Minutes – July 22, 2009

RGS Governing Collaborative Council

July 22, 2009 6:00– 8:00 pm

DRAFT Meeting Minutes

 

Procedural Items:

1. Welcome/Call to Order: Called to order at 6:05 PM

2. Establish quorum: Quorum established

3. In attendance: School Director Cindy McLeod; Governing Council members Naomi Swinton, Caroline Garduno-Lopez, Kim Kirkpatrick, Pat Leahan, Diane Moore, and Chris Cudia,; Teacher John McLeod; Excused — Steve Flores and Diana Whitten.

We did introductions and each shared a little bit about ourselves since we have new members on the Governing Council. John explained Expeditionary Learning and some details about this semester’s expedition.

4. Approval of agenda: Amend agenda to move “Principal Evaluation” item under New Business. Motion by Kim to approve agenda as amended; Second by Caroline; all approved; motion passed

5. Approval of June 2009 minutes: Motion by Caroline; Second by Kim; all approved; motion passed

6. Confirm date of next regular meeting: Wed., August 26th, 2009, 6:00 – 8:00 PM


Public Comments, Student and Amigos Reports:

7. Public Comment: None

8. Amigos report: Next Amigos de Rio Gallinas meeting is Friday, August 14th, 1:00 PM, Traveler’s Café; ALSO Tuesday, August 18th, 4:00 – 5:30 PM, at the park on Chavez St. (near the school), the Governing Council will happily “crash” the staff in-service and have a cook-out (hosted by Amigos) so we can all get to know each other.


Director’s Report: Mission, Goals, Values of Rio Gallinas Charter School: (see attached)

9. Welcome New Council Members; We also began to review the mission, goals, and values of RGS.

Executive session: None


Compliance/Financial and Legal Matters — Action Items:

10. Budget Transfer Requests: None at this time

11. New Council Member terms: After drawing straws, Diane received the one-year term, and Chris received the two-year term, but these are not “limited” terms, so they can be elected back after their term is completed if they’d like to stay on the Council. Buddy system is encouraged among Council members (teaming up in pairs) such as Kim and Naomi who are utilizing each other between meetings for clarification, addressing questions, etc.



Old Business:


Board Education and Development:

12. Governing Council Self-Evaluation Criteria: We will create criteria to evaluate ourselves, e.g., meeting attendance, compliance, what we are doing to support high levels of academic achievement, what we are doing to support students in their goals, etc. Perhaps we should evaluate our council quarterly. Prior to the next meeting, we should be thinking about what criteria we can implement for council self-evaluation. There are some good examples in the “Charter School Board University” handbook.

13. Review Summary of Mission, Vision, Goals and Objectives: Some of this was covered in the Director’s Report, and GC members should visit the website to become more familiar with the school (http://riogallinasschool.org/).

14. Review plan for reading “Charter School Board University: An Introduction to Effective Charter School Governance” and “The Seven Outs” – At every meeting we will discuss the books, starting with the Carpenter book, Chap. 1, for next month’s (August 26th) meeting.


New Business:

15. Prinicipal evaluation: Go to Teachnm.org and click on “administrator”, scroll down to “Principal/Vice Principal evaluation” for ideas. By the 40th day, a professional development plan needs to be developed; Cindy welcomes us emailing ideas to her re: strengthening her professional development and competencies.

16. Under Aug. New Business, include an item about helping to link community and school together.

17. The 2nd Thu. of every month is WLV school board meeting, Keep Oct. 8th free so we, as the RGS Governing Council, can attend WLV school board meeting at 6PM.

18. As Governing Council Secretary, Pat will send GC email addresses to GC members so we have a current and accurate list. Student rep emails will be added once they are on board.

19. First day of school for students is Thursday, August 20th

20. Caroline reported that local attorney Jesus Lopez is willing to come in pro-bono to our next Governing Council meeting to answer any legal questions we might have. This item will be added to the agenda for the August meeting.


Adjournment:


21. Motion by Caroline to adjourn; Second by Kim; all approved; motion passed; meeting adjourned 8:02 PM



Director’s Report July 22, 2009


  1. Staff 2008-2009 school year

First/Second: Beth Lopez (certified teacher) returning 2009-2010

Jennifer Arellano (Educational Assistant) returning 2009-2010

Third: Danielle Benavidez (certified teacher) returning 2009-2010

Fourth: John Thayer (certified teacher) returning 2009-2010

Eric Sanford (Educational Assistant) returning 2009-2010

Fifth: Janice Ulibarri (certified teacher) returning 2009-2010

Sixth: Aerie Maymudes (certified teacher) returning 2009-2010

Seventh: John McLeod (certified teacher) returning 2009-2010

Eighth: Corrine Seiser (long-term sub) returning 2009-2010

Bilingual and Adventure Coordinator: Sean McLean

(certified teacher) returning 2009-2010

Special Education: Marlene Meyer (certified teacher) returning 2009-2010

Art: Kathleen Holt (certified teacher) returning 2009-2010

Art and Dance: Kathleen Kingsley (certified teacher) returning 2009-2010 Rosalie Lopez (Contract reading specialist) returning 2009-2010

Secretary: Renay Cole returning 2009-2010

Principal: Cindy McLeod returning 2009-2010

Cleaning Specialist: Angela Salazar returning 2009-2010


Staff 2009-2010 school year

First/Second: Beth Lopez (certified teacher) Jennifer Arellano (Educational Assistant)

Third: Danielle Benavidez (certified teacher)

Fourth: Janice Ulibarri (certified teacher)

Fifth: Tara Cudia (new certified teacher)

Sixth: Aerie Maymudes (certified teacher)

Seventh: John McLeod (certified teacher)

Eighth: John Thayer (certified teacher)

Corrine Seiser (Educational Assistant) Bilingual (part-time): Sean McLean (certified teacher) Special Education: Marlene Meyer (certified teacher)

Art: Kathleen Holt (certified teacher)

Art and Dance: Kathleen Kingsley (certified teacher)

Rosalie Lopez (Contract reading specialist)

Eric Sanford (contract)

Secretary: Renay Cole

Principal: Cindy McLeod

Cleaning Specialist: Angela Salazar



  1. Maximum class size of core content classes: 17


GENERAL SCHOOL DATA

2008-2009


  1. # of school days for students: 173

  1. # of school days for teachers: 186

  1. # of teacher professional development days: 13

  1. Current grade span: 1-8

  1. Title 1 Funds: No

  1. Bilingual Funds: No

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

  1. Overall enrollment

    1. # overall: 105

    2. # of females: 46

    3. # of males: 59

  1. List the total # of students

    1. Grade 1: 11

    2. Grade 2: 14

    3. Grade 3: 12

    4. Grade 4: 15

    5. Grade 5: 11

    6. Grade 6: 15

    7. Grade 7: 14

    8. Grade 8: 13

  1. # of White students school-wide: 44

  1. # of Black students: 5

  1. # of Hispanic students: 53

  1. # of Asian/ Pacific Islander students: 0

  1. # of Native Alaskan/ American Indian students: 3

  1. # Multi-racial/ Other students: 0


SPECIAL NEEDS

All data for this section are for SY2008-2009 and based on your OCTOBER count. Please enter actual numbers, not percentages, from October 2008.


  1. # Eligible for Free or Reduced Lunch: 77

  1. # of English Language Learners: 20

After taking the New Mexico English Language Proficiency Assessment in the Spring 2009, five students no longer qualify for English Language Learners.


  1. # of Students with IEPs (Special Education): 21

TESTING DATA


Met AYP Qualifications: 2004-2005, 2005-2006, 2006-2007, 2007-2008

Results for 2008-2009 will be posted in August, 2009.


New Mexico English Language Proficiency Assessment (Spring 2009), five students no longer qualify as English Language Learners.


Northwest Evaluation Assessment

3rd Grade grade level or above

reading 73%

math 64%

science 64%


4th Grade (grade level or above)

reading 69%

math 69%

science 69%


5th Grade (grade level or above)

reading 90%

math 100%

science 100%


6th Grade (grade level or above)

reading 67%

math 60%

science 87%


7th Grade (grade level or above)

reading 71%

math 58%

science 64%


8th Grade (grade level or above)

reading 77%

math 77%

science 85%



GOALS


Students demonstrate high levels of academic achievement, appropriate for their grade level.


Please see testing data.


There is a strong literacy component in each expedition. Students are expected to have a written piece for the final project. They always present to an authentic audience.


Spanish Language: Students receive daily Spanish instruction which is integrated as much as possible into the expeditions.


Students demonstrate an understanding of local ecology, culture, and history, and are able to make connections to regional, state, national, and global issues.


Expeditions:


Hermit K-4 (History and Science, Written and Reading Literacy) State

Westward Expansion Re-wilding

K-4 5-8 (Science and History, Written and Reading Literacy) Global issues

Blood and Guts K-4 5-8 (Written and Reading Literacy)

Chimps 3-4 5-8 (Science, Written and Reading Literacy) National

Ethical Issues

Green Machine 4-8 (Science and History, Written and Reading Literacy)

Sustainability Local and Global issues


Where does are Food Come From? 1-8 (Science and History, Written and Reading Literacy) Local and Global issues


Cultivators of Hope 1-8 (Science and History, Written and Reading Literacy) Local and Global issues


The school is a safe environment in which students demonstrate growth and self-knowledge, intellectually, emotionally, and physically.

Crew

Restorative Justice Circles

Conflict-Resolution Circles

Positive Feedback

Students have a voice

Oral Presentations

Portfolio Assessments

Student-led Conferences (three times a year)

Physical Activities: Camping Trips, Hiking, Brain dance, Dance Education, Running, Conversation Walks, Cooperative Games, Skiing, Sledding, Ice Skating, Swimming, Rafting, etc.


Students develop skills of collaboration, community participation, and service.


All the learning at Rio Gallinas supports collaboration. The expeditions always contain a service component. The community is asked to participate in the school whenever possible. In the 2009-2010 school year, the staff has set a goal to increase community participation.