SIT Minutes

August 8, 2013

3:40 p.m.

Members Present: Greg Hatch, Richard Estrada, Darlene Chavez, Angelica Soto, Sherri Reyna, Cristina Gutierrez, Adriana Olivas, Sylvia Ramirez, Amelia Miranda, Vanessa Voce, Vanessa Arreola, Alex Ellis, Blanca Topete/BK, Jeffrey Frigues/BK, Claudia Tellez, Leslie Goldmann
Mr. Hatch notified us that our District representative was called out to an emergency meeting and would not be joining us. He also notified us Mr. Estrada was out sick (he joined us for the last few minutes of the SIT meeting).

  • Introduction of Members
  • Election of Secretary to Keep Minutes – Secretary Appointed
  • New Business
  • Attendance Initiative
  • Discuss Making Flags Made for Every Homeroom Who Has Perfect Attendance to Flag Their Classroom
  • **Motion to Officially Adopt Attendance Initiative – ATTENDANCE INITIATIVE CARRIES
  • ICU Program
  • School needs PO to Order and Have Database for ICU Program to be up and running
  • In the meantime, call Mr. Hatch to pull students out when necessary
  • ** Motion to officially adopt ICU Program – ICU PROGRAM CARRIES
  • Golden Tickets
  • Discussed last year’s Golden Ticket Rules and proposed following improvements: Names up on display on Monday morning for students who win drawing, students should know exactly why they are receiving a golden ticket, more promotion in the hallways, for example, students with shirts tucked in and students opening doors for adults
  • Also discussed decorating a ceiling tile, “core value of the week”, and most importantly, implementing a “got caught doing good” spinning wheel with prizes (ten drawings a week and one big drawing at the end of the nine weeks for a special prize)
  • **Motion to officially adopt Prize Wheel – PRIZE WHEEL CARRIES
  • BMSC (Benito Martinez Star Command) – “Commended Acknowledgment Program”
  • Discussed shirts with logos and sleeves with STAR Tests that students got commended on
  • Discussed a “shirting” ceremony where teachers can “shirt students” for their hard work that needs to be rewarded
  • Discussed price of teacher shirts; still unknown
  • ** Motion to adopt the BMSC Program – BMSC PROGRAM CARRIES
  • Patriot FIFE and Drum (Benito Martinez Drum Core)
  • Discussed looking at approx. 20-40 students as incentive for the students
  • Discussed where Drum Core can play i.e., meetings, holiday celebrations, community gatherings
  • Discussed limiting it for 4th and 5thstudents only, in order for the younger students to look forward to join Drum Core
  • ** Motion to adopt FIFE and Drum Core – FIFE AND DRUM CORE CARRIES
  • Booster Club
  • Discussed starting Booster Club to continue to involve parents in our school. We can organize the parents and have meetings without the rules and regulations of the PTA Program. With Booster Club the school creates the account and controls the money.
  • ** Motion to adopt Booster Club – BOOSTER CLUB CARRIES
  • Monthly Parent Involvement Opportunities
  • Discussed variant monthly parent involvement opportunities like poetry night, science night, theatre night, so parents can see what the students are doing in the classroom
  • Discussed having this in a classroom setting or school wide setting
  • **MONTHLY PARENT INVOLVEMENT OPPORTUNITES DID NOT CARRY – WILL BE TABLED WITH GRADE LEVELS
  • Campus Needs – Large Projects
  • Discussed improvement of field to add grass in place of having students play in stickers and sand
  • Also discussed installing canopies where students are picked up
  • Discussed poster maker being ordered which will be put on hold
  • Discussed main focuses which fundraising money should also be used on, which included technology and bulletin boards (district will be purchasing new memory for all schools throughout the district due to the implantation of Windows 8; a timeline for the implementation of memory is unknown)
  • Discussed new computers purchased at the school that were incorrectly purchased as home editions instead of business editions; they will be up and running as soon as possible
  • ** Motion for Canopies – CANOPIES CARRIES
  • Reporting Out for Committees
  • Mr. Estrada out sick until last few minutes of SIT Committee Meeting so Safety,Olweus and Attendance were not discussed
  • Sunshine Committee – Ms. Goldmann will begin implementing committee as soon as possible
  • Fundraising Committee – Ms. Chavez will be sending out an e-mail with all pertaining information
  • Reporting Out by Grade Levels
  • Discussed lunch not being set up properly and/or on time – issue will be addressed accordingly
  • Discussed having 3rd grade behind fence so students are not crowded
  • Discussed computers being slow at times, thus not allowing teachers to post attendance on time
  • Suggested having one of the coaches in the hallway when students arrive at P.E. in order to avoid having to wait for previous class dismissal
  • Discussed pets being brought to school by parents at dismissal and the problems that arise; suggested implementation of “No Pets Allowed” signs
  • ***Mr. Estrada joins SIT Meeting
  • Discussed dismissal of students at 3:15 and no later through corresponding doors
  • Discussed continuation of A.R. Program; not being renewed due to funding and lack of use by the school as a whole
  • Discussed students being absent on Friday and how it affects their attendance calendar and free dress; automatic elimination from 3-week and 9-week prizes
  • Discussed having doors locked or unlocked all day; doors do not need to be locked; teachers must remember to always have red window covers rolled up
  • Discussed students being pulled out during class time to pick-up lunch/items left at front office by parents; implementation of post-its on doors with name of student where teachers can let students go to the office at a more convenient time
  • Discussed teachers being able to use the students restrooms; yes, but only for emergencies, don’t make a habit of it
  • Discussed carpets being shampooed; issue will be addressed
  • Discussed stoppers being installed on doors; issue will be addressed
  • Discussed procedure for lunch cards; new ID maker arrived, these new IDs will also be used for lunch so that should resolve problem
  • Discussed having a “70” as a percent cut for re-dos; as per admin percent cut for re-dos remains at “80”; as long as students are receiving authentic assignments, teachers should record the highest grade
  • Discussed having 4th grade breakfast delivery first in order to avoid getting caught up in the hallway; issue will be addressed
  • Discussed getting announcements e-mailed to pre-k and kinder since they are in the cafeteria during breakfast; issue will be addressed
  • Discussed the lack of space in certain classrooms; issue will be addressed
  • Discussed progress report for pre-k and kinder; still unsure as district is still making categories for grading
  • Reporting Out by State Holder Participants
  • Teachers suggested incentives from our Partners in Education to use in classroom
  • Businesses offered incentives that can be used in the classroom and donated to teachers; Ms. Chavez will need approval first in order for submission of donations to the district but incentives will be donated
  • Closing
  • Meeting adjourned at approx. 5:01 p.m.