September 8 2011 Meeting Minutes

September 8, 2011 committee meeting
MacArthur Library
7 – 8:30pm

Committee members in attendance:

Carolyn Ostermann-Healey
Karen Avery (on phone)
Jeff Lane

Crystal Gaines
Christina Sarchio

Chad Sarhio
Katie Munson
Elizabeth Jones
Ann Tucker
Vinnie Penoso
Debbie Thompson

Gene Fischer

Dara Surratt

Committee membership:  Down to 17 official members.  Quorum is now 9.

Mt. Vernon Elementary uniform attempt – did they go through this survey process on uniforms?  What happened and when?  Need to follow up to get information on this before we can put it in the FAQs.  A number of people will follow up with contacts at Mt. Vernon.

Back to school night – have the Technology Resource Teacher (Ms. Petratich) set up the web site on the overhead so people can see it.  Then any questions can be referred to the web site.  Gene Fischer is working with the central office to get a link to the uniform web site on the MacArthur main web site.

MacArthur Guidelines for Student Dress:  There is nothing written.  Mrs. Thompson said the dress guideline is:

• shoes for safety
• clothes that are seasonally appropriate
• shorts to the knees or slightly above the knees
• straps on shirts should be 3 fingers wide
• have appropriate slogans and logos
• no student is penalized or sent home, but they might go to the nurse to get appropriate clothes.

There is really not much of a problem with this right now, and it’s mainly the girls as they start to mature.

The language that we will use in our materials is “Voluntary Uniform Policy”.

Survey committee: Jeff Lane
Met with survey expert who will meet with the survey subcommittee to begin to refine the survey and the analysis of the results.  

What other languages should we do the survey instrument in besides Spanish and English? Maybe Urdu?  Debbie will check on the numbers of different languages at MacArthur.

Back to School Night:  Website put up on the screen during the talk.  

Posters in the lobby:  Do one on the community meetings in the lobby during BTS night.  No pictures before BTS night.  After BTS night, we will put a poster up with pictures so it isn’t confusing.  There’s at least 200 people at each BTS night so we’ll need at least 500.  

PTA meeting:  September 19th.  This meeting is a good way to reach a lot of kindergarten and new two MacArthur parents.  Elizabeth Jones will give about 10 minute presentation.  Hand out the tri-fold from the BTS night.  Deflect the questions to the community night.

Community Meetings:  

1. Where to have it?  Probably best in the library if we move all the tables and chairs out of the way and put folding chairs there.  
2. Format of meeting:
1. Initial 5-10 minute presentation.  History and timeline, establish ground rules, cost of uniform.
2. Need to have sign up to speak with a time limit
3. Goal is to have people express their opinions.
4. Limit the amount of contentious debate.  
3. Have pros and cons available to look at.
4. Take notes.
5. Ask school board rep (Charles Wilson) to attend.  

Do we need a translator?  If a lot of people request translation at back to school night, then we should have it at the community meeting.  Also, depends how many come to the Hispanic Parents meeting.

Next meeting September 20, 2011 at 7 pm at MacArthur.