Present: Sally Ryen, Jane McLaughlin, Gail Cooluris, Whitney C., Midori W., Peter Reilly, Patrick Donlon (guest), John T., Bipasha M., Eisha Z., Mary Herbert, Fern O'Brien, Ann Costello (guest), Fay Hulbert (guest), Heidi Loper (alternate), Jean Meyer, Sarah O'Keefe (chair), Gail Heckemeyer (president)

The agenda was rearranged to accommodate guests' schedules.

I. District SSC: Ann Costello: Report on the State Budget

The state budget is a "mess," and we don't know what this year's budget is, even at the mid-year point. There's a push in this district that there be no layoffs, but no new positions will be created to achieve that. The implications the budget has on the site council is that the estimated allocation is going to be cut. It doesn't look as if the carryover from last year - which can be spent after July 15 - is in jeopardy. Whether there will be more cuts in the future, we don't know. A definite dollar figure for spring proposals will be given to us as soon as it can be ascertained what deferments are taking place, how large they are, etc.

SOK asked Costello how we should proceed in calling for proposals this spring to be paid out of carryover money from last year. Costello said 1) prioritize what we want to fund; 2) communicate those priorities to staff; 3) follow those priorities. The new goals focus on student achievement, but how do we evaluate that? Need? Amount of money to be spent? Number of students affected? There are lots of ways to approach a goal of student achievement. We need to look at how and what we want to accomplish.

Costello said she would investigate why the SIP budget currently reflects paying for a math teacher's salary, when that was never proposed (or approved) by the site council.

II. WASC Update: Fay Hulbert

After reviewing the "major thrusts" of the report's proposed action plan to create a more-cohesive approach to achieving success for all students, particularly ELL students, the council voted unanimously to include the council's support in the WASC report, following a motion by Meyer, seconded by McLaughlin. The steps outlined in the WASC approach will act as a guide for school site council funding for the next five years.

III. Approval of Minutes

The Oct. 2002 SSC minutes were approved, following a motion by Meyer, seconded by 0'Brien. SOK supplied the C&I November meeting minutes, which was a joint meeting with SSC.

IV. SIP Proposal Form: Update Goals

The following additions to the proposal form were discussed: 1) an asterisk noting the following: "Due to state budgetary uncertainties, SIP will prioritize proposals. Funding will be contingent upon available money." 2) The insertion of the following statement: "The Site Council encourages proposals that address the needs of students who have not reached proficiency levels on standardized tests and whose poor attendance may be a factor in low achievement." SOK and Heckemeyer will work with Loper to finalize the proposal in draft form for the council to review at its next meeting.

V. School Site Plan: Action Plan Completion of Template.

SOK reported that we have been submitting our parts to the plan before due dates, but that this trend may not continue through spring.

VI. No public comment.

VII. Future calendar dates for SSC meetings: Feb. 27, Mar. 27, Apr. 24 (with C&I), May 22.

VIII. Other:

After discussing the lack of clarity in the School Improvement Plan Surveys created by the district re: K-6 vs. 7-12, SOK directed us to forward all proposed changes to the parent, student or staff versions to her within a week, and that she would forward those to Costello.

Minutes submitted by:

Sally Ryen