Minutes:  Prairie Creek Community School Board Meeting
Thursday,  September 9, 2004

Present:    Dan Kelley, John Battiste, Michelle Martin, Brett Reese, Caroline Jones, Nancy Dennis
Absent:    Laura Medwetz, Simon Tyler

Agenda attached.

August 19 minutes were approved.

Director’s Report

  • Bus issues:  Day cut short by 15  minutes due to new middle school location and traffic flow.  Investigating possibility of an earlier pick up at City Hall.
  • Annual Report:  almost ready to go.  Due to state by 9/30.
  • Audit:    Completed, report not yet in.  Due 12/31.
  • Hartford Insurance Report:    Approval given to make changes recommended in report.
  • Lease Aid approved, Dan has new contract.
  • Lease improvements – furnaces are in, new gym floor being bid, new windows may be next
Charter Contract Renewal Plan
Contract Renewal:  Caroline to meet with Dr. Richardson on 9/10.  Will ask to have due date backed up from January to March.  A lengthy discussion about the process followed.  Some major points:
  • Caroline will kick off on Curriculum Night; the goal is to make this an exciting opportunity for PCCS.
  • Would like to have a Steering Committee of 8-10 people consisting of parents, trustees and faculty in place by end of September.  Perhaps Teacher-Parent Co-Leaders will head major sections of the renewal.
  • Insider/Outsider perspectives will be valuable in certain areas (e.g. Finance and Accountability, Governance and Administration)
  • Next Board Meeting:  Caroline will have a timeline for the process.
Policies to Approve
  • Weapons Policy approved.
  • Health Policy approved.
  • Medication Policy tabled for now.  Recommendation to include annual training on the med. policy and to keep signed forms after completing training on file.
  • Full Day Kindergarten Billing:    Approved to reduce fee to $600 for those families who received reduced lunch benefits.


Finance Update
Budget adjusted for 6 aides was submitted.  Will look for any areas where we might trim.  
Kudos to Ona and Caroline for last year’s budget!
Action:    Approve budget in October.

Simon’s Report on the ERC submitted.

Board Retreat and Agenda
    Date:    November 13, 2004.  
    Topic:  Long Range Plan, possibly Charter Renewal.
    Planners:  Dan and Caroline, possibly Laura and Simon.

Next meeting:    October 14
Agenda Items:
Charter Renewal Timeline
Development Report
Outreach Report
Revised Budget
Crisis Management Plan