Pell City School System

Federal Programs Steering Committee Meeting Minutes

May 19, 2009

The Federal Programs Steering Committee meeting took place on

May 19, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. at the Pell City School System Central Office. 

Committee Members Include:

Dr. Bobby Hathcock__________________ Superintendent

Michael Barber______________________ Assistant Superintendent

Stacey Weaver_______________________Technology Coordinator

Christa Bryant_______________________Special Needs Director

Curtis Gossett_______________________ Title IV Coordinator

Dr. Leah Stover______________________ Principal

Karen Davis_________________________ Principal

Laurie Funderburg___________________ Principal

Diane Robertson______________________Parent

Michelle Adams______________________ Parent

Sarah Victory________________________ Grandparent

Tiffany Robertson____________________  Parent

Jackie Robinson______________________ Parent

Stephen Bunt_________________________Teacher

Lori Myrick__________________________Teacher

Wandalyn Baker______________________Teacher

Federal Programs Meeting Agenda

May 19, 2009

•I.                   Upcoming Monitoring

•II.                Evaluation of Programs

•III.             Homeless, ELL, Migrant

•IV.             Inventory

•V.                Services, ARRA Funds

•VI.             Budgets

Meeting Minutes

Mr. Barber shared with the group that the school system would be monitored during the 2009-2010 school year.  He shared what he called the old monitoring instrument.  He told the group when the new document became available, he would make sure everyone had a copy.  He also shared that when the date for monitoring was made available, he would let everyone else know.  The old instrument at this time should be used as a guide.

Mr. Barber had asked each school to bring their CIP with them to the meeting and the principals were told that the CIP was the Title I plan.  Budget details, monitoring dates, measurable goals, and parent involvement of the CIP was discussed.  The team was told that parental involvement should be stressed and that parents should be in the planning, implementation, and evaluation stage of the CIP.

Homeless students were also a part of the discussion.  Mr. Barber shared with the group that the new student support services person would be inheriting the homeless program.  Students who are suspected of being homeless will be identified through the use of the homeless survey.  The definition of homeless was also questioned by the group and the answer was if a child is displaced due to economic hardships and must live in an alternate sight, they may meet the definition of homeless.  Hotels, campgrounds, cars, shelters, and relatives were listed as possible

locations for homeless students.  It was shared that forms and surveys would be given to the schools.

The subject of Title schedules for teachers and aides was brought up for discussion.  The schedules should be generated by student needs was the direction given to schools.  Assessment data should reveal the need for assigning personnel and that is ever changing.  Title teachers and principals were encouraged to sit down together on an ongoing basis  and modify schedules on a need basis.

Inventory of materials purchased with Title money was also a point of discussion.  Mr. Barber shared with the group that objects should be inventoried as Title I purchases, logged into inventory through the librarians, and readily

accessible during monitoring. This is also the process that would be followed during school audits.

Other discussions that took place involved the evaluation of CIPs.  Were the goals met and how were they measured to determine that success.  Principals, parents, and teachers were to be partners in the CIP process. Mrs. Weaver shared that there would be online surveys for parents to complete as well as hard copies, on the success of the academic programs.  Survey information would be made available to all parties and that would provide an additional source of information in determining if goals were met.  Mr. Barber asked that the forms also be printed in Spanish  and if there was a need for other language translations, to let him know.

Mr. Barber asked that each school provide him with the results of their program evaluation.  He did share that test scores were a vital part of the evaluation and that it would be alright for schools to complete the evaluation during the summer months when scores became available.

Registration for ELL students was touched on and that there should be no barriers to enrolment for students.  Enrolment is defined as attending class is what

Mrs. Bryant shared. Mrs. Robertson asked if there were any requirements for students that were not citizens that were different for regular students.  She was told that the school system had a policy that prevented any barriers for students who were missing proof of residences and social security numbers from enrolling.

The stimulus money was discussed with the group. Each school would receive the stimulus money with the same restrictions and guidelines.  All set-asides would apply to the money.  Per pupil allocations would be the way money would be budgeted to the schools.  It was shared with the group that this would be a one year allocation and that there should be discussion on what the school needs were for this money.  Mrs. Adams asked what the money could be spent for and Mr. Barber shared that it could not be spent on buildings and renovations, but that it could be spent on personnel, materials and supplies, programs, and other allowable Title expenditures.  Before and after school programs were also mentioned as being

allowable programs.  Mr. Barber shared that the same rules for supplanting applied

to the ARRA money and that each school should discuss individual needs with the federal committee there.   Needs assessments should be completed for the school and

the needs assessment should reflect the direction of purchases.  Technology was brought up by several committee members as being a need with each school and that there would be a sustained impact for spending money on technology.  Many from the schools shared that aging technology was a concern and the technology had not kept up with the delivery of instruction. 

Mrs. Bryant shared that she also had ARRA money to be budgeted and that professional development opportunities could be part of the budget items.  Both Mr. Barber and Mrs. Bryant shared with the group that more direction would be forthcoming in the area of spending the stimulus money.

            Other business conducted during the meeting included continuing services with Tina Stallings as ELL tutor, extending Rick Shelton's writing instruction, having the mentoring program for first year to the profession teachers, and assigning class size reduction teachers as needed.

            Mr. Barber thanked all who were present at the meeting and encouraged  everyone to contact him if they had further questions about any item business.  The meeting concluded at 2:30 p.m.