Please email your concerns and ideas to our principal, the SCC and PTA.
Denise_Arai/MOANAE/HIDOE@notes.k12.hi.us
scc@moanaluapta.org
pres@moanaluapta.org
I hope this helps.
Lori Shimoda
MESPTA, president