United In Christ Lutheran School

Board of Education Minutes

March 19, 2015

The UCLS Board of Education held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at Trinity, Altenburgon March 19, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. Present were school board members: Kellie Engert, David Lohmann, Pat Petzoldt, Mark Roth,Stuart Ruehling, and Hank Voelker; Advisory members: Rev. Abernathy, Rev. Benkendorf, Rev. Dressler and Principal, Cheryl Honoree.

Vice President, Kellie Engert, called the meeting to order.

Rev. Dresseler opened the meeting with a devotion and a prayer. President, Mark Roth conducted the meeting after the opening devotion.

The minutes from theJanuary 15, 2015 and February 19, 2015 board meetings were approved as presented.The treasurer’s report showed a balance of $79,595.10. This includes accumulated surplus from previous fiscal years plus $23,428.83in undesignated funds. The report was filed for financial review. The open accounts atUCLS show balances as of February 28, 2015 as follows: Lunch Account=$6,442.32; Scrip Account=$4,575.60; Fundraising Account=$17,922.01, Chapel Account=$975, Field Trip Account=$2,236.24; and Other Accounts=$5.14.

The principal’s report was given by Miss Honoree. A handout reviewed updates which included: Enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year remains at 119 (102 in Grades K-8). The format of her report includes how the activities reported are meeting the vision and goals for UCLS. On the goal that deals with emphasis on teaching the Christian faith and life which is distinctively Lutheran, nothing new was reported.On the goal that deals with academic and character excellence, she reported onthe Washington D.C. trip fund raisers, one teacher observed the Whole Brain Teaching technique at PHS, commenting on the excellent planning for the musical, a Workman’s Compensation claim, student achievements and Title I tutoring. On the goal that deals with fostering and promoting growth and unity within our UCLS community, she reported on the enrollment process and current numbers for next year. On the goal that deals with on-going communication with area congregations and the community, she reported on the invitation of Grades 5-8 to APS’s Career Day, the upcoming AriSon concerts (inviting APS and public), the Open House held on March 7, the dinner auction (showing around $21,000 net profit for each school) and the PTL fish/chicken supper (showing a net profit of around $4,000) and a Labels for Education Sweepstakes winning of $1,000. On the goal that deals with students experiencing a healthy environment, she reported on the lunch account, her attendance at a Safety Conference on March 11, and an ALICE Training held on March 13 for the staff. On the goal that deals with technology, she reported on the long range technology committee’s progress. Under the goal that deals with studying and reviewing all curricular areas she reported on a possible Standardized Testing change. She also listed her personal goals and the meetings she attended since our last meeting.

Unfinished items of business were addressed as follows:

  1. Custodial Expectations Report: Miss Honoree reported on the Custodial Expectations meeting. All went well.
  2. Interest and Concern Policy Revision (Policy 2.2) Second Reading: The Policy on Interest and Concern on Policy is a revision to Policy 2.2. This policy was presented for a second reading and adopted as follows: The bold part indicates the revision. The board will consider the ideas and concerns of congregational members, parents, faculty and students, when presented in writing, signed and given to a board of education member. Any such items will then be placed on the agenda for the next meeting under “New Business.” Should items of concern arise after the agenda has been published, those items may be brought to the board under “Other New Business” and dealt with as a special order item, determined by the president. If possible, the special order item will be postponed until the next meeting.
  3. Teacher’s Intent to Return for the 2015-2016 School Year: Miss Honoree reported that all teachers intend to return for the 2015-2016 school year.
  4. Support Staff Intent to Return for the 2015-2016 School Year: Miss Honoree reported that the full support staff intent to return is conditional.
  5. Whole Brain Conference: Miss Honoree reported on the estimated expenses for the Whole Brain Conference to be held in Pineville, LA in June of 2015. Alternate ways of funding the cost of attending the conference were discussed.
  6. Evaluate Hourly Wage Scale: President Mark deviated from the agenda and placed this item under “Initial Budgetary Discussion” under New Business.
  7. Scrip Sales Profits: The motion was made, seconded and passed to designate all Scrip Sales profits to the Accelerated Reading program.
  8. Missouri LCMS District Convention Requirements: Miss Honoree will ask all teachers if they intend to attend the Missouri LCMS District Convention in Springfield this summer. If they do not intend to go, they are to submit their excuse to the secretary of the Missouri District of the LCMS.

New items of business were addressed as follows:

  1. Policies, First Reading:
  2. Individual Board Member Responsibility Revision (Policy 4.9): Pat read the proposed policy revision to Policy 4.9, “Individual Board Member Responsibility.” After suggested wording changes, the policy revision will be read for the second time at the April board meeting.
  3. Board of Education Accountability Revision (Policy 5.10): Pat read the proposed policy revision to Policy 5.10, “Board of Education Accountability.” The policy revision will be read for the second time at the April Board meeting.
  4. Budget Expense Presentation: The projected expenses for the 2015-2016 school year were submitted by our treasurer and principal and summarized in a report for review, with several different salary options. Approval of the full budget will take place at the April meeting.
  5. School Calendar Approval: The school calendar for the 2015-2016 school year was submitted by Miss Honoree. After explanation and discussion of particular dates, the calendar was approved. The first day of school will be on Thursday, August 13 and the last day of student attendance is scheduled for Thursday,

May 19.

  1. Sports Committee Appointments: The Sports Committee for UCLS for the upcoming school year is as follows: Concordia—Amy Birk; Salem—Mark Roth and Trinity—Tyson Wunderlich.
  2. Snow Days Makeup: Five days were used as snow days. Two were built into the calendar. Being that enough school hours are scheduled in the remaining days of the school calendar, the motion was made, seconded and passed to make up one snow day, that being on Maundy Thursday, April 2.
  3. Preparation for Evaluations and Thriving Schools Survey: The consensus was to purchase and administer the Thriving Schools Survey every three to five years. It was administered two years ago.
  4. Principal Evaluation Preparation: Pat volunteered to begin distributing the Principal Evaluations to faculty, staff and board members within the next two weeks.
  5. Process for Requesting Enrollment Fee Assistance: The motion was made, seconded and passed to address the Enrollment Fee Assistance program as follows: If a family requests Enrollment Fee assistance, the scholarship consideration will be based on qualifications from the free and reduced lunch requirements.
  6. Executive Session: The board went into Executive Session.
  7. Other New Business: No further new business was brought to the table.

The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. by praying the Lord’s Prayer in unison. The next regularly-scheduled meeting will be held at Concordia, Frohna on April 16, 2015 beginning at 7:00 p.m. A reminder was given about the Informational meeting to be held at Concordia on Tuesday, April 21, beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Pat Petzoldt, Secretary